The 362nd Infantry Division was formed in Italy, in the area around Rimini, during the period from October to November 1943.

[3] Its core, including Greiner and his divisional staff, were the remnants of the 268th Infantry Division, which had previously served on the Eastern Front and had recently been disbanded following significant losses incurred in the Battle of Kursk and subsequent retreat.

[1] Its first engagement was in the Battle of Anzio in January 1944 and when the Allies managed to break through the German defences four months later, the division was overrun.

[1] Prior to this, the division was involved in the Benedicta massacre, which occurred at Piedmont between 6 and 7 April 1944, where 97 civilians were executed.

[5][6] Withdrawn to Rome, the division suffered heavy losses during the Allied advance and had to be rebuilt.