German 20th Panzer Division
Encyclopedia
The 20th Panzer Division was formed on 15 October, 1940 in Erfurt
, Germany. As part of Adolf Hitler
's plans to double the number of Panzer Division
s, the 19th Infantry Division and a number of other units were cannibalized for men and material, and then restructured into the 20th Panzer Division. Their home station was in Gotha
; it was primarily made up of Hessian
s. It fought exclusively against the Soviet Union
between June 1941 and May 1945.
The division's first combat action was in Army Group Center where it participated in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa
and remained in the front echelon of attack during the series of advances on Minsk
, Smolensk
and took part in Operation Typhoon, (the failed attack on Moscow
). From there, it remained on the central front until July, 1943. As part of the northern spearhead commanded by Walter Model
during the battle of Kursk
, men from the 20th were involved with clearing anti-tank mines on the night of 4 and 5 July, as well as being part of the first wave of attack the following morning. The rest of 1943 was spent in a long retreat between Orel
, Gomel, Orsha
, and Vitebsk
.
At the beginning of 1944, along with the rest of German forces on the Eastern front
, the 20th Panzer Division spent a hard winter of defensive fighting in the Polotsk, Vitebsk, and Bobruisk
areas. In May, it was rushed to the southern sector of the front to participate in operations in the area around Cholm. Having suffered heavy losses during the Red Army
's Operation Bagration, the division was sent to Romania for refitting in August, 1944. In October, the division was sent to East Prussia, then Hungary in December. It then made a fighting withdrawal through Breslau, Schweinitz
and Neisse in Silesia
(now part of Poland). The division was transferred to Görlitz
(east of Dresden
on the German frontier with Poland). On the 19 April 1945, the division was involved in a counteroffensive west of Görlitz in the direction of Niesky
, but disengaged three days later and retreated west. It counterattacked again in the Bautzen
area, succeeding in relieving the local garrison at heavy cost to Soviet forces. By 26 April 1945, the division was situated northwest of Dresden, however by 6 May it was forced to retreat south across the Czechoslovakian border. Some divisional elements surrendered to the Soviets near Teplice-Sanov (northwest of Prague
), whilst the rest, including elements of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 20. managed to surrender to the Americans at Rokycany
, (between Prague and Plzeň); but they were soon handed over to the Soviets. 27 soldiers of the 20th Panzer Division were awarded the Knight's Cross
.
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
, Germany. As part of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's plans to double the number of Panzer Division
Panzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
s, the 19th Infantry Division and a number of other units were cannibalized for men and material, and then restructured into the 20th Panzer Division. Their home station was in Gotha
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
; it was primarily made up of Hessian
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
s. It fought exclusively against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
between June 1941 and May 1945.
The division's first combat action was in Army Group Center where it participated in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
and remained in the front echelon of attack during the series of advances on Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
and took part in Operation Typhoon, (the failed attack on Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
). From there, it remained on the central front until July, 1943. As part of the northern spearhead commanded by Walter Model
Walter Model
Otto Moritz Walter Model was a German general and later field marshal during World War II. He is noted for his defensive battles in the latter half of the war, mostly on the Eastern Front but also in the west, and for his close association with Adolf Hitler and Nazism...
during the battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
, men from the 20th were involved with clearing anti-tank mines on the night of 4 and 5 July, as well as being part of the first wave of attack the following morning. The rest of 1943 was spent in a long retreat between Orel
Orel
Orel or Oryol can refer to:*Oryol, a city in Russia, the administrative center of Oryol OblastIt can also refer to:*Alexander Oryol , Soviet military leader and admiral...
, Gomel, Orsha
Orsha
Orsha is a city in Belarus in Vitebsk voblast on the fork of the Dnieper and Arshytsa rivers.-Facts:*Location: *Population: 125,000 *Phone code: +375 216*Postal codes: 211030, 211381–211394, 211396–211398-History:...
, and Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
.
At the beginning of 1944, along with the rest of German forces on the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, the 20th Panzer Division spent a hard winter of defensive fighting in the Polotsk, Vitebsk, and Bobruisk
Babruysk
Babruysk or Bobruysk is a city in the Mahilyow Voblast of Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus with a population of approximately 227,000 people . The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor , many of which used to inhabit the Berezina...
areas. In May, it was rushed to the southern sector of the front to participate in operations in the area around Cholm. Having suffered heavy losses during the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
's Operation Bagration, the division was sent to Romania for refitting in August, 1944. In October, the division was sent to East Prussia, then Hungary in December. It then made a fighting withdrawal through Breslau, Schweinitz
Schweinitz
Schweinitz is a village and a former municipality in the Jerichower Land district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2009, it is part of the town Möckern....
and Neisse in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(now part of Poland). The division was transferred to Görlitz
Görlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
(east of Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on the German frontier with Poland). On the 19 April 1945, the division was involved in a counteroffensive west of Görlitz in the direction of Niesky
Niesky
Niesky is a small town in Upper Lusatia in eastern the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 11,000 and is part of the district of Görlitz....
, but disengaged three days later and retreated west. It counterattacked again in the Bautzen
Bautzen
Bautzen is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and administrative centre of the eponymous district. It is located on the Spree River. As of 2008, its population is 41,161...
area, succeeding in relieving the local garrison at heavy cost to Soviet forces. By 26 April 1945, the division was situated northwest of Dresden, however by 6 May it was forced to retreat south across the Czechoslovakian border. Some divisional elements surrendered to the Soviets near Teplice-Sanov (northwest of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
), whilst the rest, including elements of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 20. managed to surrender to the Americans at Rokycany
Rokycany
Rokycany , is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It lies to the East from the region capital of Pilsen on the confluence of the River Klabava and the Holoubkov Brook . Alternatively, the Holoubkovský potok is referred to as the Borecký potok and the section of the Klabava River down...
, (between Prague and Plzeň); but they were soon handed over to the Soviets. 27 soldiers of the 20th Panzer Division were awarded the Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
.
Major Combat Units
Panzer Regiment 21; Panzer Grenadier Regiments 59, 112; Panzer Flak Battalion 20; Panzer Artillery Regiment 921941
- Schützen-Brigade 20
- Schützen-Regiment 59
- Schützen-Battalion I
- Schützen-Battalion II
- Schützen-Regiment 112
- Schützen-Battalion I
- Schützen-Battalion II
- Kradschützen-Battalion 20
- Schützen-Regiment 59
- Panzer-Regiment 21
- Panzer-Abteilung I
- Panzer-Abteilung II
- Panzer-Abteilung III
- Artillerie-Regiment 92
- Artillerie-Abteilung I
- Artillerie-Abteilung II
- Artillerie-Abteilung III
- Aufklärungs-Abteilung 20
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 92
- Pionier-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-Artillerie-Regiment 92
- Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung I
- Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung II
- Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung III
- Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 20
- Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 295
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 92
- Panzer-Pionier-Battalion 92
- Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 92
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Horst StumpffHorst StumpffHorst Stumpff was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II.He joined the Imperial German Army as an officer cadet in 1907 and was commissioned as a leutnant in the 7th Pomeranian Infantry Regiment "von der Goltz" on 18 August 1908...
, 13 November 1940 – 10 September 1941 - OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Georg von BismarckGeorg von BismarckGeorg von Bismarck was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several panzer divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 10 September 1941 – 13 Oct 1941 (acting) - Generalmajor Wilhelm Ritter von ThomaWilhelm Ritter von ThomaWilhelm Josef Ritter von Thoma was a German officer who served in World War I, in the Spanish Civil War, and as a General der Panzertruppe in World War II.-Early life:...
, 14 October 1941 – 30 June 1942 - Generalmajor Walter DüvertWalter DüvertWalter Düvert was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 1 July 1942 – 10 October 1942 - Oberst Heinrich Freiherr von LüttwitzHeinrich Freiherr von LüttwitzHeinrich Diepold Georg Freiherr von Lüttwitz was a German general of the Panzer troops, serving during World War II...
, 10 October 1942 – 30 November 1942 (acting) - Generalmajor Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz, 1 December 1942 – 11 May 1943
- Generalleutnant Mortimer von KesselMortimer von KesselMortimer von Kessel was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II.He joined the Imperial German Army as an officer cadet in 1914 and was commissioned as a leutnant in the 12th Hussar Regiment on 22 March 1915 and was awarded the Iron Cross first and second class in World War I...
, 12 May 1943 – 1 January 1944 - Oberst Werner MarcksWerner MarcksWerner Marcks was a German general who commanded several panzer divisions during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 1 January 1944 – 1 February 1944 (acting) - Generalleutnant Mortimer von Kessel, 2 February 1944 – 5 November 1944
- Oberst Hermann von Oppeln-BronikowskiHermann von Oppeln-BronikowskiHermann Leopold August von Oppeln-Bronikowski was a German Army officer and panzer ace. Oppeln-Bronikowski fought during World War I and World War II. At the 1936 Summer Olympics he won the Gold Medal in the team Dressage. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak...
, 6 November 1944 – 31 December 1944 (acting) - Generalmajor Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski, 1 January 1945 – 8 May 1945
See also
- Division (military)Division (military)A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
- Eastern Front (World War II)Eastern Front (World War II)The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
- List of German divisions in WWII
- Military unit
- PanzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
- Panzer DivisionPanzer DivisionA panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
- WehrmachtWehrmachtThe Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...