The 383rd Infantry Division was formed during the winter of 1941/42, as part of the 18th wave. All infantry divisions of this wave, numbers 383 to 389, were referred to as “Rhine Gold” divisions.
During the crisis of leadership experienced by the German 9th Army on 27 June 1944 in regards to the feasibility and authorization of German withdrawals from the Babruysk–Mogilev–Vitebsk sector, the 383rd Infantry Division was eventually chosen by Adolf Hitler to be the formation designated to stay behind in the Babruysk encirclement, tasked to hold the town as long as possible while other German forces were allowed to attempt a breakout.[1]
^Frieser, Karl-Heinz (2007). "Der Zusammenbruch der Heeresgruppe Mitte im Herbst 1944". In Frieser, Karl-Heinz; et al. (eds.). Die Ostfront 1943/44: Der Krieg im Osten und an den Nebenfronten. Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg. Vol. 8. Munich: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. pp. 526–603 (547–548). ISBN9783421062352.
Tessin, Georg (1975). "Die Landstreitkräfte 371—500". Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939—1945 (in German). Vol. 10. Osnabrück: Biblio. pp. 34–35.
Nazi Germany
