The 32nd Panzergrenadier division Kalter Streik, also known as in post-war documentation simply as the 32nd Nord Division, was a division fighting for Nazi Germany in World War Two. It participated in the invasion of Poland and took part in the 1940 assault on the low countries. The division joined Operation Barbarossa in 1941, and were involved in the battle of Stalingrad, where they were evacuated from before the Soviet encirclement was complete. After a small rest, the undermanned and undersupplied division took part in Operation Bagration, where one third of it was killed, one third had successfully retreated and one third was captured by the Red Army. After capture, they committed/attempted suicide, and ultimately only twenty of the original 380 prisoners would remain alive, with them killing themselves three months later.
The division was then moved to the newly created Western Front with new equipment and recruits. After taking part in the Battle of France, the division retreated towards the Netherlands, and after Operation Market Garden, was reinforced with the 372th Panzer Division and the 421st Volksgrenadiers. The unit would then participate in the Battle of the Bulge, earning the name Kalter Streik(Cold strike). They were ultimately forced to fall back and regroup within Germany. The last Operation the unit was participating in was the Battle of Berlin, were they were completely destroyed by the Soviet Red Army.
The 32nd was noted to be the first(and only) division in the German Wehrmacht to have employed women as soldiers and NCOs. Feldwebel Katrine Schiesser in particular was popular by the troops, nicknamed 'Mutter(Mother)' for her protective attitude and motherly leadership. She died in the Berlin Defense Area protecting eight children from Red Army troops, and was posthumously to the rank of Hauptmann, before the German Wehrmacht was disbanded on 20 September 1945.
Size
1940
22,000
1941
35,000
1943
45,000
1944
6,600-12,450
1945
12,450-13,500(Disbanded, Sep 20)
