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116th Panzer Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 116th Panzer Division, also known as the "Greyhound 'Windhund' Division", was a German
panzer division
that saw combat during World War II
. It was reconstituted in the Rhineland
and Westphalia
areas of western Germany
in March 1944 from the remnants of the 16th Panzergrenadier Division, and the 179th Reserve Panzer Division
. The 16th Panzergrenadier Division had been badly mauled after combat on the Eastern Front near Stalingrad, and the 179th Reserve Panzer Division was a second-line unit that had been on occupational duty in France
since 1943.
In 1944, it participated in opposing the Normandy Landings and was trapped in the Falaise Pocket
following Operation Cobra
. Along with the 2nd SS Panzer Division, it was responsible for holding the pocket open to allow German Troops to escape. It managed to escape, although with only 600 infantry and 12 tanks intact. In October, it fought against American forces in the Battle of Aachen
, with the town falling on the 21st of the same month. It was moved to Holland for refitting and soon found itself involved in the Market Garden Offensive, helping the 10th SS Stop the British Advance. On 8 November, the division repulsed an attack from the U.S. 28th Infantry Division in the Hürtgen Forest
during the larger Battle of Hürtgen Forest
, recapturing the town of Schmidt, thus providing the name to the 28th Infantry Division as the "Bloody Bucket Division".
The 'Greyhound Division' then participated in the failed "Wacht am Rhein" Operation in the Ardennes
, where it participated in the middle spearhead and later held the Allies at bay for other units to retreat, before being withdrawn over the Rhine in March. It then opposed the 9th Army's advance across the Rhine, thus stopping the planned Allied Breakthrough as well as opposing Operation Varsity's airborne landings. With 2800 men and 10 tanks against 50,000 allied troops and supporting tanks, the division held off the 30th Infantry Division, the 35th Infantry Division, the 84th Infantry Division, the 4th Canadian Infantry Division and 8th Armored Division. On 18 April 1945, the majority of the division was forced to surrender to the 9th U.S. Army, having been trapped in the Ruhr Pocket
. It was described by the Commander of the 9th Army to New York Times reporter John MacCormac, in March 1945, as 'the famed and Best German Panzer Division', and was listed as same in article of 27-28 of march. Remnants of the Division continued to fight in the Harz Mountains until April 30, surrendering after all of their resources had been exhausted. The 116.Panzer Division participated in the following battles: Normandy, Arnhem, Aachen, the Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes Offensive, the Reichswald and the Ruhr Pocket.
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:...
panzer division
Panzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
that saw combat during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was reconstituted in the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
and Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
areas of western Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in March 1944 from the remnants of the 16th Panzergrenadier Division, and the 179th Reserve Panzer Division
179th Reserve Panzer Division (Germany)
The 179th Reserve Panzer Division of the German army in World War II was formed in July 1943. The division was stationed in France from July 1943 to May 1944 when it was disbanded and absorbed by the 116th Panzer Division.- Order of battle :...
. The 16th Panzergrenadier Division had been badly mauled after combat on the Eastern Front near Stalingrad, and the 179th Reserve Panzer Division was a second-line unit that had been on occupational duty in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1943.
In 1944, it participated in opposing the Normandy Landings and was trapped in the Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
following Operation Cobra
Operation Cobra
Operation Cobra was the codename for an offensive launched by the First United States Army seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy Campaign of World War II...
. Along with the 2nd SS Panzer Division, it was responsible for holding the pocket open to allow German Troops to escape. It managed to escape, although with only 600 infantry and 12 tanks intact. In October, it fought against American forces in the Battle of Aachen
Battle of Aachen
The Battle of Aachen was a battle in Aachen, Germany, which occurred between 2–21 October 1944. By September 1944, the Wehrmacht had been pushed into Germany proper, after being defeated in France by the Western Allies...
, with the town falling on the 21st of the same month. It was moved to Holland for refitting and soon found itself involved in the Market Garden Offensive, helping the 10th SS Stop the British Advance. On 8 November, the division repulsed an attack from the U.S. 28th Infantry Division in the Hürtgen Forest
Hurtgen Forest
The Hürtgen forest is located along the border between Belgium and Germany in the southwest corner of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Scarcely in area, the forest lies within a triangle outlined by Aachen, Monschau, and Düren...
during the larger Battle of Hürtgen Forest
Battle of Hurtgen Forest
The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
, recapturing the town of Schmidt, thus providing the name to the 28th Infantry Division as the "Bloody Bucket Division".
The 'Greyhound Division' then participated in the failed "Wacht am Rhein" Operation in the Ardennes
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, where it participated in the middle spearhead and later held the Allies at bay for other units to retreat, before being withdrawn over the Rhine in March. It then opposed the 9th Army's advance across the Rhine, thus stopping the planned Allied Breakthrough as well as opposing Operation Varsity's airborne landings. With 2800 men and 10 tanks against 50,000 allied troops and supporting tanks, the division held off the 30th Infantry Division, the 35th Infantry Division, the 84th Infantry Division, the 4th Canadian Infantry Division and 8th Armored Division. On 18 April 1945, the majority of the division was forced to surrender to the 9th U.S. Army, having been trapped in the Ruhr Pocket
Ruhr Pocket
The Ruhr Pocket was a battle of encirclement that took place in late March and early April 1945, near the end of World War II, in the Ruhr Area of Germany. For all intents and purposes, it marked the end of major organized resistance on Nazi Germany's Western Front, as more than 300,000 troops were...
. It was described by the Commander of the 9th Army to New York Times reporter John MacCormac, in March 1945, as 'the famed and Best German Panzer Division', and was listed as same in article of 27-28 of march. Remnants of the Division continued to fight in the Harz Mountains until April 30, surrendering after all of their resources had been exhausted. The 116.Panzer Division participated in the following battles: Normandy, Arnhem, Aachen, the Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes Offensive, the Reichswald and the Ruhr Pocket.
Commanding officers
- Generalmajor Gerhard Müller, creation – 30 April 1944
- General der PanzertruppeGeneral der PanzertruppeGeneral der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
Gerhard Graf von Schwerin, 1 May 1944 – 31 August 1944 - OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Heinrich VoigtsbergerHeinrich VoigtsbergerHeinrich Voigtsberger was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
(deputy), 1 September 1944 – 13 September 1944 - Generalmajor Siegfried von Waldenburg, 14 September 1944 – German surrender