Panzer Division Tatra
Encyclopedia
The Panzer Division
Tatra (Panzer Training Division Tatra) was an armored division of the German Wehrmacht
formed in Moravia
in August 1944. The division was hastily formed during the Slovak National Uprising
of 1944 when the Germans feared that Slovakia might break away from the Axis powers
and open the road to the advancing Red Army. After a brief punitive expedition against the Slovaks the division was converted into a training formation. In March 1945 it was reorganized into the 232nd Panzer Division and perished in fighting in Western Hungary
.
. Other personnel, according to Samuel Mitcham, "came from all over the map". The division's only tank battalion had 28 obsolete Panzer III
and Panzer IV
tanks and three Tiger I
's. The division began with suppressing resistance in Southern Moravia and on August 29, 1944 moved to Žilina
in North-Western Slovakia.
The improvised division performed well against the Slovak uprising. It crushed the Slovaks, aided by Soviet advisers, and recaptured Bratislava
(German: Pressburg). After this initial success the division was reorganized into a training division (German: Panzer-Feldausbildungs-Division Tatra). The division incorporated the XVII Panzer Corps command and its mechanized infantry
and the units of inland military districts
; the men of the 1st Panzer eventually left Tatra. The division remained in Slovakia until the end of 1944. In March 1945 (or, according to different sources, on February 21, 1945) the division was reorganized into the 232nd Reserve Panzer Division.
and was almost immediately thrown into defensive action of the 8th Army. On March 26 the division was stationed near Marcaltő
in Hungary
. The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
stood nearby defending the Raab
(Magyar: Győr
) bridgehead against the Soviets advancing north-east from Lake Balaton
. The 232nd repelled the first Soviet wave in the morning of March 27. In the afternoon it lost a whole battalion, cut off by the advancing Soviets. The SS saw the men of the 232rd fleeing in disarray and attempted blowing up the bridges, but failed. On March 28 the remaining units of the 232nd were scattered by the Soviet tanks that broke loose north of Eisenburg Canal. The fighting continued for three more days. Divisional commander, Generalmajor Hans-Ulrich Back, was wounded on March 29 and escaped captivity. The division ceased to exist by April 1, 1945.
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....
Tatra (Panzer Training Division Tatra) was an armored division of the German 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:...
formed in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
in August 1944. The division was hastily formed during the Slovak National Uprising
Slovak National Uprising
The Slovak National Uprising or 1944 Uprising was an armed insurrection organized by the Slovak resistance movement during World War II. It was launched on August 29 1944 from Banská Bystrica in an attempt to overthrow the collaborationist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso...
of 1944 when the Germans feared that Slovakia might break away from the Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
and open the road to the advancing Red Army. After a brief punitive expedition against the Slovaks the division was converted into a training formation. In March 1945 it was reorganized into the 232nd Panzer Division and perished in fighting in Western 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...
.
Panzer division Tatra
The division was formed as an emergency battle group (German: Alarmkampfgruppe) around a core of the 1st Panzer Division veterans, the units from the 178th Panzer Division and the staff of the Kleine Karpaten training facility in MalackyMalacky
Malacky is a town and municipality in western Slovakia around 35 km north from capital Bratislava. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary...
. Other personnel, according to Samuel Mitcham, "came from all over the map". The division's only tank battalion had 28 obsolete Panzer III
Panzer III
Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
and Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
tanks and three Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
's. The division began with suppressing resistance in Southern Moravia and on August 29, 1944 moved to Žilina
Žilina
Žilina is a city in north-western Slovakia, around from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a...
in North-Western Slovakia.
The improvised division performed well against the Slovak uprising. It crushed the Slovaks, aided by Soviet advisers, and recaptured Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(German: Pressburg). After this initial success the division was reorganized into a training division (German: Panzer-Feldausbildungs-Division Tatra). The division incorporated the XVII Panzer Corps command and its mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat ....
and the units of inland military districts
Military district (Germany)
During World War II Germany used the system of military districts to relieve field commanders of as much administrative work as possible and to provide a regular flow of trained recruits and supplies to the Field Army...
; the men of the 1st Panzer eventually left Tatra. The division remained in Slovakia until the end of 1944. In March 1945 (or, according to different sources, on February 21, 1945) the division was reorganized into the 232nd Reserve Panzer Division.
232nd Panzer Division
After the reorganization, former training regiments of Tatra (82nd and 85th Training Regiments) were also reorganized and renamed into the 101st and 102nd Panzer Grenadiers. Auxiliary units (flak etc.) retained their original Tatra numbers. The unit was hurriedly sent to the reserves of Army Group SouthArmy 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...
and was almost immediately thrown into defensive action of the 8th Army. On March 26 the division was stationed near Marcaltő
Marcalto
- External links :*...
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...
. The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern...
stood nearby defending the Raab
Gyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
(Magyar: Győr
Gyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
) bridgehead against the Soviets advancing north-east from Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked , Lake Balaton is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea"...
. The 232nd repelled the first Soviet wave in the morning of March 27. In the afternoon it lost a whole battalion, cut off by the advancing Soviets. The SS saw the men of the 232rd fleeing in disarray and attempted blowing up the bridges, but failed. On March 28 the remaining units of the 232nd were scattered by the Soviet tanks that broke loose north of Eisenburg Canal. The fighting continued for three more days. Divisional commander, Generalmajor Hans-Ulrich Back, was wounded on March 29 and escaped captivity. The division ceased to exist by April 1, 1945.
Commanding officer
- Generalleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm von LoeperFriedrich-Wilhelm von LoeperFriedrich-Wilhelm von Loeper was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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 military leadership...
, 9 October 1944 - Generalmajor Hans-Ulrich BackHans-Ulrich BackHans-Ulrich Back was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several divisional commands. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, February – März 1945
Sources
- Samuel Mitcham (2007). German Order of Battle: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen Ss Divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811734382.
- Huber Meyer (2005). The 12th SS: The History Of The Hitler Youth Panzer Division. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811731995.