The 352nd Infantry Division was one of the few regular army divisions stationed in Normandy on the eve of D-Day. It was a semi-mobile division, but relied purely on caputred French trucks and bicycles for mobility.  

The division largely defended the areas of Omaha Beach and Juno Beach. Initially designated as reserve to the 716th static division, Rommel decided to divided the Normandy costline between both divisions.

Part of the duties of the 352nd consisted of constructing reinforcements along the coast. 75% of the NCO cadre in the 352th had combat experience. However, only 10% of the rank-and-file did. To complicate matters even further, another 30% were Osttruppen.