History 2nd Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)

1 history

1.1 formation
1.2 invasion of poland
1.3 battle of france
1.4 invasion of greece
1.5 invasion of soviet union
1.6 battle of normandy
1.7 battle of bulge
1.8 battle of rhine

history
formation

the 2nd panzer division formed on 15 october 1935 , headquartered in würzburg, bavaria. 1 of 3 tank divisions created @ time, other 2 having been 1st , 3rd panzer division. germany had renounced treaty of versailles earlier in year had forbidden country, among other things, having tank forces, treaty germany had violated start secretly developing tanks , operating covert tank school in soviet union.

under command of heinz guderian division participated in anschluss of austria in 1938, covering 680 kilometres (420 mi) in 48 hours in process losing 30 percent of tanks accidents , mechanical failures. formed part of garrison in vienna, austria s capital of personnel recruited former austria.

invasion of poland

the deployment , planned advances invasion of poland 2nd panzer division moving towards northeast slovakia, take kraków , continue warsaw through vistula valley.

in september 1939, 2nd panzer division took part in invasion of poland, crossing polish-slowak border , advancing towards kraków. division suffered heavy losses while fighting in central poland.

battle of france

german armoured advance (including 2nd panzer division) through ardennes between 10 , 16 may 1940, part of battle of france

in may 1940, unit took part in battle of france part of xix army corps under command of guderian. division involved in fighting in belgium , mosel river valley. arrived in town of abbeville on 20th. later division formed armoured element flanked british expeditionary army , forced evacuation dunkirk. 2nd panzer division advanced along river aisne interior of france. @ end of campaign in last months of 1940, division lost 4th panzer regiment used basis soon-to-be-formed 13th panzer division.

invasion of greece

the division reassigned xviii mountain corps of 12th army on 6 april 1941 play role in operation marita, invasion of greece. german army pushed through south of yugoslavia, reaching greek border, made contact 19th greek mechanised division in area of lake dojran. on 9 april division took city of salonika , forced surrender of greek eastern macedonia army section.

the division, 5th mountain division, 6th mountain division , 72nd infantry division, formed attack group mission of advancing south of greece. after 6th division had taken verroia , formed spearhead, on other side of river haliacmon, 2nd panzer division crossed river, taking katerini on 14 april. after battle of thermopylae, 2nd panzer division entered athens 6th mountain division.

at end of campaign 2nd panzer division returned vienna refitting, parts of division transported sea , suffering heavy losses because of sinking of 3 transport ships.

invasion of soviet union

in october 1941, 2nd panzer division sent eastern front, reinforcing army group centre in push towards moscow, operation typhoon. attached xl panzer corps of 4th panzer army during battle of moscow. division retreated following counterattack of red army in winter of 1941, taking part in various battles component in 9th german army during first months of 1942. in 1943 2nd panzer division took part in operation citadel, part of xlvii panzer corps of 9th german army of army group centre. following operation s failure, red army launched operation kutuzov in army group s center s sector. division retreated, suffering heavy losses, having lost 2 of 3 tank battalions earlier in 1942 when send southern sector of front assist german push towards wolga , caucasus.

battle of normandy

in late 1943 2nd panzer division sent france refitting after heavy losses suffered on eastern front. division equipped panther tanks. following invasion of normandy, division moved normandy in june; engaged british troops of 50th infantry division , 7th armoured division. took part last 25 tanks in operation luttich, failed german counterattack @ mortain. later encircled in falaise pocket, broke out heavy losses in materiel , troops. division reorganised in germany, absorbing depleted 352 infantry division. due shortage in materiel, division s complement of tanks reduced. of companies had assault guns, although 1 battalion received panzer v panther tanks.

battle of bulge

the division sent western front , attached xlvii panzer corps, 5th panzer army preparing offensive in area of ardennes, belgium. on eve of commitment, full strength, 27 panzer iv, 58 panthers , 48 assault guns in division tank parks. during battle of bulge in december 1944 - january 1945, 2nd panzer division attacked towards crucial road junction of bastogne. however, town s defences reinforced veteran 101st airborne division. attacks against town failed. when diverted meuse on 18 december, in accordance original plan, division unable reach river. american reinforcements area threatened flanks , cut off supply line. eventually, vanguard of division came reach within 4 km meuse river on 24 december stopped u.s. 2nd armored division , british 3rd royal tank regiment. forced retreat fierce counterattacks conducted american forces lack of petrol german mechanised forces.

battle of rhine

now operating @ extremely reduced effectiveness, in spring of 1945 2nd panzer division took part in battle of rhineland. in this, wehrmacht tried halt passage of allies across river rhine, , division assisted component of xiii army corps, of 7th german army, heeresgruppe b.

the final engagement of unit @ city of fulda in april 1945. division surrendered in saxony , north-western czechoslovakia forces on 7 may 1945.