385th Infantry Division

385th Infantry Division
German: 385. Infanterie-Division
Active	10 January 1942 – 17 February 1943
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Fallingbostel
Nickname(s)	"Rheingold Division"
Engagements	World War II Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh offensive
Commanders
Notable commanders	Karl Eibl

The 385th Infantry Division, (German: 385. Infanterie-Division) also known as a "Rheingold" Division, was created on 10 January 1942 in Fallingbostel. The division was composed of replacement troops from military districts VI, X and XI. From April 16, 1942, the 385th Infantry Division moved to the Roslavl area and fought in the front lines at the Fomino area.

The division was annihilated near the Don River during the Battle of Stalingrad in early 1943 while subordinated to the 8th Italian Army. It had previously fallen under heavy frontal attack during the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh offensive by the 12th Tank Corps and 15th Tank Corps.[1]

The 385th Infantry Division was trapped as part of the encirclement between 15 and 26 January 1943 (along with 387th Infantry, Tridentina, Julia, Cuneense and Vicenza divisions), when Soviet troops encircled XXIV Panzer Corps and the Italian Alpini Corps.[2]

The division was disbanded in the period from February to March 1943 and its survivors joined the 387th Infantry Division.[1]

Commanding officers

• General der Infanterie Karl Eibl, 7 January 1942 – 18 December 1942 (KIA)
• Generalmajor Eberhard von Schuckmann, 18 December 1942 – 15 February 1943

References

1. Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). German Order of Battle, Volume Two: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. p. 87. ISBN 9780811734370.
2. Schlemmer, Thomas (2005). Die Italiener an der Ostfront 1942/43: Dokumente zu Mussolinis Krieg gegen die Sowjetunion. Munich: R. Oldenbourg Verlag. p. 70. ISBN 3486578472.