The 1.Panzer-Division was created in 1935 from parts of the old 3.Kavallerie-Division. The Division took part in the Invasion of Poland in September 1939 and fought with distinction in that Campaign.
In May 1940, the Division took part in the Campaign against France. The division was one of the many decisive units to drive through the Ardennes region, helping to cut off the Allies in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Division broke through the French defenses of the Maginot Line near Sedan. Later in the Campaign, the Division drove south into France and fought against the lines at Dunkerque.
The 1.Panzer-Division took part in the Invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, fighting in the Northern sector of the Eastern Front against Dunaburg and Leningrad. Later in October 1941, the Division was transferred to the Central portion of the Eastern Front taking part in the Battles for Wiasma, Moscow, and Rshew. After fierce fighting for Rshew, the Division was pulled out of the front and sent to France to be refit.
In June, 1943, the Division was sent to the Balkans and in July it was sent to Greece for coast defense duty. In November 1943, the Division was sent back to the Eastern Front in Ukraine. In Ukraine, the 1st Panzer Division took part in the massive German counter-offensives west of Kiev. The Division then fought defensive actions southwest of Berdichev where it stayed until late January 1944. On June 22nd, 1944, the Red Army launched a massive summer offensive in the section of Army Group Center along the Eastern Front. This Soviet Offensive literally crushed Army Group Center and in 3 weeks pushed back the German forces in that portion of the Front 300 miles, all the way to Poland. The 1.Panzer-Division took part in attempts to stem the Soviet onslaught and fought a desperate counterattack at Oleyyor where it managed to halt the Soviet Advance. The southern flank did not hold though, and the entire position that the 1st helped create became untenable. The 1.Panzer-Division was then pushed back across the Vistula River.
In October 1944, the Division was moved from its positions along the Vistula and sent to Hungary where it took part in actions at Debrecen, being sighted for distinguished actions there. The Division then took part in defensive actions in Hungary and was pushed back into Austria where, in May 1945, the Division surrendered to the Americans.
Lineage
3.Kavallerie-Division
1.Panzer-Division
Campaigns
Poland 1939
Western Campaign 1940
Eastern Front 1941-1942
France 1943
Balkans 1943
Eastern Front 1943-1945
Organization
1939
1.Schützen-Brigade Schützen-Regiment 1 Schützen-Bataillon I Schützen-Bataillon II Kradschützen-Bataillon 1 1.Panzer-Brigade Panzer-Regiment 1 Panzer-Abteilung I Panzer-Abteilung II Panzer-Regiment 2 Panzer-Abteilung I Panzer-Abteilung II 73.Artillerie-Regiment Artillerie-Abteilung I Artillerie-Abteilung II Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4 Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 Pionier-Bataillon 37 Nachrichten-Abteilung 37 37th Divisional Support Units
In October, 1939 the III Abteilung/69.Schützen-Regiment(mot)/20.Inf.Div (mot) was added to the Division as the IIIAbteilung/Schützen-Regiment 1.
In October 1940, Panzer-Regiment 2 was transferred to the 16.Panzer-Division.
In November 1940, I/Schützen-Regiment 113 was formed from the IIIAbteilung/Schützen-Regiment 1.
In February, 1941 the II Abteilung/Schützen-Regiment 69 was used to form the II Abteilung/Schützen-Regiment 113. Later, Artillerie-Regiment 73formed the III Abteilung from the II Abteilung/Artillerie-Regiment 56.
1940
Schützen-Regiment 1 Schützen-Bataillon I Schützen-Bataillon II Schützen-Regiment 113 Schützen-Bataillon I Schützen-Bataillon II Panzer-Regiment 1 Panzer-Abteilung I Panzer-Abteilung II Artillerie-Regiment 73 Artillerie-Abteilung I Artillerie-Abteilung II Artillerie-Abteilung III Kradschützen-Abteilung 1 Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4 Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 Pionier-Bataillon 37 Nachrichten-Abteilung 37 37th Divisional Support Units
In July 1941, Schützen-Regiment 1 and Schützen-Regiment 113 were both renamed as Panzergrenadier-Regiments. The Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 1was removed and provided to the 16.Panzergrenadier-Division to become the Panzer-Abteilung 116. When Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 1 was removed, the 1.Panzer-Division had only 1 Abteilung of Panzers in the entire unit, that being Panzer-Abteilung II/Panzer-Regiment 1.
In January of 1943, Panzer-Abteilung II/Panzer-Regiment 1 (The only Abteilung left in the Division) became the Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 1. Panzer-Abteilung I/Panzer-Regiment 103 was then used to form Panzer-Abteilung II/Panzer-Regiment 1. Later, the independant Heer Flak unit, Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 299 was added to the 1.Panzer-Division.
1943
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 Panzergrenadier-Bataillon I Panzergrenadier-Bataillon II Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113 Panzergrenadier-Bataillon I Panzergrenadier-Bataillon II Panzer-Regiment 1 Panzer-Abteilung I Panzer-Abteilung II Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 73 Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung I Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung II Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung III Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung IV Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 37 Panzer-Nachrichten-Bataillon 37 Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 299 37th Divisional Support Units
Late in the War, Grenadier-Ersatz-Abteilung 1009 was added to the 1.Panzer-Division from the Tatra Panzer-Division.
