SS PANZER KORPS (LAH, Das Reich, Totenkopf) IN Kharkov March 1943
The German panzer division Panzer term commonly used in the English language refers almost exclusively to the division of armored tanks in the armed branch of the Wehrmacht and Nazi Germany during World War II, Panzer divisions were the element key to German success in Blitzkrieg operations in the first years of the war later the Waffen SS formed panzer divisions, and even the Luftwaffe fielded a panzer division, Herman Goring the panzer term division is still used in army today Bundeswehr eg 1 Panzer division in the German-speaking countries the term is not immediately associated with the Wehrmacht as it is in English speaking nations, as the word simply means Armored division and do no additional connotation.
An armored division was combined training, with two armored combat tanks German Panzerkampfwagen, usually abbreviated Panzer and infantry as organic components, along with anti-aircraft artillery signals, etc. However, the proportions of components of an armored division changed over time.
Heinz Guderian first proposed the formation of Panzer units larger than a regiment, but the inspector of motorized troops, Otto von Stuelpnagel rejected the proposal 1 After substituting mentor Oswald Lutz Guderian, the idea won more support in the Wehrmacht, and after 1933 was also supported by Adolf Hitler the first three panzer divisions were formed October 15, 1935 2 the 1st Armored division was formed in Weimar and commanded by Maximilian von Weichs the 2 was formed in Wurzburg and controlled by Guderian, and the third was formed in Berlin and controlled by Ernst Feßmann.
Most other armies of the time organized their tanks in tank brigades needed additional organic Panzer divisions and artillery support had their own organic support infantry and artillery This led to a change in doctrine operational instead of support operations by other weapons tanks, tanks led operations, with other arms that support from the panzer divisions had the support arms included, they can operate independently of other units .
These first panzer divisions 1 to 5 comprised two tank regiments, a motorized infantry regiment of two battalions, and supporting troops Some of these panzer divisions had a fairly large proportion of Panzerkampfwagen I in them, a reservoir which was never intended to fight after the invasion of Poland in 1939, the old divisions have been partially reorganized add a third battalion few infantry regiments or the addition of a second regiment of two battalions at that time, the newly organized divisions 6 to 10 differed in the organization, each averaging with a tank regiment, a separate tank battalion, one or two infantry regiments three to four battalions per division.
At the beginning of Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the 21 panzer divisions had been further reorganization now consist of a tank regiment of two or three battalions and two motorized regiments of two battalions up in the winter of 1941 42, the organic component of these divisions consisted of a motorized artillery regiment 3 of a heavy and two light battalions and recognition of the following battalions, motorcycle, tank, pioneer, replacing the field communications the number of tanks in the divisions 1941 style was relatively low, compared to their predecessors composition All other units in these courses were fully motorized trucks, half-tracks specialized combat vehicles to match the speed of the reservoirs .
During the winter of 1941 42 divisions have been reorganized, the composition of each tank regiment with a three battalions, according to generally place three for the South Army Group for a group of other controls armies usually two battalions Center throughout 1942, the reconnaissance battalions were merged into battalions motorcycle.
In the summer of 1943, the Luftwaffe and Waffen SS also had panzer divisions Renewed standardization of tank regiments was tried Each was supposed now composed of two battalions, one Panzer IV and Panzer V In reality, the organization continues to vary from division to division the first infantry battalion of the first infantry regiment of each division of panzer was now supposed to be mechanized fully assembled half-tracks 251 on the first battalion of armored artillery regiment replaced former light howitzers towed with a mixture of heavy and light self-propelled guns Hummel Wespe antitank battalion now had two assault rifles, tank destroyers, and towed antitank guns in general mechanization of these divisions has increased over their previous organization.
Since Heer and SS used their own ordinal system, there were twice as many e i there was both a 9th Panzer Division and 9th SS Panzer Division.
Panzer Division Clausewitz formerly Division No. 233 motorized Panzergrenadier Division No. 233 and No. 233 Panzer Division Panzer Reserve Division 233.
Döberitz Schlesien and Holstein are nearly synonymous with Clausewitz.
Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 1 previously 60th infantry division, 60th motorized infantry division and Feldherrnhalle Panzergrenadier division.
Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2 previously 13th infantry division, 13th division motorized infantry and 13th Panzer division.
Part Panzer Division Kempf part Heer Waffen SS.
Panzer Lehr Division sometimes identified as 130th Panzer-Lehr-Division.
Panzer Division Tatra later Panzer Training Division Panzer Division Tatra 232nd.
The strength of the panzer divisions reservoir varied throughout the war The equipment of each division is difficult to determine due to battle losses, the formation of new units, reinforcements and captured enemy equipment The following table shows the strength of the tank each division on two dates this was known.
Panzer division, Panzer Division Panzer Division Division Panzer Panzer Division.