20th Panzerdivision

The 20th Panzerdivision is one of the armor-plated division S of the German army (Wehrmacht) during the Second world war.

Creation

Divisional emblems

History of division

Within the framework of the plans of Hitler to double the number of Panzerdivisions, the the 19th division of infantry and a certain number of other units were canibalisé for the men and of material, then restructured in 20th Panzerdivision, created the October 15th 1940, with Erfurt, in Germany. Its town of garnision is Gotha, and it is made up mainly of hessiens. It fought exclusively against the forces Soviet, between June 1941 and May 1945.

The first action of division was to take part within 3rd Panzergruppe in the first combat of the Opération Barbarossa in the sector centers and remained with before in a series of attacks on Minsk and Smolensk. Transferred in 4th Panzergruppe, it takes part in the operation Typhon and attacks it missed on Moscow. From there, it remained on the central face until July 1943. Attached to the 9th army of Walter Model at the time of the Battle of Koursk, it undergoes heavy losses. The men of 20th Panzerdivision took part in cleanings of the anti-tank mines, in the night from July 4th to 5th, before belonging to the first wave of aussaut the next morning. The remainder of 1943 was devoted to a long retirement between Orel, Gomel, Orcha and Vitebsk.

At the beginning of 1944, with the whole of the forces of the East, 20th Panzerdivision spends one hard winter in defensive actions to Polotsk, Vitebsk and Bobrusik. In May of the same year, it is sent on the southern sector of the face, in order to take part in operations inside the zone around Cholm. After having undergone heavy losses during the Soviet operation Bagration, division is reconstituted in Romania in August 1944. In October, it is sent in Eastern Prussia, then in Hungary in December. Finally, it beats retirement on Breslau, Schweinitz, Neisse, and Görlitz before going to the Soviet troops in May 1945.

Commanders of 20th Panzerdivision

Battle order

1941

  • Schützen-Brigade 20
    • Schützen-Regiment 59
      • Schützen-Battalion I
      • Schützen-Battalion II
    • Schützen-Regiment 112
      • Schützen-Battalion I
      • Schützen-Battalion II
    • Kradschützen-Battalion 20
  • Panzer-Regiment 21
    • Panzer-Abteilung I
    • Panzer-Abteilung II
    • Panzer-Abteilung III
  • Artillery-Regiment 92
    • Artillery-Abteilung I
    • Artillery-Abteilung II
    • Artillery-Abteilung III
  • Aufklürungs-Abteilung 20
  • Panzerjüger-Abteilung 92
  • Pioneer-Battalion 92
  • Nachrichten-Abteilung 92

1942

  • Panzergrenadier-Regiment 59
    • Panzergrenadier-Battalion I
    • Panzergrenadier-Battalion II
  • Panzergrenadier-Regiment 112
    • Panzergrenadier-Battalion I
    • Panzergrenadier-Battalion II
  • Panzer-Regiment 21
    • Panzer-Abteilung I
    • Panzer-Abteilung II
  • Panzer-Artillery-Regiment 92
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung I
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung II
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung III
  • Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 20
  • Heeres-Flak-Artillery-Abteilung 295
  • Panzerjäger-Abteilung 92
  • Panzer-Pioneer-Battalion 92
  • Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 92

Theaters of operations

Rewards

  • 27 soldiers of 20th Panzerdivision received the Croix of iron.
  • on April 17th 1945, Generalmajor Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski receives the cross of knight of the cross of iron with sheets of oak and swords.

Random links:Palestinian culture | List princes de Murom | Small Meadows in spring | Isabelle Vasseur | Castle of Herm | San_Manuel,_Isabela