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10th Armoured Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 10th Armoured Division (German: 10. Panzerdivision) is an armoured division in the German Army
of the Bundeswehr
.
Its staff is based at Sigmaringen
. The division is a unit of the German Army's stabilization forces and specialized on conflicts of low intensity
.
This division was founded as the 10. Panzerdivision of the new German Army in 1959. Originally only consisting of armoured units, it is now also superordinate to Germany's last mountain warfare
unit. For this reason the Edelweiss
badge has become another commonly used insignia to denote allegiance to this division. The 10th Armoured Division is a part of Germany's permanent contribution to Eurocorps
, the other being German shares to Franco-German Brigade
which was subordinate to the division till 2006.
After 1993 troops of this division participated in numerous overseas deployments. Among them were the first out-of-area land deployment operations for the Bundeswehr (in fact of any German military unit after World War II). Troops were deployed to Somalia (UNOSOM II) from 1993 to 1994 and to Bosnia and Herzegovina (IFOR
) from 1995 to 1996 and stayed in this country till 1998 (SFOR
). Soldiers of the 10th Armoured Division's SFOR contingent were also involved in the Bundeswehr's first combat operation in 1997 (Operation Libelle
). In 2000, the 10th Armoured Division deployed more than 8,000 personnel to the Balkans
. Between 2002 and 2003, it deployed to various operations on the Balkans and in Afghanistan
.
Its designation (10. Panzerdivision) and the name of its HQ garrison (Graf-Stauffenberg
-Kaserne) is a historical reference to key members of the German Resistance and July 20 Plot
who had served in the preceding 1939-1943 10. Panzer Division of Germany's Wehrmacht
during World War II.
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
.
Its staff is based at Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen is a town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the upper Danube, it is the capital of the Sigmaringen district....
. The division is a unit of the German Army's stabilization forces and specialized on conflicts of low intensity
Low intensity conflict
Low intensity conflict is the use of military forces applied selectively and with restraint to enforce compliance with the policies or objectives of the political body controlling the military force...
.
History
Gebirgsjäger
Gebirgsjäger, in English Mountain Riflemen, is the German designation for mountain infantry. The word Jäger is the traditional German term for rifleman...
unit. For this reason the Edelweiss
Edelweiss
Edelweiss , Leontopodium alpinum, is a well-known European mountain flower, belonging to the sunflower family.-Names:The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness".The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek...
badge has become another commonly used insignia to denote allegiance to this division. The 10th Armoured Division is a part of Germany's permanent contribution to Eurocorps
Eurocorps
Eurocorps is a multinational standing army corps available for the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance.Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, the force was created in May 1992, activated in October 1993 and declared operational in 1995....
, the other being German shares to Franco-German Brigade
Franco-German Brigade
The Franco-German Brigade is a joint formation consisting of units from both the French Armée de Terre and German Heer armies and is integrated in Eurocorps.-History:...
which was subordinate to the division till 2006.
After 1993 troops of this division participated in numerous overseas deployments. Among them were the first out-of-area land deployment operations for the Bundeswehr (in fact of any German military unit after World War II). Troops were deployed to Somalia (UNOSOM II) from 1993 to 1994 and to Bosnia and Herzegovina (IFOR
IFOR
The Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour. Its task was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for...
) from 1995 to 1996 and stayed in this country till 1998 (SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
). Soldiers of the 10th Armoured Division's SFOR contingent were also involved in the Bundeswehr's first combat operation in 1997 (Operation Libelle
Operation Libelle
Operation Dragonfly, in German Operation Libelle, was an evacuation operation of the German Armed Forces in the Albanian capital Tirana on March 14, 1997. In the same week, American and Italian military forces evacuated their citizens from Albania...
). In 2000, the 10th Armoured Division deployed more than 8,000 personnel to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. Between 2002 and 2003, it deployed to various operations on the Balkans and in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Its designation (10. Panzerdivision) and the name of its HQ garrison (Graf-Stauffenberg
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg commonly referred to as Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was a German army officer and Catholic aristocrat who was one of the leading members of the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from...
-Kaserne) is a historical reference to key members of the German Resistance and July 20 Plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
who had served in the preceding 1939-1943 10. Panzer Division of Germany's Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
during World War II.
Organisation
- 10th Armoured Division
- Staff Company
- Army Band 10
- Armored BrigadeBrigadeA brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
12 "OberpfalzUpper PalatinateThe Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
"- Staff Company
- Armoured Battalion 104
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 112
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion 122
- ReconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
Battalion 8 - Armoured Engineer Battalion 4
- Signal Battalion 4
- Logistics BattalionBattalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
4
- Mountain Infantry Brigade 23 "BayernBavariaBavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
"- Staff company
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 231
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 232
- Mountain Infantry Battalion 233
- Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion 230
- Mountain Engineer Battalion 8
- Mountain Signals Battalion 210
- Mountain Logistics Battalion 8
- MuleMuleA mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
Company 230