26. Infanterie-Division was formed in Köln on 1 April 1936. The division was mobilized Aug 1939 as part of the 1. Welle (wave).
The division took part in the invasion of France, but saw only limited action. It fought on the Eastern Front, taking part in the offensive against Moscow, the winter offensive of 1941-42, and the Battle of Kursk before being destroyed at Kovel during the Soviet summer offensive of 1944. The remnants were withdrawn to Poland where they served as a cadre for the 26. Volksgrenadier-Division  which was formed on 17 Sep 1944.

Nicknames

Dom Division, due to its insignia, based on the Cologne Cathedral.

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (5)
  Borchers, Karl-Heinz, 17.03.1943 (1609), Hauptmann, Btl.Fhr. I./Gren.Rgt. 77
  Hanses, [first name not listed], 18.03.1942 (838), Oberleutnant, Chef 1./Inf.Rgt. 39
  Kutsch, Walter, 17.10.1943 (2279), Rittmeister, Fhr. Aufkl.Abt. 26
  Mangel, Heinrich, 07.05.1943 (1786), Oberleutnant, Kp.Fhr. 1./Pi.Btl. 26
  Wittkamp, Kaspar, 07.05.1943 (1788), Unteroffizier, Gruppenführer i. d. 4.(MG)/Gren.Rgt. 77
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
  Dörsing, Hans, 01.02.1944 (440), Obergefreiter, 13./Gren.Rgt. 77
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (100)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (1)
  Thiel, Dr. Karl, 09.05.1944, Oberstabsarzt, San.Kp. (mot) 2/26
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (19)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (16) (15 RK + 1 EL)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (4)
  4./Infanterie-Regiment 39
    Date/Place of Downing: 05.11.1941 bei Popowo
    Award Date: 18.11.1941 (24)
  2./Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 26
    Date/Place of Downing: 24.01.1942 bei Gorbowo
    Award Date: 16.05.1942 (98)
  14./Infanterie-Regiment 78
    Date/Place of Downing: 26.12.1941 bei Kodosowo
    Award Date: 16.05.1942 (99)
  Aufklärungs-Abteilung 26
    Date/Place of Downing: 11.01.1942 bei Kosmaricha
    Award Date: 16.05.1942 (108)

Order of battle (1939)
Infanterie-Regiment 39
Infanterie-Regiment 77
Infanterie-Regiment 78
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 26
Artillerie-Regiment 26
  I. Abteilung
  II. Abteilung
  III. Abteilung
  I./Artillerie-Regiment 62
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 26 (1)
Pionier-Bataillon 26
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 26
Nachrichten-Abteilung 26
Feldersatz-Bataillon 26
Versorgungseinheiten 26

Order of battle (1942)
Füsilier-Regiment 39
Grenadier-Regiment 77
Grenadier-Regiment 78
Radfahr-Abteilung 26
Artillerie-Regiment 26
  I. Abteilung
  II. Abteilung
  III. Abteilung
  I./Artillerie-Regiment 62
Pionier-Bataillon 26
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 26
Nachrichten-Abteilung 26
Feldersatz-Bataillon 26
Versorgungseinheiten 26

Order of battle (1943-1944)
Füsilier-Regiment 39
Grenadier-Regiment 77
Grenadier-Regiment 78
Füsilier-Bataillon 26
Artillerie-Regiment 26
  I. Abteilung
  II. Abteilung
  III. Abteilung
  I./Artillerie-Regiment 62 (2)
Pionier-Bataillon 26
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 26
Nachrichten-Abteilung 26
Feldersatz-Bataillon 26
Versorgungseinheiten 26

Notable members
Wilhelm Ehm (Admiral and Chief of the Volksmarine (1 Aug 1959-31 Jul 1961 and 25 Feb 1963-30 Nov 1987) of the German Democratic Republic; served as a Soldat in Nachrichten-Abteilung 26 from 1939-1941 (transferred to the staff of Armeenachrichtenführer of the 16. Armee where he served for the remainder of the war))
Caesar von Hofacker (Active in the resistance against Hitler and executed after the failure of the July 20 Plot)

Insignia
The I Battalion of Infanterie-Regiment 77 was one of the battalions transferred as whole units from the Prussian Landespolizei into the Army in 1936 and was allowed to continue carrying their old Polizei flags.
The flag-bearer of this battalion wore the Landespolizei gorget instead of the normal Heer gorget.

(Illustration courtesy of Flags Of The World)

Footnotes
1. Released from the division in Dec 1939 and designated Heerestruppe.
2. Redesignated IV./Artillerie-Regiment 26 in Oct 1943.

Published sources used
John R. Angolia & Adolf Schlicht - Uniforms & traditions of the German Army 1933-1945, Vol 3

Reference material on this unit

Kameradschaft ehemalige 39-er - Infanterie Füsilierregiment 39 1936-1945

Heinrich Kemmler - Regimentsgeschichte des Infanterie-Regiment 78 (published in "Festschrift zum 1. Regimentstreffen in Aachen")

Wolfgang Knecht - Die Geschichte des Infanterie-Regiments 77 (Selbstverlag, 1964)