116th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

116th Panzer Division
116. Panzer-Division
Panzer
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Greyhound Division (Windhund-Division)
Motto(s)Schnell wie ein Windhund, Zäh wie Leder, Hart wie Kruppstahl, Windhund Vor!
"Fast as a greyhound, tough as leather, hard as Kruppsteel, Greyhound forward!"
Engagements
Western Front (1944-45)
Commanders
Notable CommandersGerhard Graf von Schwerin
Gerhard Wilck

The 116th Panzer Division, also known as the "Windhund (Greyhound) Division", was a

armoured formation that saw combat during World War II
.

History

Formation

The 116th Division was constituted in the

Eastern Front
near Stalingrad, and the 179th was a second-line formation that had been on occupation duty in France since 1943.

Western Front

In 1944, it participated in opposing the

Falaise Pocket following Operation Cobra
.

German Sd.Kfz. 234/3 armored car at The Tank Museum, Bovington. This vehicle bears the insignia of the 116th Panzer Division.

Along with the 2nd SS Panzer Division, it was responsible for holding the pocket open to allow German troops to escape. It managed to escape, although with only 600 infantry and 12 tanks intact.[1] In October, it fought against American forces in the Battle of Aachen, with the town falling to the Americans on 21 October.[2] It was moved to Düsseldorf for refitting. On 8 November, the division repulsed an attack from the U.S. 28th Infantry Division in the Hürtgen Forest during the larger Battle of Hürtgen Forest, recapturing the town of Schmidt,[3] thus providing the name to the 28th of the "Bloody Bucket Division".

The 116th then participated in the failed

Luetzkampen and Ouren,[5] it back-tracked to march through Belgium from Dasburg to Houffalize.[6] The division then fought its way as the middle spearhead of the advance on the Meuse from Samree to La Roche.[7] It was then involved in heavy fighting at Hotton and Verdenne, where it was turned back at its furthest advance in the Ardennes.[8]

It later delayed

Ruhr Pocket.[9] Remnants of the division continued to fight in the Harz mountains until 30 April, surrendering only after all of their resources had been exhausted.[10][11]

Commanders

Order of battle

  • 16th Panzer Regiment
  • 60th Panzergrenadier Regiment
  • 156th Panzergrenadier Regiment
  • 146th Panzer Artillery Regiment
  • 116th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
  • 281st Army Flak Battalion
  • 228th Panzerjager Battalion
  • 675th Panzer Engineer Battalion
  • 228th Panzer Signals Battalion
  • 146th Field-Replacement Battalion

See also

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ Blumenson 1961, p. 577.
  2. ^ MacDonald 1963, p. 316.
  3. ^ MacDonald 1963, p. 357.
  4. ^ Jung 1971, p. 343.
  5. ^ Cole 1965, p. 198.
  6. ^ Cole 1965, pp. 319–320.
  7. ^ Cole 1965, p. 378.
  8. ^ Cole 1965, pp. 574–577.
  9. ^ MacDonald 1973, p. 370.
  10. ^ Axis History Factbook: 116. Panzer-Division
  11. ^ "From Normandy to the Ruhr", by Heinz Gunther Guderian

References

  • Blumenson, Martin (1961). Breakout and Pursuit. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  • Cole, Hugh M. (1965). The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  • Jung, Hermann (1971). Die Ardennen Offensive: 1944/45.
    ISBN 3-7881-1413-4
    .
  • MacDonald, Charles B. (1963). The Siegfried Line Campaign. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  • MacDonald, Charles B. (1973). The Last Offensive. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  • Rosado, Jorge; Bishop, Chris (2005). The Essential Tank Identification Guide—Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1939–1945. Amber Books.
    ISBN 1-904687-46-6
    .
  • Deprin, Yves (2011). Panzer En Normandie : Histoire des Équipages de Char de la 116. Panzerdivision (Juillet-Août 1944). YSEC Éditions.
    ISBN 978-2-84673-135-5
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=116th_Panzer_Division_(Wehrmacht)&oldid=1204998458"