18th Panzer Division (Germany)
- 18th Panzer Division (Germany)
The 18th Panzer Division ( _de. 18. Panzer-Division) was a German World War II armoured division that fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 until disbandment in 1943.
Commanding officers
*General der Panzertruppen Walther Nehring, 26 October 1940
*Generalleutnant Karl Freiherr von Thüngen, 26 January 1942
*General der Nachrichtentruppen Albert Praun, July 1942
*Generalleutnant Karl Freiherr von Thüngen, 24 August 1942
*Generalleutnant Erwin Menny, 15. September 1942
*Generalleutnant Karl Freiherr von Thüngen, February 1943
*Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben, 1 April 1943
Formation
The 18th Panzer-Division was formed on 26 October 1940 at Chemnitz from parts of the 4th Infantry-Division, 14th Infantry-Division, and four battalions of submersible tanks. The submersible tanks had originally been intended for Operation "Sea Lion" "(Seelöwe)", the planned German invasion of England. Two of the four tank battalions formed the 18th Panzer-Regiment and the other two battalions formed the 28th Panzer-Regiment of the 18th Panzer-Division. In March 1941 the 18th Panzer-Division was reorganized, the 28th Panzer-Regiment was disbanded, one of its battalions became the third battalion of the 18th Panzer-Regiment, and the other battalion was transferred to the 3rd Panzer-Division.
Invasion of Russia
The 18th Panzer-Division first saw action during the German invasion of Russia, Operation "Barbarossa", on 22 June 1941. When the 18th Panzer-Division crossed the Bug River underwater on 22 June, with submersible tanks, it marked the first time in World War II submersible tanks were used in combat. The 18th Panzer-Division fought as part of LXVII panzerkorps, and over the next six months was involved in seizing Smolensk, Bryansk, and the assault on Tula. However, like the rest of the German Army the 18th Panzer-Division was unprepared for the Russian winter and was driven back to Oryol in January 1942 with heavy losses.
1942 Spring Offensive
In the summer of 1942 the 18th Panzer-Division took part in the initial drive on Stalingrad, but was transferred to the central section of the front. The 18th Panzer-Division took part in defensive battles around Oryol in 1942-43, and in anti-partisan operations in the spring of 1943. In the summer of 1943 the 18th Panzer-Division fought in the Battle of Kursk, and suffered heavy losses. After Kursk the 18th Panzer-Division was disbanded and the division's personnel were used to build the 18th Artillery Division
References
* Rosado, J. and Bishop, C. "German Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions, 1939-45". Amber Books Ltd., 2005
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