May 1941 - April 1945
In my opinion a good German Armored Division during World War II, I would have liked to serve in the main striker or as a tank gunner. In this small item, we will use in the North African theater.
In support of the Italian armies in a position to defeat in Libya on 11 January 1941 Adolf Hitler ordered the Wehrmacht to send a Speerverband (literally: task blocks) formed from units from the 3 rd Panzer Division. This group took the name of 5. Leichte Division and his command was entrusted to General Streich. On February 5, Hitler decided to send a second division and the next day, Erwin Rommel instructed to assume command of both units and mechanized forces Esercito Italian Regio. Rommel arrived in Tripoli on February 12, followed two days later by the cutting edge of 5. Leichte division, ie 3 and Aufklarung Panzerjaeger Abteilung Abteilung (engine) 605. These weak units oraganizaron some punches to impress the British, who in any case had been ordered to stop their advance. March 11 Panzer regiment landed in May, with 150 tanks, of which 80 were Pzkw Pzkw III and IV. On 31 March Rommel sparked a counterattack, cutting through the desert, and drove the British to the Egyptian border, near the Australian garrison Tobruk on 11 April. However, the attacks against the port failed because the determination shown by the 9 th Australian Division, which managed to even kill one of the two battalions of machine guns 5. Leichte division, the Maschinengewehr Btl. 8, during a counterattack on 13 April. Thus the situation was locked and Rommel was forced to wait for reinforcements and supplies improved, to resume its advance into Egypt.
In support of the Italian armies in a position to defeat in Libya on 11 January 1941 Adolf Hitler ordered the Wehrmacht to send a Speerverband (literally: task blocks) formed from units from the 3 rd Panzer Division. This group took the name of 5. Leichte Division and his command was entrusted to General Streich. On February 5, Hitler decided to send a second division and the next day, Erwin Rommel instructed to assume command of both units and mechanized forces Esercito Italian Regio. Rommel arrived in Tripoli on February 12, followed two days later by the cutting edge of 5. Leichte division, ie 3 and Aufklarung Panzerjaeger Abteilung Abteilung (engine) 605. These weak units oraganizaron some punches to impress the British, who in any case had been ordered to stop their advance. March 11 Panzer regiment landed in May, with 150 tanks, of which 80 were Pzkw Pzkw III and IV. On 31 March Rommel sparked a counterattack, cutting through the desert, and drove the British to the Egyptian border, near the Australian garrison Tobruk on 11 April. However, the attacks against the port failed because the determination shown by the 9 th Australian Division, which managed to even kill one of the two battalions of machine guns 5. Leichte division, the Maschinengewehr Btl. 8, during a counterattack on 13 April. Thus the situation was locked and Rommel was forced to wait for reinforcements and supplies improved, to resume its advance into Egypt.
Advancement of the 39 th section Panzerjäger belonging to 21 Panzer Division in 1942
After the arrival of the 15 Panzer Division in theater, North Africa, 1 August 1941, the 5th Light Division was restructured, taking the name of 21st Panzer Division.
was part of Afrikakorps then under the command of Erwin Rommel Generalfeldmarschall. The Division served for the African campaign, especially against British units initially, but later against various allied units.
When the British launched their Operation Crusader, the 21 ° fought well but was forced back by the 8th. British Army to positions near Gazala in North Africa. When the British continued to press was forced to fight rearguard actions and continuing through the value of the 5th Regiment of the 21st Division, retreating to the Aghelia was successful.
In January 1942, after it was fully replenished the DAK (Afrika Korps Dessert), launched its offensive against the British. At the end of two weeks, the recovery DAK Benghazi and moved about 350 miles to the border with Egypt. The offensive was stopped when the Germans reached the Gazala position, it was heavily mined to Bir Hacheim; back in the 21 May 1942 participated in a new effort launched by Rommell, with which finally took Tobruk, stopping the final Alma Halfa.
During the Second Battle of El Alamein, battles of Gazala and Bir Hakeim (in the latter fought against English Republican Army veterans and Republican People enrolled in the Free French Army) and during his retreat to Tunisia in 1942 Division suffered heavy losses. Was in the vanguard of the counterattack during the Battle of step Kasserine, but was destroyed, like most German units near Tunis in 1943.
was part of Afrikakorps then under the command of Erwin Rommel Generalfeldmarschall. The Division served for the African campaign, especially against British units initially, but later against various allied units.
When the British launched their Operation Crusader, the 21 ° fought well but was forced back by the 8th. British Army to positions near Gazala in North Africa. When the British continued to press was forced to fight rearguard actions and continuing through the value of the 5th Regiment of the 21st Division, retreating to the Aghelia was successful.
In January 1942, after it was fully replenished the DAK (Afrika Korps Dessert), launched its offensive against the British. At the end of two weeks, the recovery DAK Benghazi and moved about 350 miles to the border with Egypt. The offensive was stopped when the Germans reached the Gazala position, it was heavily mined to Bir Hacheim; back in the 21 May 1942 participated in a new effort launched by Rommell, with which finally took Tobruk, stopping the final Alma Halfa.
During the Second Battle of El Alamein, battles of Gazala and Bir Hakeim (in the latter fought against English Republican Army veterans and Republican People enrolled in the Free French Army) and during his retreat to Tunisia in 1942 Division suffered heavy losses. Was in the vanguard of the counterattack during the Battle of step Kasserine, but was destroyed, like most German units near Tunis in 1943.
PzKpfw III of the 21st Panzer advancing along the coast in Cyrenaica, March 1941.
Composition 5. Leichte division in April 1941 • Panzer regiment
5, with 2 each 3 Abteilung light and heavy companies.
• Aufklarung Abteilung 3, with two companies and two motorcyclists autoametralladoras
• 200 zbV Infanterie regiment with two battalions, the 2 and 8 Maschinengewehr Bataillon.
• Panzerjaeger Abteilung 39 with 9 guns 88 mm
• Abteilung 605 Panzerjaeger Panzerjaeger equipped with Flak Abteilung I
• 1 / 33 Flak Abteilung 606
•
Heads
May 20, 1941: Johann von Ravenstein Generalleutnant
August 1, 1941: Karl Böttcher Generalleutnant
November 29, 1941: Gustav-Georg Knabe Oberstleutnant
December 1, 1941: Karl Böttcher Generalleutnant
February 11, 1942: Georg von Bismarck Generalleutnant
July 21, 1942: Oberst Alfred Bruer
August 1942: Georg von Bismarck Generalleutnant
September 1, 1942: Generalleutnant Carl-Hans Lungershausen
September 18, 1942: Heinz von Randow Generalleutnant
January 1, 1943: Hans-Georg Hildebrandt Generalleutnant
March 15, 1943: Generalmajor Heinrich-Hermann von Hülsen
May 15, 1943: Edgar Generalleutnant Feuchtinger
January 15, 1944: Generalmajor Oswin Grolig
March 8, 1944: Franz Westhoven Generalleutnant
May 8, 1944: Edgar Feuchtinger Generalleutnant
January 25, 1945: Oberst Helmut Zollenkopf
February 12, 1945: Werner Marcks Generalleutnant
Sources:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/21% C2% AA_Divisi% C3% B3n_Panzer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_Panzer_Division_ (Germany) Http://panzertrup.www.50megs.com/21.html
http://www.forosegundaguerra.com/viewtopic.php?t=1893
