The Panzer Division, 1941 to 1942
Divisional Troops
Divisional Headquarters
Defence Troops
Mapping Section
Field Police Unit
Field Post Unit
Reconnaissance Battalion
Motorcycle Rifle Battalion
Divisional Signals Unit
Panzer Regiment, comprised of;
Regimental Headquarters
Workshop
Two Panzer Battalions
Panzer Grenadier Brigade of two Panzer Grenadier Regiments, each comprised of;
Regimental Headquarters
Infantry Gun Company - with six 15-cm infantry guns in three Sections of two guns each.
Two Panzer Grenadier Battalions - click on The Motorized Panzer Grenadier Battalion 1941 to 1942 for more details
By 1942 one full Battalion in each Regiment would normally be carried in halftracks - click on The Armoured Panzer Grenadier Battalion 1942 to 1943 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
Prior to the invasion of Russia in June 1941, the Panzer Divisions were increased in number, but actually decreased in terms of tanks. The only way to provide enough Panzer Battalions for the new Divisions being formed was to reduce each Division to a single Regiment, normally of two Battalions though a few formations had three for a time at least.
1942 saw a greater increase in self-propelled equipments, with the 10.5-cm and 15-cm howitzers and 7.5-cm anti-tank guns all being mounted on a tracked chassis. At the beginning of 1941 only one Panzer Grenadier Rifle Company was usually equipped with halftracks, but this was gradually increased to a full Battalion.
Towards the end of 1941 the Motorcycle Rifle Battalion was absorbed into the Reconnaissance Battalion.
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German Divisional Organisations