The 561. Volksgrenadier-Division was formed in October 1944 from 561. Grenadier-Division and fought in Poland and East Prussia until it was destroyed at Köningsberg in March 1945.

Commanders

Generalmajor Walter Gorn (9 Oct 1944 - 1 Mar 1945)
Oberst Becker (? Mar 1945 - ? Mar 1945)

Area of operations

Poland & East Prussia (Oct 1944 - Mar 1945)

Nicknames

Glocken-Division (Bell Division)

Holders of high awards

(561. Grenadier-Division / 561. Volksgrenadier-Division)
Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (3)
- Liedtke, Friedrich, 15.12.1944, Oberfeldwebel, Zugführer im Gren.Rgt. 1141
- Scherhans, Erwin, 14.09.1944, Unteroffizier, Gruppenführer im Gren.Rgt. 1141
- Wilhelm, Georg, 15.12.1944, Feldwebel d.R., Zugführer i. d. 7./Gren.Rgt. 1141
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (4)
- Liedtke, Friedrich, 20.01.1945, Oberfeldwebel, 1./Gren.Rgt. 1141
- Schwarz, Hans, 27.04.1945, Hauptmann, II./Gren.Rgt. 1141
- Störmer, Wolfgang, 15.12.1944, Hauptmann d.R., Art.Rgt. 1561
- Wilhelm, Georg, 20.01.1945, Feldwebel d.R., 7./Gren.Rgt. 1141
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (2)
- Diersmann, Friedrich, 05.11.1944, Oberfeldwebel, 1./Gren.Rgt. 1142
- Kauffeld, Wilhelm, 27.10.1944, Major, Art.Rgt. 1561
Holders of the Knight's Cross (4, including one unofficial/unconfirmed) (3 RK + 1 EL)
- Oakleaves
-- Dennhardt, Oskar-Hubert, 09.05.1945 [870. EL], Major, Führer Gren.Rgt. 1143
---[despite a request from HPA to AOK Ostpreußen to send input from corps and army headquarters, it apparently never arrived by war’s end; no reference to an approved award; accepted by OdR in accordance with so-called “Dönitz-Erlass”; sequential number of the award [870] and award date determined by OdR]
- Knight's Cross
-- Ahrens, Hinrich 09.01.1945 Unteroffizier Geschützführer i. d. 13./Gren.Rgt 1141
-- Rambow, Günther 23.03.1945 Hauptmann d.R. Führer I./Gren.Rgt 1141
-- Reinhardt, Walter 18.11.1944 Oberstleutnant Kdr Gren.Rgt 1141

Order of battle

Grenadier-Regiment 1141
Grenadier-Regiment 1142
Grenadier-Regiment 1143
Artillerie-Regiment 1561
Füsilier-Kompanie 561
Divisionseinheiten 1561  

Sources used

Andris J. Kursietis - The Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945
Samuel W. Mitcham Jr - Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle World War II
George F. Nafziger - The German Order of Battle: Infantry in World War II
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -