D D 21. Panzer-Division In Normandy, June 1944 ...

1 21. Panzer-Division In Normandy, June 1944 Generalmajor Edgar von Feuchtinger CommandingHQ212212519215521200200305220 Paper OrganisationPanzer-Regiment 22 Oberst Hermann von Oppeln-BronikowskiDivision-StabPanzer-Gr enadier-Regiment 125 Major Hans von LuckPanzer-Grenadier-Regiment 192 Oberst RauchPanzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155 Oberstleutnant H hnePanzer-Aufkl rungs-Abteilung 21 Major WaldowPanzerj ger-Abteilung 200 Hauptmann von LynckerSturmgesch tz-Abteilung 200 Major BeckerHeeres-FlaK-Abteilung 305 Hauptmann OhlendorffPanzer-Pionier-Bataillon 220 Hauptmann HoegelD-Day ReorganisationHQ2121200305 Kampfgruppe OppelnDivision-StabPanzerj ger-Abteilung 200 Hauptmann von LynckerHeeres-FlaK-Abteilung 305 Hauptmann Ohlendorff192 Kampfgruppe Rauch22125 Kampfgruppe LuckPanzer-Aufkl rungs-Abteilung 21 Major Waldow21.

2 Panzer-Division adopted combined-arms battlegroups immediately following the Allied invasion of 6th June. The threebattlegroups were formed using the Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier regiments as the nuclei. Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155 was splitequally, with a battalion of artillery being attached to each group. Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 220 was split between KGr Oppeln andKGr Rauch (though a company was allocated to KGr Luck after D-Day), while StuG-Abteilung 200 was allocated in its entirety to KGrLuck. Luck and Oppeln meanwhile swapped infantry for panzers, to give each other a limited combined-arms divisional reconnaissance, flak and antitank elements, as well as the 10. (Werfer) Batterie of Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155,remained under the personal command of the divisional commander as a divisional reserve, though Panzer-Aufkl rungs-Abteilung 21was allocated to KGr Luck for some weeks following , following this re-organisation, the three regimental battlegroups had very distinct flavours and roles Oppeln retained the bulk ofhis panzer regiment and was thus the main armoured fist of the division.

3 However, he had gained some armoured and motorisedinfantry from Luck. Rauch meanwhile, remained an entirely infantry formation (albeit with some armoured support elements andpersonnel carriers), and was thus intended to operate in close support of Oppeln. Luck on the other hand, had a well-balanced forceof infantry, panzers and assault guns and was therefore quite capable of reasonably independent action. Whether by accident ordesign, their dispositions on 6th June reflected these divisions in role Rauch performed a classic infantry/antitank holding actionnorth of Caen while Oppeln prepared to support him and launch his own armoured counter-attack against the bridgehead. Luckmeanwhile, operated east of the Orne against British and Canadian paratroopers, divorced from the rest of the division by the natureof the aspect that tends to interest wargamers most about 21.

4 Panzer-Division is the inclusion of large quantities of ex-French vehicles many of which had been armoured and converted by German engineers most notably Major Becker. There is still debate as towhether or not the ex-French tanks were involved in the Battle of Normandy, but this argument has still not been resolved. I haveincluded a brief article on German conversions of French vehicles at the end of this order of (Werfer) Batterie,Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155 DDHQHQI I (-)Kampfgruppe Rauch (Panzergrenadier-Regiment 192)Kampfgruppe Rauch(d)Oberst RauchHEADQUARTERS ELEMENTStab/ Panzergrenadier-Regiment 192 Commandx1 CommanderGE-46 Transportx1leSPW U304(f)GE-P25 Reccex1 InfantryGE-44 Transport/Reccex1 MotorcycleGE-94BG-01I. Bataillon (SPW)/ PzGren-Regt 192 Hauptmann R tzer(a)BG-02II. Bataillon (Mot.)

5 / PzGren-Regt 192 Hauptmann Zippe (Rusche from 8th June)(b)MANOEUVRE ELEMENT/FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT9. (SiG) Kompanie/ PzGren-Regt 192 Oberleutnant SkubowiusCommand/Direct Fire Supportx115cm sFH 13 auf LorraineGE-P35 Direct Fire Supportx215cm sFH 13 auf LorraineGE-P35 MANOEUVRE/FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT10. (Werfer) Kompanie/ PzGren-Regt 192 Hauptmann, Dr LehmannCommand/Direct Fire Supportx1mSPW S307(f) (8cm Reihenwerfer) GE-P65 Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 220 (-)Hauptmann HoegelME-032. Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie (SPW)ME-043. Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie (Mot.)II. Bataillon/ Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155 Hauptmann ThannenbergerFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (4. Batterie) leFH18 auf LorraineGE-P34 FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (5. Batterie) leFH18 auf LorraineGE-P34 FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (6. Batterie)x315cm sFH13 auf LorraineGE-P35On-Table Attachmentx3 Forward ObserverGE-48 Transportx3 Panzerbeobachtungswagen Lorraine GE-P69 DIVISIONAL ATTACHMENTSBATTLEGROUPS192(a)Company Commanders in were as follows:1.

6 Kompanie Oberleutnant Braun2. Kompanie Hauptmann Gilbert3. Kompanie Hauptmann D nitz4. Kompanie Hauptmann Rusche (until 8th June)(b)Company Commanders in were as follows:5. Kompanie Hauptmann Kerber6. Kompanie Oberleutnant Kuhbier7. Kompanie Oberleutnant Walter8. Kompanie Oberleutnant Braatz(c)The platoon of PaK 38s does not appear in thisregiment in some sources.(d)Oberst Rauch was formed from Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 192 on D-Day. The Kampfgruppe was stationedin the northern suburbs of Caen and was tasked withforming a stop-line to prevent the Allies driving into the cityfrom the sea. Elements of the Kampfgruppe (mainlyOberleutnant Braatz s 8. Kompanie) also mounted counter-attacks against the British Airborne position at B nouvilleand Pegasus S303(f) (Pionier)GE-P29x15cm PaK 38(c)GE-40 Transportx1leSPW U304(f)(c)GE-P25220 Kampfgruppe Rauch was heavily engaged west of the Orne on D-Day mainly on the northern approaches to Caen, around Lebissey andB nouville and in support of Oppeln s panzers and of 716.

7 U304(f)GE-P25 Direct Fire Supportx1mSPW S307(f) (8cm Reihenwerfer) GE-P65I I (-)Kampfgruppe Oppeln (Panzer-Regiment 22)HQI I (-)FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (7. Batterie) leFH18 auf LorraineGE-P34 FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (8. Batterie) leFH18 auf LorraineGE-P34 FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (9. Batterie)x315cm sFH13 auf LorraineGE-P35On-Table Attachmentx3 Forward ObserverGE-48 Transportx3 Panzerbeobachtungswagen LorraineGE-P69 III. Bataillon/ Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155 Hauptmann von ZiegeserKampfgruppe OppelnOberst Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski(b)HEADQUARTERS ELEMENTStab/ Panzer-Regiment 22 Commandx1 Pzkpfw III L(d)GE-01x2 Pzkpfw IV G/HGE-03 MANOEUVRE ELEMENTF lakpanzer-KompanieCommandx1 Flakpanzer 38(t)GE-18x3 Flakpanzer 38(t)GE-18BG-03I. Abteilung/ Panzer-Regiment 22 (-)Major von GottbergBG-04II. Abteilung/ Panzer-Regiment 22 Major VierzigDIVISIONAL ATTACHMENTSBG-01 (minus 3.)

8 Kompanie retained by KGr Luck)I. Bataillon (SPW) (-)/ Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 125 Hauptmann Schenck zu Schweinburg(a)ME-031. Kompanie (SPW)/ Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 220(c)BATTLEGROUPS22(a)Company Commanders in were as follows:1. Kompanie - ?2. Kompanie - ?3. Kompanie Leutnant Bandomir4. Kompanie Oberleutnant Wendorff(b)Panzer Regiment 22 had been numbered as PanzerRegiment 100 until shortly before D-Day and is oftenreferred to by its old number in many Oppeln was created from the regiment on D-Day. The Kampfgruppe was stationed at Falaise, somedistance to the south of Caen on D-Day and was only ableto put in a counter-attack against the Allied bridgehead latein the afternoon. While the majority of the Kampfgruppebecame embroiled in a bitter battle north of Caen, onesmall detachment succeeded in reaching the coastbetween the Sword and Juno landing , this small group was forced to retire in theevening due the landing of the British 6th AirlandingBrigade in its rear.

9 (c) 220 was transferred to KGrLuck on 7th June.(d)The command Pzkpfw III may have been an unarmedBefehlswagen variant, in which case use:Panzerbeobachtungswagen IIIGE-20 Kampfgruppe Luck (Panzergrenadier-Regiment 125)HQHQK ampfgruppe LuckMajor Hans von LuckHEADQUARTERS ELEMENTStab/ Panzergrenadier-Regiment 125 Commandx1 CommanderGE-46 Transportx1leSPW U304(f)GE-P25x15cm PaK 38GE-40 Transportx1leSPW U304(f)GE-P25 BATTLEGROUPSBG-02II. (Mot.) Bataillon/ PzGren-Regt 125 Hauptmann Kuron (Kurz from 8th June)(b)MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME-013. Panzergrenadier-Kompanie (SPW), Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 125(e)DIVISIONAL ATTACHMENTSS turmgesch tz-Abteilung 200 Major BeckerMANOEUVRE ELEMENT4. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 22 Oberleutnant Hoffmann(same as 1. Kompanie/ Panzer Regiment 22)I. Bataillon/ Panzer-Artillerie-Regt 155 Hauptmann FecklerFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT(1.)

10 Batterie)x110cm K18 FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (2. Batterie) FH 396(r)FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT (3. Batterie) FH 396(r)On-Table Attachmentx3 Forward ObserverGE-48 Transportx3 Pzbeobw LorraineGE-P69 MANOEUVRE/FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT9. (SiG) Kompanie/ PzGren-Regt 125 MANOEUVRE/FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT10. (Werfer) Kompanie/ PzGren-Regt 125 Command/Direct Fire Supportx1mSPW S307(f) (8cm Reihenwerfer) GE-P65125(a)Waldow s Panzer-Aufkl rungs-Abteilung 21 was attached to KGrLuck for a few weeks from the evening of 6th June onwards.(b)The Company Commanders of were as follows:5. Kompanie Oberleutnant Brandenburg6. Kompanie Hauptmann Ackermann7. Kompanie - ?8. Kompanie Oberleutnant Laber (from 6th June)(c)1. Kompanie/Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 220 was transferred to KGrLuck on 7th June.(d)1. Kompanie/Pionier-Bataillon 716 was taken under command byKGr Luck from 7th June due to its physical separation from its parent716.