5th Armoured Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 5th Armoured Division (5. Panzer-Division) was a West German
armored
formation. It was part of the III Corps
of the Bundeswehr
, which also incorporated in 1985 the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division and 12th Panzer Division. III Corps was part of NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG), along with the Bundeswehr's II Corps and the American V and VII Corps. Headquarters in 1985 was at Diez/Lahn
, with subordinate brigades at Wetzlar
(13th PG Bde), Neustadt/Marburg
(6th Panzer Brigade) and Koblenz
(15th Panzergrenadier Brigade).
It played a major role in the defense of West Germany
from the Soviet Union
during the Cold War
. Following the Soviet Union's fall, the US VII Corps was withdrawn and two combined US/German corps were created in the former CENTAG area. As part of this arrangement, 5th Armoured Division was administratively placed under the V Corps (United States) for main defence purposes. This meant that if an attack from the East was anticipated, the division would fall under US control. Meanwhile an American division would likewise fall under control of the German II or III Corps.
During the 1990s the division sent troops to Yugoslavia
.
As part of continuing reductions of the Bundeswehr, the division was disbanded on 30 June 2001.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
armored
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
formation. It was part of the III Corps
III Corps (Bundeswehr)
III Corps was a corps of the German Army active from 1957 to 1994.The preparation of the staff of the corps took place from 16 March 1957 at Gneisenau-Kaserne, Koblenz; the corps was officially formed on 6th April 1957. Initially, the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division and 5th Armoured Division from the...
of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
, which also incorporated in 1985 the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division and 12th Panzer Division. III Corps was part of NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG), along with the Bundeswehr's II Corps and the American V and VII Corps. Headquarters in 1985 was at Diez/Lahn
Lahn
The Lahn River is a -long, right tributary of the Rhine River in Germany. Its course passes through the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia , Hesse , and Rhineland-Palatinate ....
, with subordinate brigades at Wetzlar
Wetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
(13th PG Bde), Neustadt/Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
(6th Panzer Brigade) and Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
(15th Panzergrenadier Brigade).
It played a major role in the defense of West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Following the Soviet Union's fall, the US VII Corps was withdrawn and two combined US/German corps were created in the former CENTAG area. As part of this arrangement, 5th Armoured Division was administratively placed under the V Corps (United States) for main defence purposes. This meant that if an attack from the East was anticipated, the division would fall under US control. Meanwhile an American division would likewise fall under control of the German II or III Corps.
During the 1990s the division sent troops to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
.
As part of continuing reductions of the Bundeswehr, the division was disbanded on 30 June 2001.
Commanding officers
- Generalmajor Heinrich Baron von BehrHeinrich Baron von BehrHeinrich Alexander Ferdinand Baron von Behr was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Generalmajor in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 1 October 1956 – 7 December 1959 - Generalmajor Günther PapeGünther PapeGünther Pape was a German Generalmajor serving during World War II and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 1 April 1960 – 30 June 1962 - Generalmajor Albert Schnez, 1 October 1962 – 31 March 1965
- Generalmajor Heinz Hükelheim, 1 April 1965 – 30 September 1967
- Generalmajor Bernd Freytag von LoringhovenBernd Freytag von LoringhovenGeneral Bernd Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven , was an officer in the German Army during World War II and was later appointed to the German Federal Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr.-Early life:...
, 1 October 1967 – 30 April 1969 - Generalmajor Hans-Joachim von Hopffgarten, 1 May 1969 – 9 September 1970
- Generalmajor Heinz-Georg LemmHeinz-Georg LemmHeinz-Georg Lemm was a German soldier who fought in the 12th Infantry Division during World War II and later served in the Bundeswehr, the post-war West German armed forces. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 10 September 1970 – 15 January 1974 - Generalmajor Kurt von der Osten, 15 January 1974 – 26 September 1975
- Generalmajor Horst Wenner, 27 September 1975 – 30 September 1979
- Generalmajor Werner Heyd, 1 October 1979 – 7 September 1980
- Generalmajor Götz Mayer, 5 December 1980 – 30 September 1982
- Generalmajor Franz Uhle-Wettler, 1 October 1982 – 11 July 1984
- Generalmajor Wilhelm Jacoby, 11 July 1984 – 30 November 1986
- Generalmajor Peter RohdePeter RohdePeter Rohde came from the Bendigo region and made his Victorian Football League debut for Carlton Football Club in 1985, transferring to Melbourne Football Club in 1988 and retiring in 1995...
, 1 December 1986 – 30 September 1991 - Generalmajor Dieter StöckmannDieter StöckmannDieter Stöckmann is a retired German general of the Bundeswehr. He was Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe from 1996-98.- Biography :Stöckmann was born in Stolp, Pomerania...
, 1 October 1991 – 24 June 1993 - Brigadegeneral Klaus von Heimendahl, 1 October 1993 – 31 March 1994
- Generalmajor Henribert Göttelmann, 1 April 1994 – 31 March 1995
- Generalmajor Klaus Frühhaber, 1 April 1995 – 30 September 1997
- Generalmajor Werner Widder, 1 October 1997 – 31 March 1998
- Generalmajor Holger Kammerhoff, 1 April 1998–2000
- Generalmajor Axel Bürgener, 2000 – 30 September 2001