A pictorial history, 19351945 horst riebenstahl hardcover schiffer publishing, ltd. Structure of a panzer division in 1943 axis history forum. Differences in composition of waffenss divisions and regular divisions is. The armored weight of the opposing divisions, however, strongly favored the americans, for the german panzer division brought an average of 90 to 100 medium tanks into the field whereas the american triangular division was equipped with 186 and the two square divisions had 232 medium tanks in their organization tables. The tank divisions are to be reorganized within the limits of the available personnel and materiel. German ground forces battle of normandy dday overlord. In the second half of the war in europe, in particular close to the end of war, some divisions achieved only the complement of regiment sized units. The panzer lehr divison certainly deserves to be at the top of the list. I read that aa units are not good because building more fighters is more efficient. Panzer division was once more refit and reformed, this time at wittlich in the eifel area of germany where it absorbed the remains of the 352. What is the best composition of support units for german panzer divisions and infantry divisions. The number of tanks in the 1941style divisions was relatively small, compared to their predecessors composition.
The main part of each mechanized army divisions book starts out with divisional diagrams, one division per page, followed by a series of diagrams for each type of subunit brigade, regiment, or battalion, with accompanying text explaining the interior structure and the composition of these units, detachments, sections, platoons, etc. A division usually has between 10,000 and 18,000 men. A panzer division, for example, was accustomed to a war of movement. It had 93 panzer i, a tank never intended for combat and only armed with machine guns. German world war ii organizational series order of battle. The 1st, 2d, and 3d had 1 tank and 1 motorized infantry brigade each. The combat history of the 23rd panzer division in world war ii english edition ebook. F 101 attached to at the beginning of barbarossa, but for example on 26 august it was attached to the 7. This table is for quick reference for identifying units mentioned in books. For an infantry division official composition in 1939 was 17,734 men official composition ws lowered in 1943 due to manpower shortage to 12,772 men a panzer divison after the 1943 reorgaanisation would be 15,600 men and 150200 armoured vehicles one tank regiment of two or three battalions of three companies.
Best regards, ron klages panzerdivision 1944 panzer division headquarters. I would like to know about the organization of a standard panzer division not grossdeutschland or waffen ss in the summer of 1943. Panzer divisions 19351939 panzer divisions 19391945 waffenss panzer division 19431945 panzer colors 19341945. For germany are their any support units that are not worthwhile. The structure development and personalities of the 2. A study of the employment of armor in the second world war first ballantine books ed.
Visualization of a german panzer division in 1939 according to the planned outfit for the 1. A panzer division in world war ii consisted of a tank brigade with four battalions, a motorized infantry brigade with four rifle battalions, an artillery regiment. In may 1940, the division took part in the campaign against france. During this period the panzer lehr division was raised, and three reserve panzer divisions were used to create the 9th, 11th and 116th panzer divisions. The panzergrenadier division had indeed a panzer abteilung with 42 stugs and 3 panzerbefehlswagen iiis. The combat history of the 23rd panzer division in world war ii. Known war crimes this unit was one of those singled out in exhibit uk66, the british report on german reprisals for partisan activities in italy at the international military tribunal imt war crimes trial at nuremberg. The 7th panzer division was an armored formation of the german army in world war ii. As a result, the pictures in the book look very sharp and clear.
Are hospital and signal units usefull or is more artillery better. Army group c at cassino, feb 1944 army group c at gothic line, sept 1944 german winter attack in december 1944 army group c spring 1945 unit history a brief history of each division, august 1944 to may 1945 commanders a brief list of commanders for info on the italian waffenss division see italian organizations. Panzer division began as an experimental noise project dealing with the topic of war in general but focusing mainly on world war 2. Feb 05, 2012 for the best answers, search on this site divisional strengths changed during the course of the war. The book covers the first two years of existence and combat activities of the german 11th panzer division pz. Pzdiv, still used in the modern german army of the bundeswehr for example the 1. Late 41 sep nov, the 22nd, 23rd and 24th panzer divisions were formed. Historical divisions germany paradox interactive forums.
Coming into contact with 2nd cavalry the 11th panzer division first came into contact with elements of the 2nd constabulary regiments predecessor, the 2nd cavalry group, in the french province of lorraine. The tsg is not a militia, military, or political organization. A, 3rd ss panzer division, warsaw, 1944 kettenfahrzeug, militar, bemalung, tarnung. The book was a disappointment because the 500 or so black and white photographs were of a very small size usually four in a page, placed like in a checkerboard style and of poor quality. Ii reenactors and we portray a german panzer division. Panzer, panzer grenadier, and waffen ss divisions in wwii stackpole military history series mitcham jr. The division had 2 regiments, with each 3 batallionen. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Each of the infantry regiments had, besides its twelve rifle and heavy weapons companies, a th infantry howitzer and 14th antitank company.
Kettenkrad1 motorcycle with sidecar36 motorcycle5 light civilian car5 medium civilian car5 light cross country car24 medium cross country car4 heavy cross country. Entering the line next to the 12th ss panzer division hitlerjugend near caen, it fought several british and canadian attacks to a standstill, even managing with elements of the 2nd panzer division and 101st ss heavy panzer battalion to retake the village of villiersbocage in a counterattack after it was captured by the british 22nd armoured brigade. On 1 august 1944, the organization of a tank division was changed to that of the panzer division 44. Epilogue united states army center of military history. There were 17 in each of the 4 companies and 8 in the battalion headquarters company. The panzer legions and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. A crowd of 90th and 2nd infantry division troops gather as the german 11th panzer division makes its formal surrender in may 1945. This richly illustrated book chronologically describes the course of operation.
At the end of the campaign in the last months of 1940, the division lost its 4th panzer regiment which was used as the basis for the soontobeformed th panzer division. Panzer, panzer grenadier, and waffen ss divisions in wwii stackpole military history series. Panzer division was created in 1935 from parts of the old 3. However, only two out of 7 ss panzer divisions contained that strength. It participated in the battle of france, the invasion of the soviet union. Panzer division, german panzerdivision, armoured division, a selfcontained combinedarms military unit of the german army, built around and deriving its mission largely from the capabilities of armoured fighting vehicles. Whereas more than half the panzers deployed in france during may of 1940 were light panzer i and ii variants, by june of 1941 fully two thirds of each division s panzer complement comprised the far more capable pz 3538t, panzer iiiiv, and stug assault guns. The battle plans and tactics of the fifth panzer army, more than those of any other german army that took part in the ardennes counteroffensive, bore the very strong personal imprint of its commander, general manteuffel. A division is an organizational unit that provides all services to maintain a fighting force in the field including transport, supply, medical care, pay, and legal services. A guide to the german army tank divisions of world war ii and their commanders stackpole military history series.
Its antitank guns were given over to the panzer jaegerabteilung but the panzergrenadiers were equipped with panzerschrecks and panzerfaust anti. The panzer regiment of the panzer division 1944 consisted of two battalions. The 2nd panzer division then advanced along the river aisne into the interior of france. A panzer division is one of the armored tank divisions in the wehrmacht of nazi germany.
As of 1939 the 5 panzer divisions varied somewhat in their composition. These chapters provide an overview of the divisions composition, leadership and. The division again saw action, this time during the wacht am rhein offensive in december, 1944. The panzer divisions 1943 1945 kamen nevenkin on amazon. Apr 12, 2016 tank brigade historical composition for the 1st tank division 1. As the instrument with which hitler was to achieve his plan for world domination, the german army was at the cutting edge of 20thcentury military technology. The first two were formed with foreign or obsolete equipment. For the ordinary soldier, whether a teenager from berlin or a fortyyearold pole or russian in an ost battalion, life consisted of boring work during the day, and enjoyment at night. Tank brigade historical composition for the 1st tank division 1. Are maintenence companies only good for divisions with vehicles. It was one of three tank divisions created at the time, the other two being the 2nd and 3rd panzer division. The 7th panzer division is sometimes known by its nickname, ghost division.
The book is divided into two volumes, detailing every wehrmacht and ss panzer division in numbered order. The firepower of panzergrenadierregiment in 1944 was reduced due to removal of all antitank guns as compared to previous one table 19 and table 20. A panzer division in world war ii consisted of a tank brigade with four battalions, a motorized. Panzer divisions aim is to avoid any common stereotypes on the structural aspects of a composition, but rather the layering and the disposal of main stream ideas. Panzer division, armoured division, a selfcontained combinedarms military unit of the german army, built around and deriving its mission largely from the capabilities of armoured fighting vehicles. A panzer division is one of the armored tank divisions in the wehrmacht of nazi germany during world war ii. Here in detail is the authorized toe for a german panzer division in 1944. Panzer division 1944 organization chart and kstn list.
The division took part in the invasion of poland in september 1939 and fought with distinction in that campaign. Earlier in the year, germany had renounced the treaty of versailles, which had forbidden the country, among other things, from having tank forces, a treaty. I have dozens of books on german armor, wheeled and tracked armor and soft skin vehicles. German 5th light division march, 1941 606th light antiaircraft battalion x 4 5th panzer regiment x 2 x 4 x 5 x 1 panzer battalion x 2 x 2 x 4 605th panzer jager battalion 8th machine gun battalion x 2 x 6 x 8 x 3 x 3 x 4 x 4 33rd antiaircraft regiment x 9 x 6 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 18 x 9 x 3 x 1 x 3 x 1 x 17. Panzer division is a member of the tactical studies group tsg, a nonpolitical organization intended solely for the purpose of public education, and personal recreation. Effective immidiately, the panzerdivision 44 table of organization and equipment applies to all tank divisions. A panzer division in world war ii consisted of a tank brigade with four battalions, a motorized panzer division, armoured division, a selfcontained combinedarms military unit of the german army, built around and deriving its mission largely from the capabilities of armoured fighting vehicles. Before the emergence of the us army as a force to be reckoned with later in world war ii, the german army was the most powerful, efficient and wellequipped fighting force in the world. Includes bibliographical references the 7th panzer division in the french campaign, may 1940 the 7th panzer division in the soviet union, junejuly 1941 observations on the combat performance of the 7th panzer division and suggested actions for the improvement of marine corps operational capabilities. Illustrated with hundreds of detailed artworks of tanks and their markings, german panzer divisions of world war ii is a comprehensive study of the equipment and organization of germanys armored divisions from 1939 to 1945. Thus the ss panzer division could field two panzer battalions which reinforced by one assault gun battalion and a total of six panzergrenadier battalions, two of them were equipped with sdkfz 251 spw. As a junior officer in the prewar panzer troops, manteuffel had made a mark as an armored.
The fifth panzer army attacks the 28th infantry division. Yerger volume 2 hardcover mark c yerger july 1994 isbn. Hitlers tank divisions were his most lethal weapons during world war ii. The military disasters of the summer of 1944 brought about the creation of panzer brigades 1011, which were used to reinforce panzer or panzergrenadier divisions which had suffered. The division was one of the original three tank divisions established by germany in 1935. I have for example the information that the onhand strength of 11th panzer division on july 1943 before zitadelle was. The 1st panzer division was formed on 15 october 1935 from the 3rd cavalry division, and was headquartered in weimar. Panzer divisions 19351939 panzer divisions 19401945 waffen ss panzer divisions 19431945 wehrmacht panzer division mid1942 wehrmacht panzer division 1944. The panzer division had a panzer regiment with 2 panzer abteilungen, each having 4 kompanien of 17 tanks each.
The state of barbarossas panzer divisions in the fall of. The use of insignia of organizations that have been banned in germany like the nazi swastika or the arrow cross are also illegal. Nicknamed the ghost division because of its speed and habit of turning up where its enemies least expected, the german 11th panzer division wreaked havoc in the east and west in world war ii, playing a pivotal role in some of the biggest engagements, including barbarossa, stalingrad, kursk, and the west. Thank you for the most informative site on german armor. German tank division 1939 organization and structure. Basic organization of panzergrenadierregiment in panzer. One battalion had panthers and the other panzerkampfwagen iv s. A panzer division was a combined arms formation, having both tanks german panzerkampfwagen, armored fighting vehicle, usually shortened to panzer, mechanized and motorized infantry, along with artillery, antiaircraft and other integrated support elements. The status of the reorganization must be reported in the monthly status reports. Several of the books are in german and hard to find nowadays in the last 40 years i have built 93 5 scale german models of all kinds, some of which were scratch built and many are variations. A guide to the german army tank divisions of world war ii and their commanders stackpole military history series samuel w. Panzerdivision is an armoured division of the german army, part of the bundeswehr. Panzer division these are the numbers for the erste panzer division the first tank division. Legal disclaimer this image shows or resembles a symbol that was used by the national socialist nsdapnazi government of germany or an organization closely associated to it, or another party which has been banned by the federal constitutional court of germany.
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