3rd Light Division (Germany)

The 3rd Light Division (sometimes described as "Light Mechanized" or "Light Panzer" to distinguish it from the later "Light" infantry divisions) was raised in November 1938. In 1939 it fought in the Invasion of Poland. Due to shortcomings that the campaign revealed in the organization of the Light divisions it was reorganized as the 8th Panzer Division afterward, in October 1939.

As the 8th Panzer Division it fought in the 1940 Battle of France and then remained on occupation and garrison duty in France and Germany until joining Operation Barbarossa in the summer of 1941. It remained on the Eastern Front thereafter, fighting in every sector and eventually driven back into Hungary and then Czechoslovakia, where it surrendered to the Soviets at the end of the war.

War Crimes

On September 4th 1939 soldiers from the division entered the region of Katowice where they met resistance from local Polish population. In retribution 80 Polish prisoners of war were gathered in Kosciuszko Square by German soldiers and executed.

See also

* Panzertruppe, Panzer, Panzer division
* Division (military), Military unit
* Heer, Wehrmacht, List of German divisions in WWII

References

Note: The Web references may require you to follow links to cover the unit's entire history.
* Wendel, Marcus (2004). " [http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=971 3. Leichte-Division] ". Retrieved April 11, 2005.
* " [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/leichte%20Panzerdivisionen/3leD.htm 3. leichte Division] ". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved April 11, 2005.
* Szymon Datner (1974). Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu (Crimes of the Wehrmacht)