German 21st Panzer Division
Encyclopedia
The 21st Panzer Division was a German armoured
division best known for its role in the battles of the North African Campaign
from 1941–1943 during World War II
when it was one of the two armoured divisions making up the Afrika Korps.
, Libya
.
It comprised elements of the 3rd Panzer Division, the unit initially earmarked for North Africa in the summer of 1940.
The first unit incorporated was the 39th Panzerjager (anti-tank) Battalion. This was a motorised unit with halftracks and trucks to tow heavy equipment, including 9 3.7 cm PaK 36 and 2 5 cm PaK 38 guns. The armoured element, 5th Panzer Regiment, was moved from the 3rd Panzer Division. Its strength included 20 PzKpfw IV, 75 PzKpfw III, 45 PzKpfw II and 25 PzKpfw I Ausf B tanks which included a number of Befehlspanzer (command vehicles). Even with these seemingly impressive numbers the unit was understrength. The infantry forces were the 200th Schutzen (Rifle) Regiment, and the sole artillery unit was a single battalion of 75th Artillery Regiment. The Divisional staff, also from 3rd Panzer Division included Chief of Staff; Major Hauser and intelligence officer; Hauptmann
Von Kluge.
The formation was officially named on 18 February 1941, and its first divisional commander was Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
winner Generalmajor Johannes Streich
, who had commanded the 15th Panzer regiment during the successful French Campaign in 1940. By this time most of the units had arrived in Tripoli
, but the last tank elements were not deployed until after 11 March, missing the first battles of Rommel's
Cyrenaica offensive.
The 5th Light did not have a full establishment of tanks immediately following its deployment. Having only 150 tanks of all types of which 130 were actually combat worthy, and the rest being an assortment of command and unarmed observer vehicles.
Despite the slow build-up, largely due to most Wehrmacht reinforcements being directed to the Eastern Front
to support Operation Barbarossa
, by September 1941 the 5th Light Division achieved Panzer Division
strength. It was then renamed the 21st Panzer Division.
Throughout its war in the Desert, the Afrika Korps's (DAK) units were nearly always understrength, made up of any men and equipment that were available.
. The British XIII Corps
had captured Tobruk on 21 January 1941 and General Richard O'Connor
was poised to cut off and destroy the Italian
forces in Cyrenaica
and move on to Tripoli
. The loss of this vital supply base would effectively eliminate all the Axis forces from North Africa
.
For the Axis Powers
, fortune intervened, as O'Connor was ordered by Commander in Chief Archibald Wavell to rest and replenish his forces delaying the advance for two weeks. The British resumed their advance on 4 February. Benghazi
and Beda Fomm
both fell on 7 February despite a determined resistance by the 21st Italian motorized corps. El Agheila
followed on 8 February. The British attempt to clear North Africa
of Axis Forces were stifled by their own government, who responded to the Greek
government's request for aid against a possible German invasion by withdrawing considerable parts of the desert force to Greece and suspending operations in Libya
. This respite gave the Germans and demoralised Italian forces time to recover.
On 2 March 1941 the first 88 mm
dual purpose artillery guns arrived and provided much needed fire power.
Although DAK's commander Erwin Rommel
was under strict orders that the unit must remain defensive, the daring German commander ordered an attack on 31 March by the '5th Light', and four Italian division, that turned into a major offensive success, as the British began a retreat that would, by April, see German forces pushing into Egypt after an advance of some 600 miles.
The disarray of the British forces was compounded by a change in command as the British commander in Cyrenaica, Lieutenant-General Phillip Neame VC
, an officer with a good reputation but inexperienced in desert fighting, was captured along with his predecessor, Lieutenant-General O'Connor, who had been sent from Cairo by Wavell to assess the situation. Furthermore, the highly experienced 7th Armoured Division, with virtually no serviceable tanks, was withdrawn to Cairo for refitting and was replaced by the newly formed 2nd Armoured Division.
After officially being renamed the 21st Panzer Division, the unit did not enjoy any particular success throughout the remainder of the year. The British regrouped and reinforced up to a complement of seven divisions organised as two corps (XIII
and XXX Corps) forming Eighth Army
, launched Operation Crusader
on 18 November which had forced Erwin Rommel
to retreat to El Agheila
by the end of the year, allowing the British to re-occupy Cyrenaica. However, the division, along with 15th Panzer Division, did score a notable victory over XXX Corps (and in particular the 7th Armoured Division) on 22 November at Sidi Rezegh, and broke through to the Egyptian border posing a major threat to 8th Army's continued existence in North Africa. However, over-stretched supply lines and the urgent need to assist the Axis forces around Tobruk which were being hard-pressed by XIII Corps, obliged them to withdraw. On returning to Sidi Rezegh the division lost its experienced commander Major-General Johann von Ravenstein
, who was captured while performing a reconnaissance on 29 November.
Although joined by the Afrika Division (officially re-named as the 90th Light Infantry Division on 27 November 1941), a unit which was also made up from an assortment of smaller formations in August 1941, the German forces in this theatre were vulnerable.
coming under intense air attack, allowing Axis supply convoys from Italy to get through.
The British Operation Acrobat was initiated to drive the DAK back to Tripoli
, but a quick counter offensive by Rommel surprised the British and pushed them back out of Cyrenaica. Reaching Derna by 3 February, the 21st Panzer was the linchpin of the assault. Just days earlier on 30 January 1942, Major General Georg von Bismarck
was appointed as the new divisional commander.
More success followed. Gazala
was taken on 5 June, and during the heavy fighting of 20–21 June, 21st Panzer along with 90th Light Division and 15th Panzer Division broke through the centre of the British lines surrounding Tobruk, capturing nearly 35,000 prisoners. As a result the British Eighth Army fell back.
The fighting had taken its toll on the division, with the 15th Panzer and 21st Panzer only able to field 44 tanks between them. Four-fifths of their transport vehicles having been captured when they crossed into Egypt
.
The British prepared a new defense line at Mersa Matruh on 26 June. Rommel, again using 21st Panzer to spearhead the assault, defeated the British defenses and pushed them back to a new line at El Alamein
.
On 3 July, the British resistance broke Rommel's impressive progress. With the 21st Panzer leading the assault to outflank the British defenses on 31 August during the Battle of Alam el Halfa, the Germans were again repulsed ending the DAK's lightning advances. In a series of battles in this area the 21st Panzer's Commander Von Bismarck was killed by British mortar
fire in August and Oberst
C.H. Lungerhausen took command until Major General Heinz von Randow
arrived on 18 September.
El Alamein
was the beginning of the end of German successes in the desert. Now vastly outnumbered, the war became a battle of attrition which the Germans could not win. The British were now equipped with new M4 Sherman
tanks armed with a 75 mm
high velocity gun, making it capable of penetrating the armour of any German vehicle.
On 23 October, the British offensive and the Second Battle of El Alamein
began. The Germans were overwhelmed and 21st Panzer was reduced to only four tanks by 7 November. During the long retreat to Tunisia
21st Panzer fought the rear guard actions.
To compound German problems, the Americans landed in Morocco
and Algeria
during Operation Torch
and Panzerarmee Afrika, as it was now called, was threatened with annihilation, as it would be caught in a vice.
On 21 December another Divisional Commander was killed, Major General von Randow.
, 21st Panzer had ceased to exist as a cohesive unit and was split up into Battle Groups (Kampfgruppen) Pfeiffer and Gruen. Later renamed Battle Groups Stenkhoff and Schuette.
The last operational success in Africa for the German forces came during February 1943 when they won a notable victory against American forces at the Kasserine Pass.
Major General Von Hulsen surrendered the remnants of the division on 13 May 1943.
on the first day.
Formed largely from occupation troops, it was designed as a fast moving unit to counter the invasion army, therefore it became known as a Schnelle Division West (Fast Division West). It was equipped with tanks, halftracks, self-propelled artillery
and trucks, in most cases captured vehicles of French origin.
The only unit specially formed for the division was the 305th Army Flak Battalion. The 1st Battalion of this unit was now fully equipped with four companies of 88 mm gun
s mounted on half tracks and two companies of 20 mm guns, also mounted on halftracks. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were equipped with 150 mm Hummels
. The Division did operate mainly captured French tanks, which were supposed to have been replaced by three companies of 22 PzKpfw III per Battalion and one company of 22 PzKpfw IV. This transfer was not carried out until the first weeks of May 1944 and even then the Battalions only received 17 Mark III's and 14 Mark IV's.
As in North Africa the unit fell under the command of Generalfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
, the famous Desert Fox, now responsible for all German forces from the Netherlands
to the Loire
.
Rommel believed that the invasion needed to be stopped on the beaches, von Rundstedt, along with Heinz Guderian
disagreed. Hitler vacillated and placed them in the middle, far enough to be useless to Rommel, not far enough for von Rundstedt. As a result of this 21st Panzer was placed near Caen
, in the area of the British landings. The SS units that were supposed to support the division could not be released as they were under Hitler's direct command.
21st Panzer comprised the following when committed to action: N/A PzKpfw III, 117 PzKpfw IV, 12 Flakpanzer 38(t)
, 2 Panzerbefehlswagen, 10 Sturmgeschütz
For the first day of the Allied landings 21st Panzer operated alone. Hampered by enemy air attacks, it managed to find and engage British Paratroop forces at Ranville. The division gave the British a hard fight until it received orders to withdraw in the late morning.
Ordered to check the British advance on Caen in the evening the Germans succeeded in reaching the coast at Lion-sur-Mer
and drove a wedge between the British 3rd Infantry Division and the 3rd Canadian Division
.
Rommel had been away from the front during the first days of the invasion but arrived back and assumed command on 9 June. The division was grouped with two SS units under the command of Sepp Dietrich
which were to push Northwest to retake Bayeux
but this plan was abandoned when the divisional staff were killed in a bombing raid.
The division continued to fight as part of the front throughout June and July. Between 6 June and 8 July, 21st Panzer reported the loss of 54 PzKpfw IV, with 17 PzKpfw IV arriving as replacements.
On 3 July a German report stated the following number of enemy tanks destroyed by 21st Panzer according to weapon used: Pz: 37, Sturmgeschütz: 15, Mot. Pak & Flak: 41, Artillery: 3, Infantry: 5. Total 101. To 27 July German tank losses continued in similar numbers.
Between 6 June and 7 August, British reports based on captured vehicles suggested that about half of German tanks killed were by armor-piercing shot, and the rest by a roughly equal combination of: infantry anti tank weapons, artillery, aircraft rockets or cannon, abandoned/destroyed by crew.
The last major action the 21st Panzer took part in on the Western front
was the stubborn resistance it gave the Guards Armoured Division during Operation Bluecoat
, on 1 August 1944.
The surviving forces of the 21st Panzer were then almost entirely lost in the Falaise Pocket
. The remnants of the unit then merged 16th Luftwaffe Field Division
.
Of the 223 tanks of the 21st and other Divisions captured in the area by British forces between 8–31 August, about three quarters were abandoned/destroyed by their crew.
In September 1944 the unit was again reformed by expanding the 112th Panzer Brigade with the 100th Panzer Regiment, which had been equipped with two companies of Panther tank
s and two companies of PzKpfw IV's. The much reduced division took part in the retreat to the German border and fought notable defensive battles in Epinal
, Nancy, Metz
and the Saar area. It was withdrawn to refit in Kaiserslautern
.
In December, Rundstedt decided not to commit the 21st to offensive actions in operation Wacht am Rhein
, leaving it to provide flank cover, which probably saved it from total destruction.
On 29 December, 21st Panzer reported the following strength: 72 PzKpfw IV, 38 PzKpfw V, 8 Flakpanzer IV
.
, reminiscent of its 'African' days. The last commander was Oberst Helmut Zollenkopf. The unit contained just a single battalion, based on the 22nd Panzer Regiment. It contained one Flak platoon, two Panther
companies, and two more of Panzer IV
tanks. The last recorded delivery of reinforcements was made on 9 February 1945 when it was redeployed to the Eastern Front. It fought the advancing Red Army
at Goerlitz, Slatsk, Cottbus
, inflicting heavy losses. Exhausted and lacking any servicable tanks the unit surrendered to the Soviets on 29 April 1945, the day before Adolf Hitler
's suicide in his Berlin Bunker.
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
division best known for its role in the battles of the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
from 1941–1943 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when it was one of the two armoured divisions making up the Afrika Korps.
Origins
The unit was originally created as 5th Light Division or 5th Light Afrika Division in Africa in early 1941, from an ad hoc collection of smaller units rushed to support the collapsing Italian forces in CyrenaicaCyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
It comprised elements of the 3rd Panzer Division, the unit initially earmarked for North Africa in the summer of 1940.
The first unit incorporated was the 39th Panzerjager (anti-tank) Battalion. This was a motorised unit with halftracks and trucks to tow heavy equipment, including 9 3.7 cm PaK 36 and 2 5 cm PaK 38 guns. The armoured element, 5th Panzer Regiment, was moved from the 3rd Panzer Division. Its strength included 20 PzKpfw IV, 75 PzKpfw III, 45 PzKpfw II and 25 PzKpfw I Ausf B tanks which included a number of Befehlspanzer (command vehicles). Even with these seemingly impressive numbers the unit was understrength. The infantry forces were the 200th Schutzen (Rifle) Regiment, and the sole artillery unit was a single battalion of 75th Artillery Regiment. The Divisional staff, also from 3rd Panzer Division included Chief of Staff; Major Hauser and intelligence officer; Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
Von Kluge.
The formation was officially named on 18 February 1941, and its first divisional commander was Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
winner Generalmajor Johannes Streich
Johannes Streich
Johannes Streich was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several 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 successful...
, who had commanded the 15th Panzer regiment during the successful French Campaign in 1940. By this time most of the units had arrived in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, but the last tank elements were not deployed until after 11 March, missing the first battles of Rommel's
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
Cyrenaica offensive.
The 5th Light did not have a full establishment of tanks immediately following its deployment. Having only 150 tanks of all types of which 130 were actually combat worthy, and the rest being an assortment of command and unarmed observer vehicles.
Despite the slow build-up, largely due to most Wehrmacht reinforcements being directed to 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...
to support 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...
, by September 1941 the 5th Light Division achieved 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....
strength. It was then renamed the 21st Panzer Division.
Throughout its war in the Desert, the Afrika Korps's (DAK) units were nearly always understrength, made up of any men and equipment that were available.
1941
Still known as 5th Light Division, the unit was somewhat fortunate in the early skirmishes with the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The British XIII Corps
XIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
had captured Tobruk on 21 January 1941 and General Richard O'Connor
Richard O'Connor
General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor KT, GCB, DSO & Bar, MC, ADC was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force in the early years of World War II...
was poised to cut off and destroy the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
forces in Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
and move on to Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. The loss of this vital supply base would effectively eliminate all the Axis forces from North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
For the Axis Powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
, fortune intervened, as O'Connor was ordered by Commander in Chief Archibald Wavell to rest and replenish his forces delaying the advance for two weeks. The British resumed their advance on 4 February. Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
and Beda Fomm
Beda Fomm
Beda Fomm is a small coastal town in southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya located between the much larger port city Benghazi to its north and the larger town of El Agheila further to the southwest...
both fell on 7 February despite a determined resistance by the 21st Italian motorized corps. El Agheila
El Agheila
El Agheila is a coastal city at the bottom of the Gulf of Sidra in far western Cyrenaica, Libya. In 1988 it was placed in Ajdabiya District; between 1995 and 2001 the district name is not known; however, it was again placed into Ajdabiya District in 2001...
followed on 8 February. The British attempt to clear North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
of Axis Forces were stifled by their own government, who responded to the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
government's request for aid against a possible German invasion by withdrawing considerable parts of the desert force to Greece and suspending operations in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. This respite gave the Germans and demoralised Italian forces time to recover.
On 2 March 1941 the first 88 mm
88 mm gun
The 88 mm gun was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognizable German weapons of the war...
dual purpose artillery guns arrived and provided much needed fire power.
Although DAK's commander Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
was under strict orders that the unit must remain defensive, the daring German commander ordered an attack on 31 March by the '5th Light', and four Italian division, that turned into a major offensive success, as the British began a retreat that would, by April, see German forces pushing into Egypt after an advance of some 600 miles.
Philip Neame
Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame VC, KBE, CB, DSO, KStJ was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, an officer with a good reputation but inexperienced in desert fighting, was captured along with his predecessor, Lieutenant-General O'Connor, who had been sent from Cairo by Wavell to assess the situation. Furthermore, the highly experienced 7th Armoured Division, with virtually no serviceable tanks, was withdrawn to Cairo for refitting and was replaced by the newly formed 2nd Armoured Division.
After officially being renamed the 21st Panzer Division, the unit did not enjoy any particular success throughout the remainder of the year. The British regrouped and reinforced up to a complement of seven divisions organised as two corps (XIII
XIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
and XXX Corps) forming Eighth Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
, launched Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
on 18 November which had forced Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
to retreat to El Agheila
El Agheila
El Agheila is a coastal city at the bottom of the Gulf of Sidra in far western Cyrenaica, Libya. In 1988 it was placed in Ajdabiya District; between 1995 and 2001 the district name is not known; however, it was again placed into Ajdabiya District in 2001...
by the end of the year, allowing the British to re-occupy Cyrenaica. However, the division, along with 15th Panzer Division, did score a notable victory over XXX Corps (and in particular the 7th Armoured Division) on 22 November at Sidi Rezegh, and broke through to the Egyptian border posing a major threat to 8th Army's continued existence in North Africa. However, over-stretched supply lines and the urgent need to assist the Axis forces around Tobruk which were being hard-pressed by XIII Corps, obliged them to withdraw. On returning to Sidi Rezegh the division lost its experienced commander Major-General Johann von Ravenstein
Johann von Ravenstein
Johann "Hans" Theodor von Ravenstein was a German officer in the armed forces and held the final rank of Lieutenant General. He fought in the First and Second World Wars and was taken prisoner by New Zealanders at Point 175 during the Second World War...
, who was captured while performing a reconnaissance on 29 November.
Although joined by the Afrika Division (officially re-named as the 90th Light Infantry Division on 27 November 1941), a unit which was also made up from an assortment of smaller formations in August 1941, the German forces in this theatre were vulnerable.
1942
In the early months of 1942 the supply situation improved, with the British island fortress of MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
coming under intense air attack, allowing Axis supply convoys from Italy to get through.
The British Operation Acrobat was initiated to drive the DAK back to Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, but a quick counter offensive by Rommel surprised the British and pushed them back out of Cyrenaica. Reaching Derna by 3 February, the 21st Panzer was the linchpin of the assault. Just days earlier on 30 January 1942, Major General Georg von Bismarck
Georg von Bismarck
Georg 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...
was appointed as the new divisional commander.
More success followed. Gazala
Gazala
Gazala, or Ain el Gazala , is a small Libyan village near the coast in the northeastern portion of the country. It is located west of Tobruk....
was taken on 5 June, and during the heavy fighting of 20–21 June, 21st Panzer along with 90th Light Division and 15th Panzer Division broke through the centre of the British lines surrounding Tobruk, capturing nearly 35,000 prisoners. As a result the British Eighth Army fell back.
The fighting had taken its toll on the division, with the 15th Panzer and 21st Panzer only able to field 44 tanks between them. Four-fifths of their transport vehicles having been captured when they crossed into Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
The British prepared a new defense line at Mersa Matruh on 26 June. Rommel, again using 21st Panzer to spearhead the assault, defeated the British defenses and pushed them back to a new line at El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
.
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
fire in August and Oberst
Oberst
Oberst 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...
C.H. Lungerhausen took command until Major General Heinz von Randow
Heinz von Randow
Heinz Friedrich von Randow was a German army general.- Life :Randow was born in Grammow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He became an ensign in 1910, then attended the military academy and became lieutenant on 20 November 1911, five days after his 21st birthday. He was then in the 2nd Mecklenburgian Dragoon...
arrived on 18 September.
El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
was the beginning of the end of German successes in the desert. Now vastly outnumbered, the war became a battle of attrition which the Germans could not win. The British were now equipped with new M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
tanks armed with a 75 mm
75 mm Gun (US)
The US 75 mm gun tank gun M2 and the later M3 were the standard American tank guns of the Second World War.Besides use on the two main American medium tanks of the war the M3 Lee and the M4 Sherman . The lightweight M6 and M5 variants were developed to equip the Light Tank M24 and the B-25...
high velocity gun, making it capable of penetrating the armour of any German vehicle.
On 23 October, the British offensive and the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
began. The Germans were overwhelmed and 21st Panzer was reduced to only four tanks by 7 November. During the long retreat to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
21st Panzer fought the rear guard actions.
To compound German problems, the Americans landed in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
during Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
and Panzerarmee Afrika, as it was now called, was threatened with annihilation, as it would be caught in a vice.
On 21 December another Divisional Commander was killed, Major General von Randow.
1943
By the time it reached TunisTunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, 21st Panzer had ceased to exist as a cohesive unit and was split up into Battle Groups (Kampfgruppen) Pfeiffer and Gruen. Later renamed Battle Groups Stenkhoff and Schuette.
The last operational success in Africa for the German forces came during February 1943 when they won a notable victory against American forces at the Kasserine Pass.
Major General Von Hulsen surrendered the remnants of the division on 13 May 1943.
1943
In France, the division was reconstituted on 15 July 1943, where it remained for rehabilitation and garrison duty until the Allied landings at Normandy. The new division's commander was Oberst Edgar Feuchtinger who was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 August 1943 and Generalleutenant (equivalent to Major-General) exactly a year later. It was heavily engaged in the fighting at the Normandy beachheads, being the only Panzer division to engage the AlliesAllies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
on the first day.
Formed largely from occupation troops, it was designed as a fast moving unit to counter the invasion army, therefore it became known as a Schnelle Division West (Fast Division West). It was equipped with tanks, halftracks, self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
and trucks, in most cases captured vehicles of French origin.
The only unit specially formed for the division was the 305th Army Flak Battalion. The 1st Battalion of this unit was now fully equipped with four companies of 88 mm gun
88 mm gun
The 88 mm gun was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognizable German weapons of the war...
s mounted on half tracks and two companies of 20 mm guns, also mounted on halftracks. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were equipped with 150 mm Hummels
Hummel (artillery)
The Hummel was a self-propelled artillery gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis, armed with a 15 cm howitzer. It was used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War from late 1942 until the end of the war....
. The Division did operate mainly captured French tanks, which were supposed to have been replaced by three companies of 22 PzKpfw III per Battalion and one company of 22 PzKpfw IV. This transfer was not carried out until the first weeks of May 1944 and even then the Battalions only received 17 Mark III's and 14 Mark IV's.
As in North Africa the unit fell under the command of Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
, the famous Desert Fox, now responsible for all German forces from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
.
1944
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
disagreed. Hitler vacillated and placed them in the middle, far enough to be useless to Rommel, not far enough for von Rundstedt. As a result of this 21st Panzer was placed near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, in the area of the British landings. The SS units that were supposed to support the division could not be released as they were under Hitler's direct command.
21st Panzer comprised the following when committed to action: N/A PzKpfw III, 117 PzKpfw IV, 12 Flakpanzer 38(t)
Flakpanzer 38(t)
The Flakpanzer 38 was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used in World War II.- Design:...
, 2 Panzerbefehlswagen, 10 Sturmgeschütz
Sturmgeschütz
Sturmgeschütz is a German word for "assault gun", usually abbreviated StuG. The vehicle was a leading weapon of the Sturmartillerie, a branch of the German artillery tasked with close fire support of infantry in infantry, panzer, and panzergrenadier units...
For the first day of the Allied landings 21st Panzer operated alone. Hampered by enemy air attacks, it managed to find and engage British Paratroop forces at Ranville. The division gave the British a hard fight until it received orders to withdraw in the late morning.
Ordered to check the British advance on Caen in the evening the Germans succeeded in reaching the coast at Lion-sur-Mer
Lion-sur-Mer
Lion-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Geography:Lion-sur-Mer is located on the edge of the English Channel, more precisely on the Côte de Nacre , about North of Caen.The beach is made of fine sand and is bordered, to the west,...
and drove a wedge between the British 3rd Infantry Division and the 3rd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day...
.
Rommel had been away from the front during the first days of the invasion but arrived back and assumed command on 9 June. The division was grouped with two SS units under the command of Sepp Dietrich
Sepp Dietrich
Josef "Sepp" Dietrich was a German SS General. He was one of Nazi Germany's most decorated soldiers and commanded formations up to Army level during World War II. Prior to 1929 he was Adolf Hitler's chauffeur and bodyguard but received rapid promotion after his participation in the murder of...
which were to push Northwest to retake Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
but this plan was abandoned when the divisional staff were killed in a bombing raid.
The division continued to fight as part of the front throughout June and July. Between 6 June and 8 July, 21st Panzer reported the loss of 54 PzKpfw IV, with 17 PzKpfw IV arriving as replacements.
On 3 July a German report stated the following number of enemy tanks destroyed by 21st Panzer according to weapon used: Pz: 37, Sturmgeschütz: 15, Mot. Pak & Flak: 41, Artillery: 3, Infantry: 5. Total 101. To 27 July German tank losses continued in similar numbers.
Between 6 June and 7 August, British reports based on captured vehicles suggested that about half of German tanks killed were by armor-piercing shot, and the rest by a roughly equal combination of: infantry anti tank weapons, artillery, aircraft rockets or cannon, abandoned/destroyed by crew.
The last major action the 21st Panzer took part in on the Western front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
was the stubborn resistance it gave the Guards Armoured Division during Operation Bluecoat
Operation Bluecoat
Operation Bluecoat was an attack by the British Second Army at the Battle of Normandy during the Second World War, from 30 July – 7 August 1944. The geographical objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon...
, on 1 August 1944.
The surviving forces of the 21st Panzer were then almost entirely lost in the Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
. The remnants of the unit then merged 16th Luftwaffe Field Division
Luftwaffe Field Division
The Luftwaffe Field Divisions were German military formations which fought during World War II.-History:...
.
Of the 223 tanks of the 21st and other Divisions captured in the area by British forces between 8–31 August, about three quarters were abandoned/destroyed by their crew.
In September 1944 the unit was again reformed by expanding the 112th Panzer Brigade with the 100th Panzer Regiment, which had been equipped with two companies of Panther tank
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
s and two companies of PzKpfw IV's. The much reduced division took part in the retreat to the German border and fought notable defensive battles in Epinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
, Nancy, Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
and the Saar area. It was withdrawn to refit in Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
.
In December, Rundstedt decided not to commit the 21st to offensive actions in operation Wacht am Rhein
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, leaving it to provide flank cover, which probably saved it from total destruction.
On 29 December, 21st Panzer reported the following strength: 72 PzKpfw IV, 38 PzKpfw V, 8 Flakpanzer IV
Flakpanzer IV
Flakpanzer IV is the general designation for a series of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV chassis. They are in order of development:*Möbelwagen*Wirbelwind*Ostwind*Kugelblitz...
.
1945
On 25 January 1945 the division was reformed as a much reduced Panzer DivisionPanzer 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....
, reminiscent of its 'African' days. The last commander was Oberst Helmut Zollenkopf. The unit contained just a single battalion, based on the 22nd Panzer Regiment. It contained one Flak platoon, two Panther
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
companies, and two more of Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
tanks. The last recorded delivery of reinforcements was made on 9 February 1945 when it was redeployed to the Eastern Front. It fought the advancing 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...
at Goerlitz, Slatsk, Cottbus
Cottbus
Cottbus is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around southeast of Berlin, on the River Spree. As of , its population was .- History :...
, inflicting heavy losses. Exhausted and lacking any servicable tanks the unit surrendered to the Soviets on 29 April 1945, the day before 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 suicide in his Berlin Bunker.
Units of 21st Panzer Division
Commander: Lieutenant General Edgar Feuchtinger- 22 Panzer Regiment (Colonel 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...
)- I Panzer Battalion
- II Panzer Battalion
- 125 Panzer Grenadier Regiment (Major Hans von LuckHans von LuckHans-Ulrich von Luck und Witten , usually shortened to Hans von Luck, was a Colonel in the German Armored Forces during World War II. He served with the 7th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division, seeing action in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy and Russia...
)- I Panzer Grenadier Battalion
- II Panzer Grenadier Battalion
- 192 Panzer Grenadier Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel Rauch)
- I Panzer Grenadier Battalion
- II Panzer Grenadier Battalion
- 155 Panzer Artillery Regiment (Colonel Huehne)
- I Panzer Artillery Battalion
- II Panzer Artillery Battalion
- III Panzer Artillery Battalion
- 21 Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion (Major Waldow)
- 200 Assault Gun Battalion (Major Becker)
- 200 Anti-tank Battalion
- 200 Panzer Signals Battalion
- 220 Panzer Engineer Battalion (Major Hoegl)
- 305 Flak Battalion (Major Ohlend)
Commanding officers
- Generalmajor Johann von RavensteinJohann von RavensteinJohann "Hans" Theodor von Ravenstein was a German officer in the armed forces and held the final rank of Lieutenant General. He fought in the First and Second World Wars and was taken prisoner by New Zealanders at Point 175 during the Second World War...
, 1 August 1941 – 29 November 1941 - OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Gustav-Georg Knabe, 29 November 1941 – 1 December 1941 (acting leader) - Generalmajor Karl BöttcherKarl BöttcherKarl Böttcher was a German general who commanded several divisions 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 December 1941 – 11 February 1942 - Generalmajor 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...
, 11 February 1942 – 21 July 1942 - 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...
Alfred BruerAlfred BruerAlfred Bruer was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht who briefly commanded the 21. Panzer-Division. 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...
, 21 July 1942 – 1 August 1942 (acting leader) - Generalmajor Georg von Bismarck, 1 August 1942 – 31 August 1942
- Oberst Karl-Hans Lungershausen, 1 September 1942 – 18 September 1942 (acting leader)
- Generalmajor Heinz von RandowHeinz von RandowHeinz Friedrich von Randow was a German army general.- Life :Randow was born in Grammow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He became an ensign in 1910, then attended the military academy and became lieutenant on 20 November 1911, five days after his 21st birthday. He was then in the 2nd Mecklenburgian Dragoon...
, 18 September 1942 – 21 December 1942 - Oberst Kurt Freiherr von LiebensteinKurt Freiherr von LiebensteinKurt Freiherr von Liebenstein was a German general.Liebenstein was born in Horb am Neckar in the Kingdom of Württemberg. He joined the German Army on December 20, 1916, as a Fahnenjunker and took part in World War I. He was decorated with the Eisernes Kreuz. German Cross in Gold on 26 January 1942...
, 21 Dezember 1942 – 1 January 1943 (acting leader) - Generalmajor Hans-Georg Hildebrandt, 1 January 1943 – 25 April 1943
- Oberst Heinrich-Hermann von Hülsen, 25 April 1943 – 13 Mai 1943
- Generalleutnant Edgar FeuchtingerEdgar FeuchtingerEdgar Feuchtinger was a German General during the Second World War.-Biography:Born in Metz , Feuchtinger joined a cadet school in Karlsruhe in 1907. During the First World War, he fought as lieutenant in Russia and France...
, 15 May 1943 (re-creation) – 15 January 1944 - Generalmajor Oswin Grolig, 15 January 1944 – 8 March 1944
- Generalleutnant Franz WesthovenFranz WesthovenFranz Westhoven 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...
, 8 March 1944 – 8 May 1944 - Generalleutnant Edgar Feuchtinger, 8 May 1944 – 25 January 1945
- Oberst Helmut Zollenkopf, 25 January 1945 – 12 February 1945
- Generalleutnant 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...
, 12 February 1945 – 8 May 1945
See also
- 5th Light Infantry Division, (unrelated unit with a confusingly similar name)
- Deutsches Afrikakorps, Western Desert CampaignWestern Desert CampaignThe Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
, North Africa Campaign - 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.... - 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...
, Military unit - 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:...
, List of German divisions in WWII - Hans von LuckHans von LuckHans-Ulrich von Luck und Witten , usually shortened to Hans von Luck, was a Colonel in the German Armored Forces during World War II. He served with the 7th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division, seeing action in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy and Russia...