The 542nd Grenadier Division (German: 542. Grenadier-Division) was a German military unit during World War II.
| 542nd Grenadier Division 542nd Volksgrenadier Division | |
|---|---|
| 542. Grenadier-Division 542. Volksgrenadier-Division | |
 542. Volks-Grenadier Division Vehicle Insignia | |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Generalleutnant Karl Löwrick |
History
editThe 542. Sperr-Division was created on 8 July 1944 as part of the 29th Aufstellungswelle in Truppenübungsplatz Stablack. On 15 July 1944, the Division was renamed 542. Grenadier-Division and sent to the Eastern Front as part of Army Group Centre.
On 12 August 1944, the unit was renamed 542nd Infantry Division, and again renamed on 9 October 1944 to 542nd Volksgrenadier Division.
The Division was pushed into the Hel Peninsula during the Soviet East Prussian offensive and surrendered in April 1945
Commanders
edit- Generalleutnant Karl Löwrick (23 July 1944 - 8 April 1945), KIA
References
edit- Tessin, Georg (1975). "Die Landstreitkräfte 501—630". Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939—1945 (in German). Vol. 11. Osnabrück: Biblio. pp. 112–113.