14.Panzer-Division

History

The 14.Panzer-Division was formed in August of 1940 from the 4.Infanterie-Division,with Panzer-Regiment 36 taken from the 4.Panzer-Division.

The 14.Panzer initially saw action during the Campaign in the Balkans inMarch and April, 1941.

Soon after the Balkans, the 14.Panzer became a part of the southern sectorof the Eastern Front in June, 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union.The 14.Panzer was engaged nearly continously throughout the summer, fall andwinter of 1941, taking part in Battles for Kiev, Rostov, in the ChernigovkaPocket, and in the defensive engagments against the first Soviet wintercounter-offensive of 1941/42.

Having lasted through the first Soviet winter counter-offensive, the Germansshifted their attack from the Moscow region south against the steppes of theUkraine, with the ultimage goal of taking the vital regions of the steppes,Don and Volga River and the Caucasus far to the south. Still a part of thesouthern sector of the front, the 14.Panzer took part in the German assualtand raced across the steppes passing through the Mius, Charkow,Kupiansk, and Don regions before becoming engaged and then encircled in theStalingrad Pocket in the Winter of 1942/43, where it was completely destroyedby February, 1943.

In April, 1943 the 14.Panzer-Division was reformed in Brittany, France andsent back to the Eastern Front in October, 1943. The 14th then took part inthe 2nd Battle for Kiev and in defensive actions during the withdrawl fromthe Dnieper.

From January to June, 1944, the 14.Panzer took part in actions in theKirovograd, Zveningerodka, Kishinevo, and Jassi regions. The 14th was pulledfrom the front in July, 1944 for rest and refit, and then sent to thenothern sector of the Eastern Front in August to take part in postionaldefensive actions in Kurland, mainly near Libau, until it surrendered withthe collapse of Germany in May, 1945, when the Kurland Pocket fell.

Unit Emblems

  14.Panzer-Division Emblem  

Lineage

  • Wehrgauleitung Dresden
  • Artillerieführer IV
  • 4.Infanterie-Division
  • 14.Panzer-Division

Campaigns

  • Balkans 1941
  • Eastern Front 1941-1943
  • West 1943
  • Eastern Front 1943-1945

Organization

1940
14.Schutzen-Brigade w/
Schützen-Regiment 103
Schützen-Regiment 108
Kradschützen-Bataillon 64
Panzer-Regiment 36
Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 4
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 4
Panzer-Aufklärung-Abteilung 40
Pionier-Bataillon 13
Nachrichten-Abteilung 4
Felderstatz-Bataillon 4
14th Divisional Support Units

Reformed 1943
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 103
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108
Panzer-Regiment 36
Kradschützen-Bataillon 64
Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 4
Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 276
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 4
Paner-Pionier-Bataillon 13
Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 4
Felderstatz-Bataillon 4
14th Divisional Support Units

Knights Cross Holders

War Service

DatesKorpsArmeeArmeegruppArea
11.40-1.41XXXXVI11. ArmeeCGermany
2.41XXXXVIII17. ArmeeBGermany
3.41Reserve17. ArmeeBUngarn
4.41XXXXVI2. ArmeeJugoslawien
5.41-6.41WK IIIBdEDöberitz
7.41-9.41III1. Pz.GruppeSüdCholm-Dnjepopetrowsk
10.41-11.41XIV1. Pz.ArmeeSüdDon, Rostow
12.41-1.42III1. Pz.ArmeeSüdMius
2.42-5.42IIIKleistSüdMius
6.42III6. ArmeeSüdCharkow, Kupiansk
7.42XIV1. Pz.ArmeeSüdDon
8.42-10.42XXXXVIII4. Pz.ArmeeBKalmuck Steppe
11.42LI6. ArmeeBStalingrad
12.42-2.43Reserve6. ArmeeDonStalingrad
Destroyed in Stalingrad
4.43-8.43Reserve1. ArmeeDWestfrankreich
9.43-10.43ReserveDWestfrankreich
11.43LVII1. Pz.ArmeeSüdKriwoi Rog
12.43XI8. ArmeeSüdKirowograd
1.44-2.44XXXXVII8. ArmeeSüdTscherkassy
3.44Reserve8. ArmeeMitteTscherkassy
4.44XXX6. ArmeeSüdukrainePruth, Jassy
5.44XXXX6. ArmeeSüdukrainePruth, Jassy
6.44-7.44 (Refreshing)Reserve8. ArmeeSüdukraineCeterini
8.44Reserve18. ArmeeNordKurland
9.44-11.44X18. ArmeeNordKurland
12.44-1.45II18. ArmeeNordKurland
2.45-4.45Reserve18. ArmeeKurlandKurland

German Bibliography

  • Die 14. Panzer-Division 1941-1945, by Rolf Grams
  • Die deutschen Infanterie-Divisonen, Band 1-3, by Werner Haupt
  • Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, Band 1-3, by Nobert Kannapin
  • Die Pflege der Tradition der alten Armee in Reichsheer und im der Wehrmacht, by Schirmer/Wiener
  • Die Truppenkennzeichen… der deutchen Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Band 1-4, by Schmitz/Thies
  • Der Zweite Weltkrieg im Kartenbild, Band 1-3, by Klaus-Jurgen Thies
  • Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939, by George Tessin
  • Verbände und Truppen der deutchen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS…, Band 1-14, by Georg Tessin
  • Formationsgeschichte und Stellenbesetzung 1815-1939, Teil 1, der deutschen Heer, Band 1-3, by Günter Wegner
  • Die Deutsche Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Ihre Kommando. u. Grossverbände… im Zweiten Weltkrieg, author unknown
  • Das Reichsheer und Seine Tradition, author unknown
  • Deutsche Rote Kreuz Suchdienst, Divisionsschicksale, author unknown