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| Lineage |
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| Campaigns |
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| History |
This unit was originally formed on October 15th, 1935. In 1938, it moved to
Austria after the annexation of that Country, taking on a large number of
Austrians into its ranks. The Division then was used in the Polish
Campaign in 1939, suffering heavy losses against the Poles. After Poland, the
Division saw action in the West as a part of 12.Armee/Gen.Kdo.
XIX.Armeekorps, starting in
the Eifel area. In May, the 2.Panzer-Division took Abbeville along the
English Coast which helped seal the ring around the Allied forces in the
Dunkirk Pocket. After the Campaign in the West, the 2.Panzer-Division spent time on occupation duty in Poland. During the months in Poland, the 2nd was reorganized and it provided units to other forming divisions, as well as taking on new units itself. It was then moved to Rumania in April, 1941 for action in the Campaign in the Balkans. In the Balkans, the 2nd helped take Athens in Greece, along with the 6.Gebirgs-Division. After the Campaign in the Balkans, the 2nd was once again was back in Poland, then in France, and briefly in Reserve. For the Campaign against the Soviet Union, the 2.Panzer-Division was under the control of Armeegruppe "Mitte", and saw action in battles stretching all the way to within sight of the Kremlin in Moscow. The 2nd was then pushed back by the massive Soviet Winter Counter-Offensive in the Winter of 1941/1942. The 2nd continued to see action in the East as a part of Armeegruppe "Mitte", fighting in the massive defensive battles of 1942 including Rzhev, and then the massive German Kursk Summer Offensive in July, 1943. Soon after came the defensive battles along the Dnieper River. In all of these actions, the 2.Panzer-Division suffered heavily. The 2.Panzer-Division was finally withdrawn from the East in 1944 and sent to rest and refit in France. From here, the Division saw action against the Allies in the Battles in Normandy, being nearly destroyed in the Falaise Gap. It managed to breakout from the pocket, while suffering massive losses. The 2.Panzer-Division was then reformed at Wittlich in the Eifel area of Germany where it absorbed the remains of the 352.Infantry-Division. The 2nd then saw action again, this time during the Bulge Winter Offensive, once again suffering heavy losses. The Division last saw action with its remains formed into the Thuringen Panzer-Brigade, where it ended the War fighting in the Fulda area defending against the Americans in April, 1945. |
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| Organization |
In November 1939, Schützen-Bataillon I/Schützen-Regiment 33 (mot) from the 13.Infantry-Division was posted to the 2.Panzer and became Schützen-Bataillon III/Schützen-Regiment 2. In September 1940, Panzer-Regiment 4 was transfered to the 13.Panzer-Division. Schützen-Regiment 304 was then formed. Schützen-Bataillon I/Schützen-Regiment 304 and Schützen-Bataillon II/Schützen-Regiment 304 were then formed from many sources. Schützen-Bataillon III/Schützen-Regiment 2 received previously was incorporated into Schüten-Regiment 304 as well.
In 1942, Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 3 was removed and transfered to another unit. At the same time, as a result of the transfer, the 2.Panzer-Division contained only one Abteilung of Panzers. Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 was renamed as Kradschützen-Abteilung 24 and transfered to the 24.Panzer-Division. The Division then took on Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 273. In March 1943, Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 3 was rebuilt, providing the Division with 2 Abteilungen of Panzers. On May 7th, 1943, Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 3 became Panzer-Abteilung 507, an independent unit equiped with Tiger Tanks. Later on June 30th, 1943, the unit was changed back to Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 3, only with Panther tanks instead of Tiger tanks. Later, Kradschützen-Abteilung 2 became Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2. Also, the Divisions Schützen-Regimenter were renamed Panzergrenadier-Regimenter.
The Division was nearly destroyed in France in 1944, and was reformed along with portions of the 352.Infantry-Division. |
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| Commanders |
Oberst Heinz Guderian 10.15.35 - 2.04.38 Gen.Maj. Rudolf Veiel 3.01.38 - 2.16.42 Gen.Maj. Hans-Karl Frhr. von Esebeck 2.17.42 - 6.01.42 Gen.Maj. Arno von Lenski 6.01.42 - 9.05.42 Oberst Vollrath Lubbe 9.05.42 - 2.01.44 Gen.Lt. Heinrich Frhr. von Lüttwitz 2.01.44 - 5.05.44 Gen.Lt. Franz Westhoven 5.05.44 - 5.27.44 Gen.Lt. Heinrich Frhr. von Lüttwitz 5.27.44 - 8.31.44 Oberst Gustaf-Adolf von Nostitz-Wallwitz 9.01.44 - 9.20.44 Oberst Henning Schonfeld 9.21.44 - 12.14.44 Oberst Meinrad von Lauchert 12.15.44 - 3.19.45 Gen.Maj. Oskar Munzel 3.20.45 - 4.01.45 Oberst Carl Stollbrock 4.01.45 - 5.08.45 |
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| War Service |
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