2nd Panzer Division (Wehrmacht): The Hidden Chronicles Exposed!

The 2nd Panzer Division came into existence on October 15, 1935, with its headquarters situated in Würzburg, Bavaria. This division was one of three tank divisions established during that period, alongside the 1st and 3rd Panzer Divisions. Earlier in the same year, Germany had abandoned the Treaty of Versailles, which, among other restrictions, prohibited the country from possessing tank forces. Germany had been violating this treaty from the outset by clandestinely developing tanks and operating a covert tank school in the Soviet Union.

Led by Heinz Guderian, the division actively participated in the Anschluss of Austria in 1938. During this operation, it covered a distance of 680 kilometers in 48 hours. However, this rapid movement resulted in a loss of 30 percent of its tanks due to accidents and mechanical failures. Following the Anschluss, the division became part of the garrison in Vienna, the capital of Austria, with a significant portion of its personnel now recruited from the annexed Austria.

In the lead-up to the invasion of Poland, strategic deployments and planned offensives were orchestrated, with the 2nd Panzer Division assigned to advance northeastward from Slovakia. Their objective was to capture Kraków and subsequently proceed to Warsaw by following the Vistula Valley.

In the initial days of September 1939, the 2nd Panzer Division actively participated in the invasion of Poland. Crossing the Polish-Slovak border, the division embarked on an advance toward Kraków. However, the division faced substantial casualties during intense battles in central Poland.

In May 1940, the 2nd Panzer Division played a crucial role in the Battle of France as part of the XIX Army Corps, operating under the command of Guderian. The division’s activities encompassed engagements in Belgium and the Mosel River valley, ultimately reaching the town of Abbeville on the 20th of May .

Continuing their advance, the division confronted the under-equipped French 48th Regiment in a battle near Boulogne on May 22nd. Overcoming the defenders, the 2nd Panzers launched a direct assault on the chaotic port itself. Subsequently, the division constituted the armored force that flanked the British Expeditionary Force, contributing to the evacuation from Dunkirk. Following this, the 2nd Panzer Division advanced along the River Aisne into the heart of France.

By the conclusion of the campaign in the last months of 1940, the division underwent changes, notably losing its 4th Panzer Regiment, which served as the foundation for the soon-to-be-formed 13th Panzer Division.

On April 6, 1941, the 2nd Panzer Division underwent a reassignment to the XVIII Mountain Corps of the 12th Army, marking its participation in Operation Marita — the invasion of Greece. The German forces advanced through the southern regions of Yugoslavia, eventually reaching the Greek border and making contact with the 19th Greek Mechanized Division near Lake Dojran. By April 9, the division successfully captured the city of Salonika and compelled the surrender of the Greek Eastern Macedonia Army Section.

Collaborating with the 5th Mountain Division, the 6th Mountain Division, and the 72nd Infantry Division, the 2nd Panzer Division formed an attack group tasked with advancing into southern Greece. Following the 6th Division’s capture of Verroia and the establishment of a river crossing beachhead across the River Haliacmon, the 2nd Panzer Division crossed and seized Katerini on April 14. Subsequently, after the Battle of Thermopylae, the division entered Athens in conjunction with the 6th Mountain Division.

Upon the campaign’s conclusion, the 2nd Panzer Division returned to Vienna for refitting. Notably, during the transport back, parts of the division suffered heavy losses when the transport ships Marburg and Kybfels struck mines (laid by HMS Abdiel) and sank.

In October 1941, the 2nd Panzer Division was deployed to the Eastern Front as part of the reinforcement for Army Group Centre’s advance toward Moscow in Operation Typhoon. Initially attached to the XL Panzer Corps, it later became part of the V Army Corps within the 4th Panzer Army during the Battle of Moscow. On November 16, the division’s units launched an attack on the Soviet positions where “Panfilov’s Twenty-Eight Guardsmen” were believed to be located.

Subsequent to a counterattack by the Red Army during the winter of 1941, the division experienced a retreat, engaging in various battles as a component of the 9th German Army in the early months of 1942. In 1943, the 2nd Panzer Division participated in Operation Citadel as part of the XLVII Panzer Corps within the 9th German Army of Army Group Centre. Following the unsuccessful outcome of the operation, the Red Army initiated Operation Kutuzov in the sector of Army Group Centre. The division, facing heavy losses and having earlier lost two of its three tank battalions in 1942 during their deployment to the southern front, retreated. This deployment aimed to assist with the German offensive towards the Volga and Caucasus.

In late 1943, the 2nd Panzer Division underwent a period of refitting in France after sustaining substantial losses on the Eastern Front. The division was reequipped with Panther tanks. Following the Allied invasion of Normandy, the division was relocated to the Normandy region in June 1944, engaging British forces from the 50th Infantry Division and the 7th Armored Division. Between June 6 and mid-July, the division held its position in the Caumont area, engaging in daily skirmishes with British units.

During Operation Epsom, a counterattack involving six Panther tanks from the Pz.Rg.3 was launched to seize Cheux. Unfortunately, the attack failed, resulting in the loss of five tanks. Despite the 2nd Panzer Division’s considerable experience, the overall German doctrine in Normandy proved flawed, leading to severe defeats for all German Panzer divisions when attempting counterattacks. The division was relieved at Caumont by the 326th Infantry Division and redeployed to the Verrières ridge southwest of Caen.

In the Canadian Operation Spring, a Kampfgruppe (battle group) from the 2nd Panzer Division, known as Kampfgruppe Sterz, was sent to reinforce the 272nd Infantry Division at St. Andre sur Orne and St. Martin. The Kampfgruppe successfully took St. Martin, engaging in intense combat that led to the destruction of The Black Watch. Street fighting ensued in St. Andre sur Orne. Kampfgruppe Zollhöfer of the 9th SS Panzer Division took over and advanced towards Point 67.

Following Operation Spring, the 2nd Panzer Division was redeployed to the U.S. sector to counter Operation Cobra. Although they briefly halted the advance of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, they lacked the strength to cover the entire front. The division retreated and, with its remaining 25 tanks, participated in Operation Luttich, the unsuccessful German counterattack at Mortain. Later, the division found itself encircled in the Falaise pocket but managed to break out with substantial losses in both equipment and personnel.

At Falaise, the division played a crucial role in capturing and holding St-Lambert-sur-Dive, although it only secured one part of the village. Despite this, the efforts of the 2nd Panzer Division enabled other German units, particularly the 10th and 12th SS, to cross the bridge over the Dives and escape eastwards. The division underwent reorganization in Germany, absorbing the depleted 352nd Infantry Division. Due to material shortages, the division’s complement of tanks was significantly reduced, with some tank companies relying on assault guns. However, one battalion did receive

Sent to the Western Front, the 2nd Panzer Division was attached to the XLVII Panzer Corps, 5th Panzer Army, which was preparing for the German offensive in the Ardennes region of Belgium, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in December 1944. As the battle loomed, the division was at nearly full strength, boasting 27 Panzer IVs, 58 Panthers, and 48 StuG III assault guns in its tank parks.

In the course of the offensive, the 2nd Panzer Division advanced towards the critical road junction of Bastogne. However, Bastogne received rapid reinforcements from the seasoned 101st Airborne Division, and the division’s attacks against the town proved unsuccessful. Following the original plan, on December 18, 2nd Panzer was redirected towards the Meuse River. However, it faced challenges reaching the Meuse as American reinforcements posed threats to its flanks and supply line. Although the vanguard managed to get within 4 km of the Meuse, on December 24, they were halted by the U.S. 2nd Armored Division and the British 3rd Royal Tank Regiment.

The 2nd Panzer Division, facing fierce American counterattacks and suffering from a shortage of petrol, was compelled to retreat from the Meuse River area.

Operating at significantly reduced effectiveness, the 2nd Panzer Division participated in the Battle of the Rhineland in the spring of 1945. During this battle, the Wehrmacht sought to impede the advance of the Allies across the River Rhine. The division played a role as part of the XIII Army Corps within the 7th German Army, a component of Heeresgruppe B.

The final engagement involving the unit occurred in the city of Fulda in April 1945. Ultimately, the division surrendered to U.S. forces in Saxony and north-western Czechoslovakia on May 7, 1945.

The commanders of the 2nd Panzer Division were as follows:

• Oberst Heinz Guderian (Creation — January 31, 1938)
• Generalleutnant Rudolf Veiel (February 1, 1938 — February 17, 1942)
• Generalleutnant Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck (February 17, 1942 — May 31, 1942)
• Generalmajor Arno von Lenski (June 1, 1942 — June 30, 1942)
• Generalleutnant Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck (July 1, 1942 — August 10, 1942) (Wounded)
• Generalleutnant Vollrath Lübbe (October 1, 1942 — January 31, 1944)
• Generalleutnant Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz (February 1, 1944 — May 4, 1944)
• Generalleutnant Franz Westhoven (May 5, 1944 — May 26, 1944)
• Generalleutnant Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz (May 27, 1944 — August 31, 1944)
• Generalmajor Henning Schönfeld (September 5, 1944 — December 14, 1944)
• Generalmajor Meinrad von Lauchert (December 15, 1944 — March 19, 1945)
• Generalmajor Oskar Munzel (March 20, 1945 — April 3, 1945)
• Major i.G. Waldemar von Gazen (April 3, 1945 — April 4, 1945)