The 16.Panzer-Division was formed in August of 1940 from portions of the 16.Infanterie-Division. Those portions not used tohelp form the 16.Panzer-Division were used in the formation of the 16.Infanterie-Division (mot).
After its initial training, the 16.Panzer-Division was sent to Romania for use as atraining unit for the Romanian Armed Forces, being code named “Lehrstab-R II”while still being under the control of the German Mission in Romania.
The 16.Panzer-Division was held in Reserve during the Balkan Campaign, but took partin the Invasion of the Soviet Union in June, 1941, being used in the southernsector of the Front.
During the fighting against the Soviet Uniont the 16.Panzer-Division advancing to Stalingrad via Lvov, Pervomaisk, Zaporozhe,Taganrog, Makeevka and Artemorsk. It was destroyed in the StalingradPocket in early 1943.
The 16.Panzer-Division was reformed in March, 1943 in France. Afterreformation the 16.Panzer-Division was sent to Italy where it was heavilyengaged in the battles for Salerno after the Allied landings, and later in the struggle for Naples.
The 16.Panzer-Division was transfered to the Eastern Front in November-December,1943, arriving in Bobruisk on December 13th where it took part in defensiveoperations before seeing action in the massive counterattacks for Kiev.These actions heavily weakened the 16.Panzer-Division once more and it was forced towithdraw to the the Baranow area on the Vistula River.
During the summer of 1944 the 16.Panzer-Division was pulled back into Poland where it wasrefit. It was then transfered to the Baranow region once more in January, 1945 where ittook part in defensive operations until being pushed back to theareas of Lauban and Brno in March-April, 1945.
Portions of the the 16.Panzer surrendered to the Soviets and others to the Americans.
Unit Emblems
Organization
1940
Schutzen-Regiment 64 Schutzen-Regiment 79 Kradschutzen-Battalion 16 Panzer-Regiment 2 Artillerie-Regiment 16 Panzerjager-Battalion 16 Pioneer-Battalion 16 Nachrichten-Battalion 16 16th Divisional Support Units
1942
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64 Panzergrenadier-Regiment 79 Kradschutzen-Battalion 16 Panzer-Regiment 2 Artillerie-Regiment 16 Panzerjager-Battalion 16 Pioneer-Battalion 16 Nachrichten-Battalion 16 16th Divisional Support Units
1943
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64 Panzergrenadier-Regiment 79 Kradschutzen-Battalion 16 Panzer-Regiment 2 Artillerie-Regiment 16 16th Divisional Support Units
