German 1st Panzer Division
Encyclopedia
The German 1st Panzer Division (1. Panzer-Division) was an elite armoured division in the German
Army
during World War II
. Its divisional insignia was a white oakleaf emblem.
. Initially it consisted of two panzer regiment
s organized into brigade
s, a motorized infantry brigade, a reconnaissance battalion
, a divisional artillery regiment, and supporting ancillary formations.
In 1938 the division participated in training exercises with the XVI Corps, a fully motorized formation. By the start of the Polish Campaign in September 1939, the 1st Panzer Division was one of six panzer divisions in the Wehrmacht
. It was deployed with the XVI Corps, Tenth Army
, Army Group South
, in the upper Silesia
region.
XVI Corps, with the 1st and 4th Panzer Divisions, drove northeast into Poland, rapidly penetrating toward Warsaw. In September 16-20 they eliminated a Polish counter-attack along the river Bzura. With the double-encirclement of the Polish Army by the panzer divisions, resistance soon came to an end.
In May of 1940 the 1st Panzer Division joined Guderian
's XIX Corps for the advance into France
through the Ardennes
forest. The corps achieved a decisive breakthrough at Sedan
and by May 16 the panzer formations were advancing rapidly toward the English Channel
coast. First Panzer Division came within 25 km of Dunkirk
despite determined British
resistance, but was ordered to stop by Hitler
.
First Panzer Division was next deployed as part of XXXIX Corps on the Aisne River
line for the advance south against the remaining French
forces. Breakthrough was achieved by June 12 and the division advanced rapidly toward Belfort
. An armistice with France was accepted on June 22, ending the campaign.
In October 1 Panzer Division was reorganized as part of the Wehrmacht
's increase in the number of mechanized divisions. The 2nd Panzer Regiment and selected cadres were removed for the formation of the 16th Panzer Division. In compensation, the 113th Panzergrenadier Regiment was added to balance the divisional organization.
Operation Barbarossa
was the plan for the German invasion of the Soviet Union
in June 1941. The 1st Panzer fought in Army Group North
as part of the XLI Panzer Corps, advancing northward through Estonia
. By July 14 the corps had reached the Luga River
, only 110 kilometers from Leningrad
. Here the corps waited for three weeks because Army Group North's flanks had become too extended.
With the army now at Lake Ladoga
and the city of Leningrad cut off, 1st Panzer Division formed part of the general attack against the city perimeter on September 8. The attack was making good progress and the corps advanced to within sight of the city. However the corps, including 1st Panzer Division, was ordered removed from the line on September 18.
On October 2nd 1st Panzer Division joined the drive toward Moscow
(Operation Typhoon) under XXXXI.Armeekorps (Mot.), assigned to Panzergruppe 3
. The division achieved one of the closest approach to Moscow among the German forces, reaching Belyi-Rast at the end of November, only some 50 km from the Russian capital.
For the next two months 1st Panzer was on the defensive with the remainder of the German Army against the Russian winter offensive. It was defending Klin, to the northwest of Moscow, on December 7. In January and February of 1942, the division fought against the Soviet Rzhev-Vyazma Offensive, some 150 kilometers west of Moscow. The division remained in the Rzhev area through the end of the year, before being withdrawn to France for refitting in January-February, 1943.
In June 1943 the division was deployed to the Balkans
region, then to Greece
for coastal defense duties. It remained there until October, then returned to the Eastern front in November, where it participated in the defense of the Ukraine. The division did not attack as part of Battle of Kursk, but it fought in the desperate defense against the Russian advance west of Kiev.
During early 1944 the division was attached to III Panzer Corps and took its place in the relief of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
. In April 1944, as a part of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube
's First Panzer Army
, the division was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
and was involved in the breakout.
In September 1944 the division was withdrawn to the Carpathian Mountains
, as the Germans strove in vain to stem the Russian advance. By October the division was in Hungary
, and in January, 1945 it fought in Operation Konrad
, the abortive attempt to relieve the encircled city of Budapest
.
Following the general German retreat to the west, the division finally reached the eastern Austria
n alps
where they surrendered to the US Army
.
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...
Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
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...
. Its divisional insignia was a white oakleaf emblem.
History
The 1st Panzer Division was formed on October 15, 1935 from the 3rd Cavalry Division, and was headquartered in WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
. Initially it consisted of two panzer regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s organized into brigade
Brigade
A 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...
s, a motorized infantry brigade, a reconnaissance battalion
Battalion
A 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...
, a divisional artillery regiment, and supporting ancillary formations.
In 1938 the division participated in training exercises with the XVI Corps, a fully motorized formation. By the start of the Polish Campaign in September 1939, the 1st Panzer Division was one of six panzer divisions in the 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:...
. It was deployed with the XVI Corps, Tenth Army
German Tenth Army
The 10th Army was a World War I and World War II field army. During World War I the 10th army was stationed at the Eastern Front against Russia, and occupied Poland and Belorussia at the end of 1918 when the war ended....
, Army Group South
Army Group South
Army Group South was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.- Poland campaign :Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South...
, in the upper Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
region.
XVI Corps, with the 1st and 4th Panzer Divisions, drove northeast into Poland, rapidly penetrating toward Warsaw. In September 16-20 they eliminated a Polish counter-attack along the river Bzura. With the double-encirclement of the Polish Army by the panzer divisions, resistance soon came to an end.
In May of 1940 the 1st Panzer Division joined Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
's XIX Corps for the advance into 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...
through the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
forest. The corps achieved a decisive breakthrough at Sedan
Sedan, France
Sedan is a commune in France, a sub-prefecture of the Ardennes department in northern France.-Geography:The historic centre is built on a peninsula formed by an arc of the Meuse River. It is around from the Belgian border.-History:...
and by May 16 the panzer formations were advancing rapidly toward the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
coast. First Panzer Division came within 25 km of Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
despite determined British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
resistance, but was ordered to stop by Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
First Panzer Division was next deployed as part of XXXIX Corps on the Aisne River
Aisne River
The Aisne is a river in northeastern France, left tributary of the river Oise. It gave its name to the French département Aisne. It was known in the Roman period as the Axona....
line for the advance south against the remaining French
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...
forces. Breakthrough was achieved by June 12 and the division advanced rapidly toward Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
. An armistice with France was accepted on June 22, ending the campaign.
In October 1 Panzer Division was reorganized as part of the 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:...
's increase in the number of mechanized divisions. The 2nd Panzer Regiment and selected cadres were removed for the formation of the 16th Panzer Division. In compensation, the 113th Panzergrenadier Regiment was added to balance the divisional organization.
Operation Barbarossa
Operation 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...
was the plan for the German invasion of 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....
in June 1941. The 1st Panzer fought in Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
as part of the XLI Panzer Corps, advancing northward through Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. By July 14 the corps had reached the Luga River
Luga River
The Luga River -See also:* Shum Gora, an archaeological site near the banks of the river...
, only 110 kilometers from Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Here the corps waited for three weeks because Army Group North's flanks had become too extended.
With the army now at Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a freshwater lake located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, not far from Saint Petersburg. It is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.-Geography:...
and the city of Leningrad cut off, 1st Panzer Division formed part of the general attack against the city perimeter on September 8. The attack was making good progress and the corps advanced to within sight of the city. However the corps, including 1st Panzer Division, was ordered removed from the line on September 18.
On October 2nd 1st Panzer Division joined the drive toward Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(Operation Typhoon) under XXXXI.Armeekorps (Mot.), assigned to Panzergruppe 3
German Third Panzer Group
The 3rd Panzer Group was an army size unit which served as part of the Wehrmacht during World War II.3rd Panzer Group was a part of Operation Barbarossa under Army Group Center...
. The division achieved one of the closest approach to Moscow among the German forces, reaching Belyi-Rast at the end of November, only some 50 km from the Russian capital.
For the next two months 1st Panzer was on the defensive with the remainder of the German Army against the Russian winter offensive. It was defending Klin, to the northwest of Moscow, on December 7. In January and February of 1942, the division fought against the Soviet Rzhev-Vyazma Offensive, some 150 kilometers west of Moscow. The division remained in the Rzhev area through the end of the year, before being withdrawn to France for refitting in January-February, 1943.
In June 1943 the division was deployed to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
region, then to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for coastal defense duties. It remained there until October, then returned to the Eastern front in November, where it participated in the defense of the Ukraine. The division did not attack as part of Battle of Kursk, but it fought in the desperate defense against the Russian advance west of Kiev.
During early 1944 the division was attached to III Panzer Corps and took its place in the relief of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
The Korsun–Shevchenkovsky Offensive led to the Battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket which took place from 24 January to 16 February 1944. The offensive was part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive...
. In April 1944, as a part of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube
Hans-Valentin Hube
Hans-Valentin Hube was a German general who served in the German Army during the First and Second World Wars. He was one of 27 people to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds...
's First Panzer Army
German First Panzer Army
The 1st Panzer Army was a German tank army that was a large armoured formation within the Wehrmacht Heer field forces during World War II.-Formation:...
, the division was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
The Battle of the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket, also known as Hube's Pocket, was a Wehrmacht attempt on the Eastern Front of World War II to evade encirclement by the Red Army....
and was involved in the breakout.
In September 1944 the division was withdrawn to the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
, as the Germans strove in vain to stem the Russian advance. By October the division was in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, and in January, 1945 it fought in Operation Konrad
Operation Konrad
Operation Konrad was the German-Hungarian effort to relieve the encircled garrison of Budapest during the Battle of Budapest in January 1945. The operation was divided into three parts:...
, the abortive attempt to relieve the encircled city of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
.
Following the general German retreat to the west, the division finally reached the eastern Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
where they surrendered to the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Commanders
- 1935.10.01 - 1937.09.30 : General der Kavallerie Maximilian Maria Joseph Reichsfreiherr von Weichs zu GlonMaximilian von WeichsMaximilian Maria Joseph Karl Gabriel Lamoral Reichsfreiherr von Weichs zu Glon was a German Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- 1937.10.01 - 1939.11.02 : Generalleutnant Rudolf SchmidtRudolf SchmidtRudolf Schmidt was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II who served as the Commander of the 2nd Panzer Army which was a huge armoured formation that operated on the Eastern Front. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- 1939.11.02 - 1941.07.17 : Generalleutnant Friedrich KirchnerFriedrich KirchnerFriedrich Kirchner was a German general during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- 1941.07.17 - 1944.01.01 : Generalleutnant Walter KrügerWalter Krüger (Heer officer)Eugen Walter Krüger was a highly decorated General der Panzertruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the LVIII. Panzerkorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
- 1944.01.01 - 1944.02.19 : Generalmajor Richard KollRichard KollRichard Koll was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 1. Panzer-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
- 1944.02.19 - 1944.09.25 : Generalmajor Werner MarcksWerner MarcksWerner Marcks was a German general who commanded several panzer divisions during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- 1944.09.25 - 1945.05.08 : Generalleutnant Eberhard ThunertEberhard ThunertEberhard Thunert was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 1. Panzer-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
Organization
1st Panzer Division - 1.Panzer-Division- 1.Panzer-Brigade
- Panzer-Regiment 1
- Panzer-Abteilung I (deleted July 1941; added Jan 1943)
- Panzer-Abteilung II
- Panzer-Regiment 2 (deleted Oct 1940)
- Panzer-Abteilung I
- Panzer-Abteilung II
- Panzer-Regiment 1
- 1.Schützen-Brigade
- Schützen-Regiment 1 (renamed Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 Jul 1941)
- Schützen-Battalion I
- Schützen-Battalion II
- Schützen-Battalion III (added Oct 1939, deleted Nov 1940)
- Schützen-Regiment 113 (renamed Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113 Jul 1941)
- Schützen-Battalion I (added Nov 1940)
- Schützen-Battalion II (added Feb 1941)
- Kradschützen-Battalion 1 - Motorcycle battalion
- Schützen-Regiment 1 (renamed Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 Jul 1941)
- Artillerie-Regiment 73
- Artillerie-Abteilung I
- Artillerie-Abteilung II
- Artillerie-Abteilung III (added 1941)
- Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4 - Reconnaissance battalion
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 - Tank hunter battalion
- Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 299 - Air defense battalion (added 1943)
- Pionier-Battalion 37 - Pioneer battalion
- Grenadier-Ersatz-Abteilung 1009 - Replacement infantry battalion (added 1944 or 1945)
- Nachrichten-Abteilung 37 - Signals battalion
See also
- PanzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
, Panzer DivisionPanzer DivisionA 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.... - Division (military)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...
, Military unit - HeerGerman ArmyThe 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...
, WehrmachtWehrmachtThe 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:...
, List of German divisions in WWII