Panzer-Grenadier-Division Feldherrnhalle

The Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle, was a semi-armoured formation of the German Army during World War II.

Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle
Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle
Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 1
Active20 June 1943 – May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypePanzergrenadier
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeDivision
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Günther Pape

History

The Panzergrenadier Division "Feldherrnhalle" was created on 20 June 1943 in the south of France by the renaming and reorganization of the 60th Infantry Division which had been destroyed at Stalingrad. Most of the recruits had previously been members of the SA or had undergone a training course in one of the twelve "Sturm Banners" scattered throughout the Reich. The name "Feldherrnhalle" was used by the original infantry regiment 271 or its 3rd Battalion. The name refers to the Field Marshals' Hall in Munich, site of combat in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.

During the division's formation, it was stationed in the Nimes - Montpellier area. At the beginning of September 1943, the division took part in the disarmament of the 8th Italian Army as part of Operation Achse. At the end of October 1943, the division moved to northern France to the Arras-Doullens area and at the beginning of December 1943 to the Eastern Front.

Here it took up defensive positions as part of the 3rd Panzer Army in the area of Vitebsk. In February it was sent to the North to fight in the Battle of Narva. In May 1944, it returned to Army Group Centre and fought against the Soviet Mogilev Offensive in June. The division was destroyed during the Soviet Minsk Offensive in July 1944, as part of Operation Bagration.

Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle (1)

The Division was recreated on 1 September 1944 in Warthelager and then in Hungary in the Debreczen area.
On 27 November 1944, the division was renamed Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle and again destroyed during the Battle of Budapest in February 1945.

The division was recreated again as Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 1.

The remnants of the division surrendered to the Soviets in May 1945 at Deutsch-Brod.

Commanders

Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle

No. Portrait CommanderTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Otto Kohlermann
Kohlermann, OttoGeneralleutnant
Otto Kohlermann
(1896–1984)
27 May 194313 February 1944262 days
2
Albert Henze
Henze, AlbertOberst
Albert Henze
(1894–1979)
13 February 19443 April 194450 days
3
Friedrich-Carl von Steinkeller
Steinkeller, FriedrichGeneralmajor
Friedrich-Carl von Steinkeller
(1896–1981)
3 April 19448 July 1944 (POW)96 days
4
Günther Pape
Pape, GüntherGeneralmajor
Günther Pape
(1907–1986)
8 July 194427 November 1944142 days

Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle (1)

No. Portrait CommanderTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Günther Pape
Pape, GüntherGeneralmajor
Günther Pape
(1907–1986)
27 November 19448 May 1945162 days

Composition Panzergrenadier-Division Feldherrnhalle, June 1943

  • Division Staff
  • Rifle-Regiment Feldherrnhalle
  • Grenadier-Regiment Feldherrnhalle
  • Panzer-Detachment Feldherrnhalle
  • Panzer-Reconnaissance-Detachment Feldherrnhalle
  • Artillery Regiment Feldherrnhalle
  • FlaK-Battalion Feldherrnhalle
  • Pioneer-Battalion Feldherrnhalle
  • Communications-Company Feldherrnhalle

Sources

  • "Panzer-Grenadier-Division Feldherrnhalle". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German).
  • "Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle"". Oberkommando Heeres (in German).
  • "Panzergrenadier-Division Feldherrnhalle". Axis History.
  • "Panzer-Division "Feldherrnhalle"". Feldgrau.
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