7th Panzerdivision

The 7th Panzerdivision is one of the armor-plated division S of the German army (Wehrmacht) during the Second world war.

Creation

October 18th 1939: Creation of the 7th Panzerdivision ( armor-plated Division ).

Divisional emblems

History of division

7th Panzerdivision was born from the 2nd leichte division (light Division) which was reorganized the October 18th 1939.

The 2nd leichte division was created the November 10th 1938 with Gera. In September 1939, it takes part in the invasion of Poland. Because of the gaps which the countryside revealed in the organization of the leichte division , which formed part of the cavalry then, it was reorganized like 7th Panzerdivision, in October 1939.

A little later in May 1940, 7th Panzerdivision takes share with the combat of the Bataille of France directed by Erwin Rommel, command received on behalf of Adolf Hitler following the success of the Countryside of Poland. Division is attached to the 15th Panzer Korps under the command of Generaloberst Hermann Hoth.

Carried out beating drum, the countryside of France is buckled in 6 weeks and makes in obviousness the talents of command of Rommel.
Chronology of 7th Panzerdivision in Belgium and France

May 12th, 1940 - 7th Panzerdivision reached Dining
May 13rd, 1940 - Crosses Meuse after violent one combat
May 15th, 1940 - Reached Philippeville and continuous towards the west exceeding Avesnes and Cateau.
May 21st, 1940 - Arrives at Arras where it undergoes a counter-attack of 2 British tank regiments which will be stopped by the guns " killers of chars" Flak 88 .
June 5th, 1940 - the 7th Panzer Division is positioned close to Abbeville.
June 8th, 1940 - Reached the suburbs of Rouen.
June 10th, 1940 - 7th Panzer reaches the English Channel in the west of Dieppe.
June 17th, 1940 - Rommel reaches the southern suburbs of Cherbourg.
June 19th, 1940 - the garrison of Cherbourg goes to Rommel.
June 25th, 1940 - the engagements finishes for 7th Panzerdivision in France.

Division receives the nickname of Gespensterdivision (phantom division) which it will keep until the end of the war parce its speed of operation and its displacements at large distance did not make it possible the enemy to locate division, but it was also the case for the German High command. Rommel evaluated the importance to be with its men and to order them since the frontline, leaves sometimes to be to cut communications with the High command if it did not wish to be disturbed, its feeling was that it was preferable to act initially and all to explain later. Rommel was criticized on known manners of acting which were apart from the military uses. Rommel described the French countryside, in its letters with his wife like " a flying visit in France".

At the end of the campaign, it remains in France until spring 1941 like occupying force. Then it turns over to Germany to reorganize before taking part in June 1941 in the Opération Barbarossa within the Groupe of armies centers. It fights in Minsk, Smolensk and with the doors of Moscow. During the winter 1941 - 1942, it undergoes the Russian counter-offensive hard.

In May 1942, division is repatriated in France in the area of Bordeaux to reconstitute itself and takes part in the invasion of the free Zone in November 1942.

It reconsiders the face of the East and takes part in defensive actions with Rostov, then in July 1943, it takes part in the Bataille of Koursk within the Opération Zitadelle with the Groupe of southern armies in the sector of Biglerons. The operation being a failure, division takes share with the German retirement through the Ukraine and sudden of heavy losses to Kiev in October then with Zhitomir in November of very the année.

The year 1944 starts badly where 7th Panzerdivision avoids accuracy its destruction close to Tarnopol with the 1e PanzerArmee in the Poche of Kamenez-Podolsk. Always solicited, division is transferred in Lithuania and fights in Raseiniai, then during the Russian offensive of the winter 1944 - 1945 on the sector of Dantzid still undergoing heavy losses.

Division then takes share with the Bataille of Berlin before being connected and going to the British forces in the area of Schwerin in May 1945.

Commanders of 7th Panzerdivision

Battle order

In January 1940 composition

Schutzen-Brigade 7

Schutzen-Regiment 6
Schutzen-Regiment 7

Panzer-Regiment 25
Panzer-Regiment 66
Aufklürungs-Abteilung 37
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 42
Pioneer-Abteilung 58
Artillery-Regiment 78

Artillery-Abteilung I
Artillery-Abteilung II

Naschr-Abteilung 83
Versorgungsdienste 58

In March 1943 composition

Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7
Panzer-Regiment 25
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 37
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 42
Panzer-Pioneer-Abteilung 58
Flak-Artillery-Abteilung 296
Panzer-Artillery-Regiment 78

Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung I
Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung II

Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 84
Feldersatz-Abteilung 58
Versorgungsdienste 58

Theaters of operations

September 1939 (in time that 2nd leichte division)

Campagne of Poland

May 1940

Campagne of France

1941

Opération Barbarossa

1942-1943

Front of Is
Bataille of Koursk, Kiev, Zhitomir

1944

Lithuania

1945

Danzig, Bataille of Berlin

Rewards

36 members of 7th Panzerdivision are made Chevalier of the iron Cross.
6 members receive the Croix of Knight of the iron Cross with sheets of oak.
3 members receive the Croix of Knight of the Cross of iron with sheets of oak and swords.
2 members receive the Croix of Knight of the Cross of iron with sheets of oak, swords and brilliant: the Oberst Adelbert Schulz, Ordering Panzer-Regiment 25 the December 14th 1943 (n°9) and the Generalleutnant Dr. Karl Mauss, Ordering division the April 15th 1945 (n°26).

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