3. Fallschirmjäger-Division

In the following weeks, American forces conduct reconnaissance and limited holding attacks. These actions cause daily casualties. On June 25^th, 1944, the division launches a limited counterattack to relieve threatened neighbouring sectors. American forces repel the attack. The division suffers significant losses.

On July 11^th, 1944, the American offensive against Saint-Lô begins. The division incurs heavy casualties. On July 18^th, 1944, American units break through the positions of the 352. Infanterie-Division on the left. They enter Saint-Lô. The 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division withdraws to positions south of the Bayeux–Saint-Lô road. It now faces north and northeast.

On July 25^th, 1944, heavy American bombing precedes a breakthrough south of the division. United States forces break through the positions of the 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division. At the same time, strong American attacks penetrate the 3. Fallschirmjäger Division southeast of Saint-Lô. Continuous pressure forces withdrawal into the Vire–Saint-Pois–Tinchebray area. The division then retreats eastward via Flers. Fighting continues on both sides of Putanges. The division withdraws toward the area northwest of Argentan.

In mid-August 1944, the division becomes encircled southeast of Falaise. Other elements of the II. Fallschirm-Korps and the 7. Armee are also trapped. On August 19^th, 1944, the division attacks eastward to break out. The breakout succeeds between Trun and Chambois. The division retreats northeast via Vimoutiers, Bernay, Brionne, Elbeuf, and Saint-Pierre-lès-Elbeuf to the Seine.

After crossing the Seine at the end of August 1944, the remnants assemble near Rouen. Despite heavy losses, they deploy in early September 1944 as rear guard for the 5. Armee and 7. Armee. They cover the withdrawal line Crévecœur-le-Grand, Montdidier, Ham, and Saint-Quentin.

In early September 1944, the division is again encircled near Mons in Belgium. Most of the remaining force is captured. Only small groups escape. These remnants retreat via Charleroi, Nivelles, and Wavre to Maastricht. They continue to Aachen. In mid-September 1944, they are relieved from the front. They regroup east of Köln in the Leverkusen, Burscheid, and Opladen area.

On September 17^th, 1944, Allied airborne landings in the Netherlands force immediate redeployment. The bulk of the reassembled troops form Kampfgruppe 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division. The formation deploys under II. Fallschirm-Korps southeast of Nijmegen. Smaller elements move to the Hengelo, Almelo, and Oldenzaal area for reorganisation.

On September 17^th, 1944, the Kampfgruppe transfers to the area southeast of Kleve. It comes under command of the 406. Infanterie-Division. On September 18^th and September 19^th, 1944, it attacks north of the Kleve–Nijmegen road. The operation clears small groups of American airborne troops. On September 20^th, 1944, the Kampfgruppe advances with Kampfgruppe 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division on its left. It captures the high ground northwest of Wyler.

In the following weeks, the Kampfgruppe, now subordinated to the 84. Infanterie-Division, holds the Wyler area. Repeated American attacks are repelled. At the beginning of November 1944, the Kampfgruppe withdraws from the 84. Infanterie-Division. It transfers to the Netherlands to re-form the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

Luftwaffe ground personnel from Luftwaffen-Feld-Regimenter 22, 51, and 53 reinforce the division. Between November 24^th and November 30^th, 1944, the division transfers to the Düren area. It relieves the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division and the 47. Volksgrenadier-Division in the Lamersdorf, Luchem, Langerwehe, Jüngersdorf, and Merode sector. Heavy fighting begins immediately.

On December 1^st, 1944, Lucherberg is lost. On December 4, 1944, Luchem falls. On December 10^th, 1944, the US First Army launches a major offensive between Aldenhoven and the Hürtgen Forest. Near Echtz, American forces penetrate deeply. The breach cannot be sealed. Echtz falls on December 12^th, 1944.

After withdrawal and reorganisation, the division repels further attacks from December 13^th to December 15^th, 1944. It holds a reduced bridgehead from Hoven through Mariaweiler to Gürzenich. From December 13^th, 1944, the reintroduced 47. Volksgrenadier-Division relieves the division. Without rest, the division marches on foot to the Eifel.

The division assembles near Stadtkyll, Ormont, and Hallschlag. It prepares for the Ardennes Offensive. It comes under command of I. SS-Panzerkorps. On December 16^th, 1944, the offensive begins. The division breaks through American positions between Losheimer Graben and Manderfeld. It penetrates the front of V US Corps.

Progress remains slow due to strong resistance and difficult terrain. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 advances on the right flank. It moves from Frauenkron via Losheimer Graben toward Neuhaus. It reaches the southern edge of Büllingen on December 19^th, 1944. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 attacks in the centre. It advances from Hallschlag via Losheim, Lanzerath, Buchholz, and Honsfeld toward Möderscheid. It reaches the outskirts of Schoppen on December 19^th, 1944.

Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 8 advances on the left flank. It attacks from Ormont via Berterath, Holzheim, Wereth, and Heppenbach. It captures Amel on December 20^th, 1944. By the end of December 1944, the division reaches the Malmedy–Saint-Vith road near Ligneuville. Progress remains slow and costly.

Further attacks westward fail. In early January 1945, the division assumes defensive positions along the Faymonville, Amel, and Born line. On January 13^th, 1945, strong American forces advance from Malmedy toward Bütgenbach and from Saint-Vith toward Manderfeld. The division withdraws east to avoid encirclement.

Heavy fighting occurs around Schoppen from January 15^th to January 22^nd, 1945. By the end of January 1945, the division retreats to the border area on both sides of Losheim. In early February 1945, it occupies Westwall positions. It repels several tank attacks between February 1^st and February 9^th, 1945, along the Berk, Frauenkron, and Hallschlag line.

After February 10^th, 1945, increasing pressure forces withdrawal. The division establishes a new defensive line in the Stadtkyll, Lissendorf, and Birgel area. It holds this line until mid-February. In the second half of February 1945, the division transfers via Dollendorf, Ahrhütte, Marmagen, and Münstereifel. It moves to the Westwall near Nideggen, Abenden, Blens, Hausen, and Heimbach.

The division defends this sector until the end of February 1945. From early March 1945, it fights heavy defensive battles near Wollersheim, Vlatten, and Berg. On March 3^rd, 1945, it withdraws via Bürvenich, Zülpich, and Sinzenich. On March 4^th and March 5^th, 1945, it retreats along the Euskirchen, Kuchenheim, and Stotzheim line toward Rheinbach and Meckenheim.

Near Bad Godesberg, the division establishes a bridgehead west of the Rhine. It cannot prevent Allied forces from reaching the river. Between March 8^th and March 10^th, 1945, large parts of the division are captured. Remaining elements cross the Rhine near Ahrweiler, Remagen, and Neuwied.

Under Oberst Becker, the remnants establish defensive positions in the Siebengebirge in mid-March 1945. They hold the Aegidienberg, Asbach, and Mehren line. They also defend the Ölberg, Oberpleis, Uckerath, and Wissen sector until the end of March. In early April 1945, they repel several American attacks along the Siegburg and Troisdorf line.

The division now numbers approximately three battalions. Several Volkssturm units are attached. From April 10^th to April 14^th, 1945, the remnants withdraw along the Köln-Mülheim to Bensberg line. They continue via Leverkusen, Voiswinkel, and Bechen to Burscheid. On April 15^th, 1945, the remaining elements of the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division surrender.