DATE 1940/10/21 1941/05/14 1941/06/23 1941/07/09 1941/09/15- 1941/09/20 1941/09/23 1942/01/10 1942/01/24 1942/02/18 1942/03/03 LOCATION Koblenz, Wehrkreis XII, Andernach, Linz, Bendorf, Bad Kreuznach Auxerre, France, La Charite, Mourmelon-le-Grand, Sonnneville Loiret, Seine-et-Oise, Cher, Seine-et-Marne, and Loir-et-Cher Departments 342 0 INFANTERIE-DIVISION - UNIT HISTORY ACTIVITY Activation (14.Welle), formation, training Transfer, training Occupation duty 119 Truppenuebungsplatz Mailly-le-Camp Training Auxerre and Suippes, France, to Mitrovica, Budanovci, and Ruma, Yugoslavia Klenak, Sabac, Metkovic, Nikinci, Loznica, Draginac, Krupanj, Valjevo, Ub, Bogatic Transfer, arrival of first elements Operations against partisans, mopping-up action Stave, Zvornik, Visegrad, Croatia Movement, operations against partisans CHAIN OF COMMAND Subordinate to: Wehrersatzinspektion Koblenz, 1940/10/21-1940/11/26 Stellv.Gen.Kdo. XII, 1940/11/27-1941/05/05 CoOol Gen.Maj. Rudolf Wanger, 1940/11/15-1941/07/02 Subordinate to: AK 45, 1941/05/07-1941/09/15 C.O.: Gen.Lt. Walter Hinghofer, 1941/07/02-1941/11/01 Subordinate to: Bevollmaechtigter kommandierender General in Serbien, 1941/09/16-1942/02/20 CoO.: Gen.Maj. Hoffmann, 1941/11/19-? Valjevo, Obrenovac, Ub, Ruma, Mitrovica, Sabac, Serbia Serbia to Russia Petushki, Gorodok, Yukanovo, Bykovo, Trisely, Krutitsy, Peski, Palatki, Gubinka, Klimovo Operations against partisans, preparations for transfer to the eastern front Transfer Defensive operations, position defense, operations against partisans Subordinate to: AK 56 mot., 1942/02/28-1942/03/04 7.PzD, 1942/03/04-1942/03/16 AK 41, 1942/03/16-1942/07/07 AK 41 Pz, 1942/07/07-1942/07/24 AK 46 Pz, 1942/07/24-1943/02/16 C.O.: Gen.Lt. Josef Harpe, 1942/03/28-1942/04/30 Gen.Maj. Albrecht Digeon von Monteton, mFb, 1942/05/01-1942/07/10 Gen.Maj. Albrecht Baier, 1942/08/01-1943/11/05 www.maparchive.ru [email protected]
<̂ 0,: Obsto Heinrich Nickel, mstFb., 1943/09/25-1943/11/14;mFb., 1943/11/15-1943/12/31; and as Gen.Majo commander1944/01/01-?
Subordinate to: AK 12, 1943/10/11-1944/01/17
AK 39 Pz, 1944/01/18-1944/02/29
Records of the 342.ID are reproduced on rolls 2123-2140 of NARS Microfilm Publication T315 and are described following the unit history.
Other sources: Records of OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt., H 1/38 (T78, roll 398, p0 186) "Umbenennung von Einheiten sowie Umgliederung 28.3.1944"; and"Auffrirchung unter Verwendung von Div.Gruppe 330,ID, Beginn am 17.10.43, v.b. (verwendungsbereit) 14.11.43," p. 191.Situation maps of Lage Ost were also used for the unit history,,
Manuscript in the Foreign Military Studies series contains references to the 342.ID:MS T-10, p. 52, Orsha area, winter 1943-44, German: (Abwehrtaktik bei Durchbruechen - Qs^en) or English: DA Pamphlet No. 20.233(German Defense Tactics Against Russian Breakthroughs) by Gen00bst. Erhard Raus0
la, KTB 1. War journal, with orders, concerningactivation of the 342.ID (14. Welle) tyWehrersatzinspektion Koblenz, formation with personnelof the 72. and 7S.ID and Feldersatzbtl. 127, equipment,and training in the Koblenz, Andernach, Linz, BadKreuznach, and Bendorf areas of Wehrkreis XII;organization charts; and billeting tables.
la, KTB 2, Frankreich. War "journal concerning transferto the Auxerre area of France, 14 May; training at LaCharite, Mourmelcn-le-Grand, and Sommeville beginning26 May and at Truppenuebungsplatz Mailly-le-Camp as of9 Jul; occupation duty in the Departments of Loiret,Seine-et-Oise, and Seine-et-Marne as of 23 Jun, and inthe Departments of Cher and Loir-et-Cher taken overfrom the 339,ID; and preparations for transfer toSerbia in September to combat partisans, with departurefrom Auxerre, 15-19 Sep, and arrival cf firsttransports in the Mitrovica, Budanovci, and Ruma areas,20 Sep 1941.
la, KTB 3 mit Arlagen, Serbien, War journal concerningoperations against partisans along the Sava River nearKlenak, Sabac, Badovinci, Nikinci, Ruma, and Mitrovica,23 Sep; orders tc burn communities where weapons arefound or used, to treat prisoners as guerrillas, and toincarcerate and evacuate the male population fromSabac, 24 Sep; an order of 29 Sep to destroy Metkovicand its male population because cf hostile actionagainst German occupation; a repcrt on the cooperationof Croatian troops and negotiations with Chetniks forsupport against Communists.An order of 17 Oct to surround and burn Krupanjand to execute 3,200 more hostages; an order of 7Nov of Bev.kom.Gen. in Serbien tc make hostagesavailable for execution in concentration camps atBelgrade and Safcac; and reports tc Bev.kom.Gen. in
DATES
1940/10/21-1941/05/13
ITEM NO,
342.ID 15365/1
121
ROLL 1ST F R A M E
2123 1
1941/05/14-1941/09/20 342. ID 15365/2 2123 376
1941/09/21-1941/12/31 3 4 2 . I D 15365/3 2123 637
Serbien pertaining to unsuccessful negotiationswith Draza Mihajlovic, 11 Nov; 5,960 additionalhostages are scheduled to be shot, 18 Ncv; anoffer of reward for the capture of Mihajlovic, 10Dec; and operations against partisans in Valjevo,Sabac, Ub, and Bogatic, 14 Dec 1941.
la, KTB 4, Serbien. War journal concerning occupationduty and operations against partisans in Yugoslavia,and pacification movement, 10 Jan 1942, from theValjevo area of Serbia to the Stave, Zvcrnik, andVisegrad areas of Croatia for Unternehmen Kroatien(operations against partisans beginning 15 Jan), and toreturn to the Valjevo, Obrenovac, and Dfc areas on 21Jan, and to Buma, Klenak, and Mitrovica on 6 Feb toprepare for transfer to the Vitebsk and Smolensk areasof Russia.
la, Anlagen zum KTE 1. Daily division orders, corpsorders, training directives and reports, sick reports,and billeting maps and surveys for the Koblenz,Neuwied, Linz, St. Goar, Kochem, Mayen, Wittlich,Bernkastel-Kues, ^ndernach, and Remagen areas, and acorps order for premilitary training of Hitler Youth.
la, Anlagen zum KTB 2, Frankreich. Orders for transferof the division to France; corps and division orders,reports, messages, and billeting surveys pertaining tomovement to Auxerre, Brienon-sur-Armancon,Courson-les-Carrieres, and Toucy; training andoccupation duty in the Departments cf Loiret,Seine-et-Marne, and Seine-et-Oise, 27 Jun, and in theDepartment of Yonne, 1 Jul; resistance activities inFrance; and transfer by rail on 15 Sep from Suippes,Auxerre, and Mailly-le-Camp to new assignment inYugoslavia.
la, Anlage 1 zum KTB 3, Serbien. Orders, reports, andmessages concerning operations against partisans and
DATES ITEM NO. ROLL 1ST FRAHE
942/01/O1-1942/02/14 342.ID 15365/4 2124
1940/11/27-19^1/05/05 342.ID 15365/5 2124 185
1941/05/07-1941/09/15 342 . ID 15365/6 2124 394
1941/09/16-1941/10/11 3 4 2 . I D 15365/7 2124 662
training in Yugoslavia; attacks by partisans on Sabacand evacuation of its male population ard incarcerationin a concentration camp; a division order of 27 Sep todisarm and shoot Serbian officials, police, andgendarmes in the Mitrovica and Sabac ar€as of the SavaFiver sector as part of antipartisan action; lists ofpartisan bands and their commanders; letters fromChetnik leaders to German authorities asking forcooperation; billeting surveys; intelligence reports;and a copy of a Keitel directive cf 16 Sep to combatCommunist resistance by executing 50 to 100 Communistsfor every German soldier killed by guerrillas.
la, Anlage 2 zum KTB 3, Serbien. Daily reports,orders, messages, map sketches, and afteraction reportspertaining to operations against partisans in theVal-jevo, Osecina, Ub, Slovac, Safcac, and Draginacareas; engineer sketches of bridges; an order of 10 Octof Bev.kom.Gen. in Serbien for combating Communistresistance movements by taking and executing hostages,burning villages, etc.; and a report cf 21 Oct thatKrupanj had been burned down and suspicious residentsshot,
la, Anlage 3 zum KTB 3, Serbien. Daily and 10-dayreports, messages, and afteracticn reports relating tooccupation duty and operations against partisans in theVal-jevo, Titovo Uzice, and Morava River areas; divisionorders for combating Communist and Chetnik units; andreports on executions, taking hostages, and"Suehnemassnahmen" (retaliation measures) for theperiod 24 Sep-15 Nov 1941 (2,685 persons shot and22,175 hostages seized).
la, Anlage 4 zum KTB 3, Serbien. Orders, reports, andmessages concerning operations against partisans in theCajetina,, Rozanstvo, and Titovo Uzice areas and adivision order for the capture of Mihajlovic, 4 Dec 1941.
la, Anlaqe 5 zum KIP 3, Serbierl. Orders, reports,messages, directives, and afteraction reportsconcerning movement from Valjevo to Koviljaca, 12 Jan1942, for Unternehmen Kroatien and operations againstpartisans in the Titovo Uzice, Lcznica, Visegrad,Mrkalji, Zvornik, Vlasenica, Drina River, Drin-jaca,Milici, Srebrenica, Koceljevo, and Kanenica areas.
la, Anlage 6 zum KTB 3^ Serbien. Orders, reports, andmessages concerning operations against partisans in theRuma, Mitrovica, Klenak, Nikinci, Zvornik, andKoviljaca areas and preparations for transfer to theeastern front areas of Vitebsk and Smolensk.
la, Anlagen zum KTE 3 und 4, Unterkunft in Serbien.Billeting surveys for the division's assignment in theRuraa, Sabac, Valjevo, Titovo Uzice, Ub, Koviljaca,Tuzla, and Klenak areas of Yugoslavia.
la, Anlage 1 zum KTB 3 und 4, Meldungen, Truppe anDivision. Daily reports of subordinate units andcharts and maps.
la, Anlage 2 zum KTB 3 und 4, Meldungen, Truppe anDivision. Daily reports of subordinate units.
la, Anlagen zum KTB 3 und 4, Meldungen, Division an AK.Daily and 10-day reports to the Bev .kcir .Gen. in
Serbien and situation reports and messages to superiorand subordinate units concerning operations againstpartisans, mopping-up action, casualties, and booty inthe Klenak, Sabac, Badovinci, Nikinci, Puma, andMitrovica areas of the Sava River sector; and a reportand sketch on Mihajlovic's purported hidea¥ay at RavnaGora, 9 Dec 1941.
Ic, TB als Beilage 1 zum KTB 1-4. Activity reports ofthe intelligence branch, including instructions for theseizure and treatment of hostages "Suehnegefangene" and•prisoners taken in battle, 31 Dec 1941; order-of-battle
charts for Mihajlovic and Tito partisans, Serbiangendarmes, and auxiliary police; descriptions of thevarious partisan groups; intelligence bulletins; andpropaganda leaflets.
ITa, TB als Beilage 2 zum KTB 1-4. Activity reports ofthe personnel branch, lists of officers dutyassignments, register of officers, and daily bulletinsand orders.
la, KTB 5, Russland. War journal concerningpreparations for and entraining of the division in theR\iiaa, Sabac, Klenak, and Mitrovica areas of Yugoslaviafor transfer to the eastern front, 18 Feb; arrival inthe Gorodok area of Bussia, 3 Mar 1942; and positionwarfare, defensive operations, ard antipartisanactivity in the Petushki, Rat'kovc, Krutitsy, Artemki,Peski, Karmanovo, Yukanovo, Bykovc, and Trisely areasnorth of Gzhatsk.
la, KTB 6. War journal concerning position warfare anddefensive operations in the Krutitsy, Palatki, Gorodok,Gubinka, Peski, and Trisely areas.
la, KTB 7, War journal pertaining to position warfarein the Peski and Trisely areas north of Gzhatsk.
la, Anlagenband 1 zum KTB 5. Orders, directives,reports, messages, instructions, and sketchespertaining to transfer of the divisior from Yugoslaviato Russia, 18 Feb, and position warfare and defensiveoperations in the Peski, Petushki, and Savino areas;and intelligence reports of 7 and 10 Feb 1943.
la, Anlage 1a zum KTB 5. Orders and reports concerningtransfer of the division from Yugoslavia to the easternfront, departure from Ruma, Mitrovica, and Klenak, 18Feb, and orders for unloading in Gzhatsk, Russia; andafteraction reports.
la, Anlagenband 2 zum KTB 5. Daily reports, orders,messages, and map sketches pertaining to defensive
operations in the Trisely, Bykovc, and Krutitsy areasand defensive measures after the thaw period.
la, Anlagenband 3 zum KTB 5. Daily reports, orders,and map sketches concerning position defense anddefensive operations in the Bykovc, Pavlovo, andSamuylovo areas and reconnaissance surveys and reportsof the intelligence branch.
la, Anlagenband 4 zum KTB 5. Daily reports, corpsorders, training directives, messages, maps, andsketches relating to defensive operations and positionwarfare in the Bykovo, Trisely, and Krutitsy areas,
la, Anlagenband 5 zum KTB 5. Daily reports, orders,training directives, and maps concerning defensiveoperations and position warfare in the Petushki andBykovo areas; order-of-battle charts; strength reports;and special supply directives.
la, Anlagenband 6 zum KTB 6. Reports, orders,messages, maps, organizational charts, andreconnaissance and afteraction reports concerningdefensive operations in the Trisely, Klimovo, andKrutitsy areas. Corps order of 12 Aug 1942 to holdpositions to the last man and to fire or troops orindividual soldiers who retreat.
Ta, Anlagenband 7 zum KTB 6, Corps and divisionorders; daily, afteraction, and reconnaissance reports,messages, and overlays concerning position defense inthe Karmanovo, Trisely, and Peski areas; and casualtyand strength reports.
la, Anlagenband 8 zum KTB 6. Daily and reconnaissancereports and overlays concerning position defense in thePalatki, Gubinka, Trisely, and Krutitsy areas; strengthreports; and orders for combating airtcrne troops inthe Peski area.
Ta, Anlagenband 9 zum KTB 6. Daily, reconnaissance,and afteraction reports; instructions for gas defense
training; directives on employment of prisoners of warand civilians and treatment of Russian volunteers(Hilfswillige); and orders to pr€pare for winter and tohold positions in the Bykovo, Rat'kovc, Ignat'yevo, andSloboda areas.
la, Anlagenband 10 zum KTB 7. Daily and afteractionreports, maps, and overlays concerning defensiveoperations and position warfare in the Trisely andBurinovo areas, and a report on the seizure ofindividual German patrolmen by Russians.
la. Operations- und Lagekarten. A billeting map forthe division in the Ruma, Mitrovica, and Sabac areas ofYugoslavia as of 10 Feb 1942; and situation mapsshowing street terrain, field fortifications, tankdefense, artillery emplacements, and defensivepositions in the Bykovo, Trisely, Petushki, andKrutitsy areas of Russia.
Tc, TB. Activity report of the intelligence branch,with overlays and interrogation summaries, for theperiod during the division's assignment in the Valievo,Macva, Loznica, litovo Dzice, Zlatibor, and Ravna Goraareas of Yugoslavia since 21 Sep 1941 and concerningthe transfer fron> Ruma, Yugoslavia, tc Eoiosovo andPetushki, Russia, 18 Feb 19U2; relief of the 14.IDmot., Mar 1942; and defensive operations in the Nosovo,Hachotino, Burinovo, and Karmanovo areas.
la, Anlagen zum KTF, Meldungen und Gespraeche. Dailyreports, messages, and reports of telephoneconversations with AK 46 Pz concerning enemy attacks onthe main line of resistance from Palatki to Krutitsy,with breakthrough to Machotino, 12 Aug 1942.
la, Anlagen zum KTB, Meldungen und Gespraeche. Reportsand notes on telephone conversations with AK 46 Pzconcerning operations in the Trisely, Burinovo, andMachotino areas.
la, Anlagen zum KTB 7, Operationsakten (nachgereicht).Reports and instructions relating to employment ofprisoners of war, improvement of combat methods, andpreparations fcr winter warfare in the Eykovo, Trisely,and Peski areas; reports of investigaticn concerningthe loss of equipment and supplies to the enemy; andmaps, overlays, and sketches.
la, Anlagen zum KTE 7, Zustandsberichte. Monthlyreports to AK 46 Pz on the status of training, troopmorale, weapons and equipment, health of troops,condition of horses, winter supplies, troop strength,losses, replacements, and combat readiness; weeklyreports on the mobility of infantry, artillery, andengineer units; and a unit history of the 342.ID fromits formation in Oct 1940 in the Koblenz area to itsassignment in France from early May to mid-Sep 1941 andin Serbia from S€p 1941 to Feb 1942.
la, KTB 8. War journal concerning reassignment of AK46 Pz and formation of Kampfgruppe Gcllnick, 17 Feb,from units of various-divisions subordinate to thecorps; defensive operations in the Peski, Trisely, andBurinovo areas; and the Bueffel Eewegung (withdrawalmovements to the Bueffel Stellung in the Lyapino,Gzhatsk, Ivanovka, Yelnya, and Gudino areas, 1-29 Mar1943).
la, Anlagenband 1 zum KTB 8, Operationsakten. Corpsorders, daily and afteraction reports, maps, andoverlays concerning preparations for the BueffelBewegung and defensive operations in the Bykovo, Peski,and Trisely areas; an order by Kampfgruppe Gollnick of28 Feb 1943 to destroy towns as the division withdraws;and intelligence bulletins.
la, Anlagenband 2 zum KTB 8, Operationsakten. Orders,daily reports, maps., messages, and reconnaissance andafteraction reports pertaining to the Bueffel Bewegung,
withdrawal movements to the Bueffel Stellung anddefensive operations in the Kasnya, Vyazma, Ivanovka,Semlevo, Rudnoye, and Yelnya areas, and the Marino,Torzhok, and Gudino areas south of Dorogobuzh; andrelief of the 292.ID.
la, KTB 9. War journal concerning withdrawal to theBueffel Stellung and position defense and defensiveoperations in the Marino, Torzhok, and Gorodok areasand west of Gudino in an attempt to check enemyadvances.
la, Anlagenband 1 zum KTP 9, Operationsakten. Dailyreports, messages, radio and telephone ret sketches,maps, and overlays concerning construction and defenseof the Bueffel Stellung and defeu.i re operations in theGorodok, Torzhok, Nemerz1, and Vyazma areas;afteraction reports regarding the Bueffel Bewegung; anda report on withdrawal movements cf Gren.Rgt. 697, 3-17Mar 1943.
la, Anlagenband 2 zum KTB 9, Operationsakten. Dailyand afteraction reports, orders, conference notes,maps, and overlays concerning defensive operations inthe Torzhok, Gorcdok, Marino, and Chashchi areas andwithdrawal movements to the Nikitina and Gudino areasnear Dorogobuzh and a report of Gruppe Gollnick, 1 Mar1943.
la, Anlagenband 3 zum KTB 9 "Bueffel". Divisionorders, maps, and special directives for supplyregarding withdrawal movements to the Bueffel Stellungand defensive operations in the Eudnoye, Ivanovka, andKasnya areas.
la, Anlagenband 4 zum KTB 8 und 9, Lagekarten.Situation maps showing the Gudinc, Gorodok, Nikitina,Yelnya, and Dorogobuzh areas and the Nikolskoye areataken over from the 268.ID on 28 Jun 1943.
Ic, TB rait Anlagen zum KTB 8 und 9. Activity report,
with maps and overlays, concerning enemy operations,morale, and tactical situation and reports on troopindoctrination and entertainment.
la, KTB 10 und 11. War -journals, with maps, concerningdefensive operations in the Gudinc, Gorcdok, Torzhok,Nemerz1, and Vyselok areas in August; disengagementmovements from the Bueffel to the Eartarossa Stellungin the Gur'yevo area near Yelnya, 29 Aug, and to theHubertus Stellung in the Ealtutinc, Bulcvitsy, andGogolevka areas, 2 Sep; and withdrawal to and defenseof the Panther Stellung in the Dribin and Dobrayaareas, 28 Sep 1943, with Gruppe Traut and Div.Gr.330.ID being attached to the division. Orders forformation of Kampfgruppe Baier comprising the 252. and342.ID, 29 Aug 15*43, and regrouping tc form a new typedivision by the incorporation of Div.Gr. 330,ID, 12 Oct19U3; and a summary regarding combat operations in theBueffel Stellung, 7-20 Aug 1943.
la, Anlagen zum KTE. Corps and division orders,reports, and messages concerning reinforcement anddefense of the Bueffel Stellung and defensiveoperations and regrouping in the Gudino, Marino, andDorogobuzh areas.
la, Anlagen zum KTE. Corps and division orders,reports, messages, and overlays pertaining to defensiveoperations in the Gudino, Gorodok, Vyselok, andChashchi areas in August; an order regarding movementtoward Yelnya and Dorogobuzh in defense of the HubertusStellung in the Ealtutino, Slobodka, and Borodinoareas, 2 Sep; and disengagement tc, fortification, anddefense of the Panther Stellung in the Eribin andDobraya areas near Orsha, 28 Sep 1943, An afteractionreport by Gren.Rgt. 698 concerning its defensivebattles en 20 Aug in the Torzhok, Masovc, and TitowChutor areas.
Ic, TB mit Anlagen. Activity report including 1943/08/01-1943/10/31 3U2.ID 36691/4 2140 1intelligence bulletins, maps, and overlays concerningenemy operations and tactical situation; propaganda;summaries of siqnal and radio intelligenceclose-reconnaissance results (Zusammenfassungen derNachrichten-Nahaufklaerungsergebnisse), 19 Apr-2 Nov1943; and tables of camouflaged terms and letters usedfor code names (Tarntafel und Buchstabicrtafel).
la, KTB 12 mit Anlagen. War -journal, with orders, 1943/11/01-1944/02/29 342.ID 43882/1 2140 424reports, and maps concerning defensive operations andregrouping in the Dobraya, Shestaki, Avkhimki, andMogilev areas and operations against partisans in thedivision's rear area south of Ordat*. Activity report,1 Jul-31 Dec 1943, with daily orders and reports of thepersonnel branch concerning the division's campaign inthe Spas-Demensk, Dorogobuzh, and Gudino areas;withdrawal movements beginning 29 Aug 1943 to theYelnya, Baltutinc, Gorki, and Dribin ar€as; andregrouping and incorporation of Eiv.Gruppe 330.ID, 12Oct, and decorations awarded and recognition ofpersonnel.
Ic, TB. Activity report including directives, maps, 1943/11/01-1943/12/31 342.ID 43882/2 2140 808and overlays concerning enemy operations and thetactical situaticn; reports on the partisan situation,propaganda, and troop indoctrination and entertainment;and intelligence bulletins. Activity and afteractionreports of the staff officer for National Socialistindoctrination, 11 Nov-31 Dec 1943.
Ib, KTB 4; IVa-IVd, FPM, Wehrm.Ing., III, TB. War 1943/11/01-1943/12/31 342.ID 43882/3 2140 868•journal of the supply branch and activity reports ofthe administrative, medical, and veterinary officers;field post office 342; the Catholic and Protestantchaplains; the armed forces engineer; and the -judgeadvocate. The reports indicate that the division wasin the Gorki area, 30 Dec 1943.
