History of the 167th Volksgrenadier Division

The 167th Volksgrenadier Division was made up of Grenadier Regiments from the 15th Armee and the remains of the 17th Luftwaffe Field Division in late September of 1944. The newly formed 167th VGD was sent to Hungary from October 1944 through November 1944. From Hungary, it was moved to Slovakia from November to December 1944. From Slovakia the VGD was moved to the western front for the Ardennes offensive and finally to Western Germany before capitulating in the Ruhr Pocket in late April of 1945. Our unit seeks to portray the 167th Volksgrenadier Division as it would have been constructed in late 1944. The uniforms and members of the unit reflect the thrown together nature of the Volksgrenadier Divisions in the late stages of World War II.

The members of the 167th VGD strive to accurately reproduce the uniforms, faithfully portray the tactics and first person histories of the soldaten of World War II German Volksgrenadier Divisions. We demand accuracy in the uniforms, field tactics and impressions from our membership as well as aggressiveness in fighting. We do this in order to make the history of World War II come alive, for at least a little while. We are historical researchers that have decided that reading how it was in a book is much less educational that going and doing it the right way in the field.

We are not nazi's, have no affiliations with the hate groups of today and do not believe the political ideaologies of Germany from 1933 to 1945. If you are looking for these types of groups, MOVE ON. If you have a keen interest in history, a passion to do it the right way (not "close enough") and want see how it was (as closely as we can do without killing each other) please contact us to talk about how to get involved. Our membership consists of three groups, a northern group (Oklahoma), a central group (Dallas, Texas area) and southern group (Houston, Texas area). Please enjoy the site and we will see you in the field.


15th Armee History
The 15th Armee was established on 15 January 1941 in France. Initially it served as a security force on the Channel Coast in Belgium and North France from 5.1.1941 to 8.16.1944. The 15th Armee was involved in fighting on the Seine, Somme and the retreat to the Schelde from 8.17.1944 to 9.11.1944. The 15th was also involved in the defense of La Havre from 8.17.1944 to 9.12.1944, the defense of Boulogne from 9.13.1944 to 9.22.1944, the defense of Calais from 9.23.1944 to 10.1.1944 and the defense of Dünkirchen from 10.2.1944 to 5.8.1945. During this time, they were also involved in the battles for Eindhoven from 9.11.1944 to 10.6.1944, the Schelde Delta from 10.7.1944 to 11.14.1944, the loss of Walchern on 11.1.1944, battle for Aachen from 11.16.1944 to 12.14.1944 and a position on the Roer River from 12.15.1944 to 2.22.1945. They were involved in a fighting retreat between the Roer and Rhein Rivers from 2.23.1945 to 3.7.1945. The Armee formed a position and kept up the fight on the Rhein River and in the Ruhr Pocket from 3.8.1945 to 4.17.1945. Finally the Armee capitulated in the Ruhr Pocket on 4.18.1945.


17th Luftwaffe Field Division History
17. Feld Division (Luftwaffe) was formed on 1 November 1943 at Le Havre, when the former 17th Luftwaffe Feld Division was transferred to Army command and control. Upon transfer to the Army's command and control, all Luftwaffe field divisions retained the (Luftwaffe) or (L) suffix behind their name as recognition of their heritage. It should be noted perhaps that only the field divisions transferred to direct Army command and control, the airborne units (Fallschirmjäger) remained under the command of the Air Force (die Luftwaffe). At the time of reforming under Army command, the 17.FD (L) had the following units: The 17.FD (L) remained in France to man the Atlantik Wall defences, along with four other field divisions (L). 17.FD (L), commanded by Generalleutnant Hans Hocker of the German Army (das Heer), was tasked with defending the French coastline from Dieppe to Le Havre - but was not responsible for either town. In May 1944, Jäger-Regiment (L) 34 gained a 3rd battalion when Bataillon 835 of the Nordkaukasische Legion (Battalion 835 of the North Caucasian Legion - White Russians allied with Germany) was transferred to it. 17.FD (L) was put on alert in the early hours of 6 June 1944 as the Allied invasion of Normandy began. It was immediately suspected that Le Havre was an Allied target and 17.FD (L) moved into their battle positions. However, it was actually 16.FD (L) who were the first Field Division troops to go into battle against the Allies.

During the first week of August 1944, 17.FD (L) was moved from Le Havre to provide reinforcements against the British breakthrough attempt further west ('Operation Goodwood'). The division was forced to leave a number of its units behind at Le Havre however, as it didn't possess enough vehicles to transport all its men and equipment. Nonetheless, the division pressed and took up positions along the Eure River near Dreux - where they received some WW1-era French 150mm field artillery pieces to bolster their capabilities. Unfortunately, the men had received no training on these guns and they had no spare time or ammunition with which to practice, so their effectiveness was severely limited and the division was soon forced to withdraw.

The division continued to conduct a fighting retreat across France for the rest of the summer. The majority of its units were crushed into oblivion by September, and the division was officially disbanded on 28 September 1944. Some elements of the division survived as a Kampfgruppe and managed to reach Holland with the 15th Army. There they formed the basis of the newly constituted 167.Volks-Grenadier Division under Generalleutnant Hocker again, and were sent to Slovakia.