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History of the 21. Panzer-Division

The bulk of the 21. Panzer-Division came from the 5. Leichte (light) Division, a scratch formation that was sent to North Africa in late February of 1941. This was one of the first of the German units to touch African soil, and it’s ad hoc organization was as follows:

Schützen-Regiment 200
  Schützen- Bataillon I
  Schützen- Bataillon II
Schützen- Bataillon III
Panzer-Regiment 5
  Panzer- Abteilung I
  Panzer-Abteilung II
I Abt./Artillerie-Regiment 75
Aufklürungs-Abteilung 3
Panzerjüger-Abteilung 39
Flak- Regiment 33
Various support troops

As more supplies, tanks, and men arrived over the following months, the 5 Leichte grew to full panzer division strength, and re-designated the 21. Panzer Division on August 1^st 1941. There is some conflict as to whether this date is correct, however, the division did not come to full strength until late ’41 and is safe to assume by October the change took place. It was re-organized as follows:

Schützen-Regiment 104
  Schützen-Bataillon I
  Schützen-Bataillon II
Kradschützen-Bataillon 20
Panzer-Regiment 5
  Panzer-Abteilung I
  Panzer-Abteilung II
Artillerie-Regiment 155
  Artillerie-Abteilung I
  Artillerie-Abteilung II
  Artillerie-Abteilung III
Aufklürungs-Abteilung 3
Panzerjüger-Abteilung 39
Pionier- Abteilung 200
Nachrichten-Abteilung 200
Feldersatz- Battalion 200
Various support troops

The division’s first documented action took place during the British launched Operation Crusader, however Panzer-Regiment 5, along with other units now a part of the division, did see limited action much earlier. On September 14th, 1941, units of the 21.Panzer-Division took part in Operation Sommernachtstraum, which was a major reconnaissance of British lines on the border of Eygpt, however did not result in any significant engagements.

Despite fighting well in Operation Crusader, the 21. Panzer had to pull back due to depleted armor, eventually leading to El Agheila. The retreat was successful, however allowed the British garrison to lift the siege of Tobruk and reunite once again with the 8^th Army. In early 42, after being resupplied and refitted, the DAK (including the 21^st) went on the offensive against the British again, retaking Benghaziuntil stalling at Gazala. Once again, Rommel launched another attack, successfully taking Tobruk, into Eygpt, and finally stopping at Alma Halfa.

By now, the British pulled together all measures to stop the German advance, eventually overwhelming them with numbers. The 21.Panzer-Division was in the middle of this “cauldron,” which saw action in the Battles for El Alamein. Against heavy loses and a growing number of British AFVs, the division was pushed back, but fought in some rear guard operations that partially allowed the Germans to retreat back across the border, across the Libyan Desert, all the way to Tunisia.

When the 21.Panzer-Division arrived in Tunisia, it was split into several Kampfgruppen (small fighting groups) and fought a series of small engagements against the Allies. This occurred from January to February of 1943. Rommel personally took control over the division, in hopes of stopping the American forces that now entered the war. They finally met their American foes at the battle of Kasserine Pass, but was halted before being able to reach the actual pass itself. The majority of the 21. Panzer surrendered on May 13^th, which marked the end of the North African campaign.

Reformation

In June of 1943, the division was reformed in France in the Rennes area. It was one of the “new” divisions that were to be termed Schnell Division West (Fast Division West) and composed of mainly occupation units that were located there at the time. It was to be a fully mobilized unit, consisting of tanks, half-tracks, trucks, and with a great emphasis self-propelled artillery. It also received some roughly 2,000 DAK veterans, who were to be the nucleus of the “old cadre.” It organization was as follows:

Panzergrenadier-Regiment 125
  Panzergrenadier-Bataillon I
  Panzergrenadier-Bataillon II
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 192
  Panzergrenadier-Bataillon I
  Panzergrenadier-Bataillon II
Panzer-Regiment 100
  Panzer-Abteilung I
  Panzer-Abteilung II
Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155
  Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung I
  Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung II
  Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung III
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 21
Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 305
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 200
Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 220
Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 200

The 21. Panzer remained stationed in France for the next year, being deemed unfit for service on the Eastern Front. However, it saw its first action on June 6^th, 1944, when the allies landed on the Normandy beaches. The division was the only unit available for immediate counterattack due to its nearby vicinity (mainly in Caen). With confusion rampant, the division was not released in time to counterattack the landings on the beaches, and made a slow move to attack the British paras at Ranville. By 10:30, Maj. Hans von Luck (acting commander) took charge to begin counterattacking the British advance towards Caen.

For several weeks, bitter fighting developed between old foes as little progress was made (although the 21^st managed alone to drive back 3 whole division from Caen). Despite being reinforced by the 12^th SS, sheer numbers and Allied air power eventually overwhelmed them, forcing retreat. By August of 44, the 21. Panzer was largely destroyed in the Falaise Pocket.

In September, the division’s tank regiment was equipped with 34 Panther tanks, which help stem the advancing Allied tide. It withdrew from France and into Germany mainly in the Epinel, Nancy, Metz, and Saar regions. On January 25, 1945, it was reformed once again, and sent to the east in defence of the Russian advance into Germany Operations included were in the areas of Goerlitz, Slatsk, and Cottbus, which created a small window for escaping comrades moving to the west from the Russians. The division finally surrendered on April 29, 1945.

Sources: www.feldgrau.com and 21^st Panzer Div. by Chris Ellis