25th Panzer Division (Germany)

The 25th Panzer Division was a German tank unit during World War II. It was one of the many understrenghtened Panzer Divisions the Germans formed during the last years of the war.

History

Highlights

*1942-1943 Training and garrison activities in Norway
*1943 Further training in France, battle of Zhitomir
*1944 Western Ukraine (destroyed), Denmark and France (refitted), Poland
*1945 Silesia, Austria

Establishment of the Division

The 25th Panzer Division was formed in Norway on February 25th 1942 from elements of the Oslo garrison. In November 1942 the division was reinforced and in July 1943 it was finally outlined as a Panzer Division. It was transferred to France by orders of the Inspector-General of the Armoured Troops, Heinz Guderian as a reinforcement unit for the expectected Allied Invasion of France. Paradoxally, it never served on the Western Front.

Equipment

The quality of the equipment was mixed since the Panzer Regiment received outdated French tanks: Renault R35, Hotchkiss H39 and B1 bis and modern German Tiger tanks (one company) and Panzer IVs H (one company). The artillery regiment had modern artillery pieces, but was the size of a battalion. The reconnaissance battalion had no armoured cars and was entirely made up of motorcycles.

Ukraine

The division was transferred to the Eastern Front, despite Guderian's opposition. It was attached to the 4th Panzer Army (Army Group North Ukraine) and saw heavy fighting at Zhitomir in December 1943. The 25th Panzer Division was crushed near Kamianets-Podilskyi on the River Dniestr in the following retreat (spring 1944).

Refitting and further fighting on the Eastern Front

In the summer of 1944 the remmants were joined by garrison units from Denmark and the Division was refitted in Denmark and France. By now, the hard-pressed Wehrmacht was only able to raise a skeleton Panzer Division. The understrength formation was sent again to battle the Red Army and it fought defending the Vistula crossings. Parts of the Division were also involved in the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising. It suffered heavy casualties during the retreat to the Oder River in January 1945.

Last months of the war

During the winter of 1945 the Division size dwindled to one of a Regiment. In late April and May 1945, it was engaged in the defense of the Ostmark (Austria) where it was virtually destroyed.

Order of battle, December 1943, Ukraine

* Panzer-Regiment 9

* Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 146

* Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 147

* Kradschützen-Bataillon 87

* Feldersatz-Bataillon 87

* Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 91 ( undersized )

* Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 279

* Panzerjäger-Abteilung 87

* Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 87

* Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 87

* Panzer-Versorgungstruppen

See also

* List of German divisions in World War II
* Wehrmacht
* Panzer Division
* Division (military)
* Battle of Kiev (1943)

= References =
* [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Panzerdivisionen/25PD-R.htm 25. Panzer-Division]