9th Panzerdivision

The 9th 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

9th Panzerdivision was born from the 4th leichte division (light Division) which was reorganized the January 3rd 1940.

The 4th leichte division was created on April 1st 1938 following the annexation of the Austria called Anschluss and by the conversion of a mobile division of the old Austrian army.

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 9th Panzerdivision, in January 1940.

A little later in May 1940, 9th Panzerdivision takes share with the combat of the Bataille of France and reached Lyon before the Armistice of June 22nd, 1940. Then, it is sent in Poland as occupying force before taking part beginning 1941 with the battles of Balkans in the Opération Marita by traversing Eastern Europe of the Romania to the Greece while passing by the Yugoslavia.

From the summer 1941, it takes part in the Opération Barbarossa within the Groupe of southern armies and fights in Ouman and Kiev where its active participation allows the capture of 600.000 Russian soldiers. It is then tranférée in the Groupe of armies centers for the attempt at capture of Moscow and undergoes hard the Russian counter-offensive of the winter 1941-1942.

After the failure of the capture of Moscow, Adolf Hitler covetousness the oil-bearing fields of the the Caucasus and launches in June 1942 the Opération Fall Blau, in which 9th Panzerdivision incorporated in the Groupe of southern armies takes part.

Beginning 1943, it turns over in the Groupe of armies centers and takes part in July in the Bataille of Koursk. 9th Panzer is subordinated to the 9th army and fights within the framework of the 47e Panzer Korps . Combatant at the sides of the 2nd, of the 4th, the 20th Panzerdivision and the 6th Infantry Division , it in vain tries to bore the Soviet defensive belt. After an advance of only 15 km and undergoing heavy losses, it gives up its attempt to arrive to Koursk.
Then, it fights under the Groupe of southern armies and the Groupe of armies centers until spring 1944, date on which it is withdrawn towards the France to reconstitute itself after having sudden heavy losses.

In France, it absorbs the credits of the 155e Reserve-Panzerdivision complete. Thereafter, it fights in the Bataille of Normandy and in the loophole Poche of Cliff where it is almost destroyed. In October 1944, it includes the Panzer-Brigade 105 to compensate for its pertes.
It fights with Aachen to defend the Ligne Siegfried. Having sudden losses important of almost 2/3 of its manpower, it receives reinforcements before taking part in December 1944 in the Bataille of the Ardennes in which it obtains some results. In March 1945, it takes share with the counter-offensive of the Pont of Remagen which shows a failure.

She is finally imprisoned in the pocket of the the Ruhr and goes to American in April 1945.

Commanders of 9th Panzerdivision

Battle order

In March 1940 composition

  • Schützen-Brigade 9
    • Schützen-Regiment 10
    • Schützen-Regiment 11
  • Panzer-Regiment 33
    • Panzer-Abteilung I
    • Panzer-Abteilung II
  • Artillery-Regiment 102
    • Artillery-Abteilung I
    • Artillery-Abteilung II
  • Aufklürungs-Abteilung 9
  • Panzerjäger-Abteilung 50
  • Pioneer-Abteilung 86
  • Kradschutze-Battalion 59

In June 1943 composition

  • Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10
  • Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11
  • Panzer-Regiment 33
    • Panzer-Abteilung I
    • Panzer-Abteilung II
    • Panzer-Abteilung III
  • Kradschutze-Battalion 59
  • Panzer-Artillery-Regiment 102
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung I
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung II
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung III
    • Panzer-Artillery-Abteilung IV
  • Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 9
  • Flak-Artillery-Abteilung 287
  • Panzerjäger-Abteilung 50
  • Panzer-Pioneer-Abteilung 86
  • Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 85
  • Versorgungsdienste 60

Theaters of operations

  • September 1939 (in time that 4th leichte division)
    • Countryside of Poland
  • May 1940
    • Countryside of France
  • 1941
    • Romania, Yugoslavia.
    • Opération Barbarossa
  • 1942-1943
    • Front of Is
    • Koursk, Voronej.
  • June 1944
  • December 1944
  • April 1945
    • Pocket of the Ruhr

Rewards

  • 56 members of 9th Panzerdivision are made Chevalier of the iron Cross.
  • 4 members receive the cross of iron with sheets of oak.
  • the Oberst Walter Gorn of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 obtained the June 8th 1943 the cross of iron with sheets of oak and swords (n°30).

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