18th Panzer Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 18th Panzer Division was a German
World War II
armoured division
that fought on the Eastern Front
from 1941 until disbandment in 1943.
from parts of the 4th Infantry Division, 14th Infantry Division
, and four battalions of submersible tanks. The submersible tanks had originally been intended for Operation Sea Lion (Seelöwe), the planned German invasion of England. Of these four tank battalions, two formed the 18th Panzer Regiment and the other two the 28th Panzer Regiment of the 18th Panzer Division. In March 1941 the 18th Panzer Division was reorganized, the 28th Panzer Regiment was disbanded, one of its battalions became the third battalion of the 18th Panzer Regiment, and the other battalion was transferred to the 3rd Panzer Division.
, on 22 June 1941. When the 18th Panzer Division crossed the Bug River
underwater on 22 June, with submersible tanks, it marked the first time in World War II submersible tanks were used in combat. The 18th Panzer Division fought as part of LXVII Panzer Corps, and over the next six months was involved in seizing Smolensk
, Bryansk
, and the assault on Tula
. However, like the rest of the German Army the 18th Panzer Division was unprepared for the Russian winter and was driven back to Oryol
in January 1942 with heavy losses.
in 1942-43, and in anti-partisan operations in the spring of 1943. In the summer of 1943 the 18th Panzer Division fought in the Battle of Kursk
, and suffered heavy losses. After Kursk the 18th Panzer-Division was disbanded and the division's personnel were used to build the 18th Artillery Division
.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
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...
armoured division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
that fought on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
from 1941 until disbandment in 1943.
Commanding officers
- 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...
n Walther NehringWalther NehringWalther Kurt Josef Nehring , was a German general of World War II, known for his involvement with the Afrika Korps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 26 October 1940 - Generalleutnant Karl Freiherr von ThüngenKarl Freiherr von ThüngenLieutenant General Karl Freiherr von Thüngen was a German army officer who was the inspector of the army in Berlin andwas executed after the failed July 20 Plot in 1944....
, 26 January 1942 - General der NachrichtentruppeGeneral der NachrichtentruppeGeneral der Nachrichtentruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1940....
n Albert PraunAlbert PraunGeneral Albert Praun was a General in the German army who became the Chief Signals Officer of the Wehrmacht during World War II....
, July 1942 - Generalleutnant Karl Freiherr von Thüngen, 24 August 1942
- Generalleutnant Erwin Menny, 15 September 1942
- Generalleutnant Karl Freiherr von Thüngen, February 1943
- Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von SchliebenKarl-Wilhelm von SchliebenKarl-Wilhelm von Schlieben was a German officer in World War I and World War II.- World War I career :Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben joined the Prussian Army in August 1914 as a Fahnenjunker . He was assigned to the training and replacement Battalion of the 3rd Foot Guards...
, 1 April 1943
Formation
The 18th Panzer Division was formed on 26 October 1940 at ChemnitzChemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
from parts of the 4th Infantry Division, 14th Infantry Division
14th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 14th Infantry Division was a German military unit which fought during World War II.-History and Organisation:...
, and four battalions of submersible tanks. The submersible tanks had originally been intended for Operation Sea Lion (Seelöwe), the planned German invasion of England. Of these four tank battalions, two formed the 18th Panzer Regiment and the other two the 28th Panzer Regiment of the 18th Panzer Division. In March 1941 the 18th Panzer Division was reorganized, the 28th Panzer Regiment was disbanded, one of its battalions became the third battalion of the 18th Panzer Regiment, and the other battalion was transferred to the 3rd Panzer Division.
Organization
18th Panzer Division:- Panzer-Regiment 18;
- Pz.Gr.Rgt 52;
- Pz.Gr.Rgt 101;
- Artillerie-Regiment 88;
- Pz. Aufklärungs-Abteilung 18 - Reconnaissance battalion;
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 88 - Tank destroyerTank destroyerA tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
battalion; - Pz. Pionier-Bataillon 98 - Combat engineer battalion;
- Pz. Nachrichten-Abteilung 88 - Communications battalion;
- Auxiliary unit number: 88
Invasion of Russia
The 18th Panzer Division first saw action during the German invasion of Russia, Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, on 22 June 1941. When the 18th Panzer Division crossed the Bug River
Bug River
The Bug River is a left tributary of the Narew river flows from central Ukraine to the west, passing along the Ukraine-Polish and Polish-Belarusian border and into Poland, where it empties into the Narew river near Serock. The part between the lake and the Vistula River is sometimes referred to as...
underwater on 22 June, with submersible tanks, it marked the first time in World War II submersible tanks were used in combat. The 18th Panzer Division fought as part of LXVII Panzer Corps, and over the next six months was involved in seizing Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
, Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
, and the assault on Tula
Tula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
. However, like the rest of the German Army the 18th Panzer Division was unprepared for the Russian winter and was driven back to Oryol
Oryol
Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow...
in January 1942 with heavy losses.
Further combat in the Soviet Union (1942-1943)
In the summer of 1942, the 18th Panzer Division took part in the initial drive on Stalingrad, but was transferred to the central section of the front. The 18th Panzer Division took part in defensive battles around OryolOryol
Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow...
in 1942-43, and in anti-partisan operations in the spring of 1943. In the summer of 1943 the 18th Panzer Division fought in the Battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
, and suffered heavy losses. After Kursk the 18th Panzer-Division was disbanded and the division's personnel were used to build the 18th Artillery Division
18th Artillery Division (Germany)
The 18th Artillery Division was established by the end of 1943 after disbanding the 18th Panzer Division. The unit was planned as a mobile artillery force, but due to lack of equipment it was never raised to its planned strength...
.