The Panzer Division, 1939 to 1940
Divisional Troops
Divisional Headquarters
Defence Troops
Mapping Section
Field Police Unit
Field Post Unit
Reconnaissance Battalion
Divisional Signals Unit
Either Panzer Brigade of two Panzer Regiments, each Regiment comprised of;
Regimental Headquarters
Workshop
Two Panzer Battalions
Or One Panzer Regiment, comprised of;
Regimental Headquarters
Workshop
Three Panzer Battalions
Either Schutzen Brigade with one Schutzen Regiment, comprised of;
Regimental Headquarters
Infantry Gun Company - with six 15-cm infantry guns in three Sections of two guns each.
Two (1939) or Three (1940) Motorized Infantry Battalions - click on The Motorized Panzer Grenadier Battalion 1939 to 1940 link for more details.
And
One Motorcycle Rifle Battalion - click on The Motorcycle Rifle Battalion 1939 to 1940 link for more details.
Or Schutzen Brigade of two Schutzen Regiments, each Regiment comprised of;
Regimental Headquarters
Infantry Gun Company - with six 15-cm infantry guns in three Sections of two guns each.
Two Motorized Infantry Battalions - click on The Motorized Panzer Grenadier Battalion 1939 to 1940 link for more details.
Artillery Regiment
Regimental Headquarters
Two Light Battalions - each with twelve towed 10.5-cm howitzers, divided into three Batteries with four guns per Battery.
Medium Battalion – with twelve towed 15-cm howitzers, divided into three Batteries with four guns per Battery.
Anti-tank Battalion - three Companies each with twelve towed 3.7-cm anti-tank guns, divided into four Platoons with three guns per Platoon. One Flak Company with twelve 2-cm weapons in three Platoons of four guns each.
Engineer Battalion
Battalion Headquarters
Three Pioneer Companies
Bridging Column
Supply
Supply Troops
Administrative Troops
Maintenance Troops
Medical
Two Medical Companies
Three Ambulance Platoons
Points of note
As mentioned previously, there was no uniformity to the early war Panzer Divisions. Some formations had a Panzer Brigade of two Regiments, each of two Battalions, while other had a single Panzer Regiment of three, or sometimes two, Battalions.
Those Divisions with two Schutzen Regiments, each of two Battalions, normally had no motorcycle Kradschutzen Battalion. Those Divisions with a single motorised Schutzen Regiment, of two or three Battalions, generally did have a Kradschutzen Battalion.
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German Divisional Organisations