2. Panzer Division (Reenacted)

Peacetime Years:

1936:

August Assembly of the Panzer-Abwehr-Abteilung 38 Garrisoned in Schweinfurt

12.10 Official entrance into the Wehrmacht together with Panzer regiment 4

20.10 Arrival of the recruits 1937: Spring Training in the military training area in Hammelburg

17.4 - 27.4 Training in the military training area in Ohrdruf in Thuringia

3.5 – 14.5 Training in the military training area in Altengrabow

25.5 – 31.5 Training near Schweinfurt and Rothenburg ob der Tauber22.8 Abteilung sport fest

25.8 – 15.9 Fall maneuvers

11.9 Abteilung receives its standard in Grafenwöhr

23.9 “Mussolini” parade in Berlin

1.10 Change in commanders from Colonel Lieb to Major Deker

3.11 Change in company commander in 2nd company from Captain Freherr von Süßkind- Schwendl to 1st Lieutenant Keppel

 

1938:

January Winter shooting on the military training area in Grafenwöhr

10.3 Mobilization orders

11.3 Departure to an unknown location

12.3 Invasion of Austria

13.3 Arrival of the Abteilung in Vienna

15.3 Führer parade in Vienna

April Assigning of lodging on the north edge of Vienna

Summer Several more training practices Training in the military training area in Bruck a.d. Leitha Training in the military training area in Döllersheim Sniper training on the Neusiedlersee

8.10 – 18.10 Invasion of the Sudetenland In the area of Neubistritz – Neuhaus

22.10 Reservists are released

19.11 Abteilung is transferred to the water barracks in Wöllersdorf

1/2.12 Arrival of the new recruits

 

1939:

Until March Accelerated training

14.3 – 11.4 Invasion of Bohemia and Moravia (in the area of Brünn)

17.3 Führer parade in Brünn

11/12.4 March back to Wöllersdorf

2.5 – 25.5 Training in the military training area in Döllersheim

12.7 – 24.7 Training in the military training area in Grafenwöhr

 

Wartime Years:

Combat dates assembled by Captain a. D.F.J Strauß

 

1939:

Polish Campaign

21.8 7:30am departure from Wöllersdorf Path: Vienna-Nikolsburg-Poysbrunn-Falkenstein

24.8 March through the eastern protectorate26/27.8 Eastern directly through Friedeck-Geladna

28/30.8 Bela1.9 – 3.9 Combat near Jablonka, Rawa, Wyzna, and Rabka Jordanow

7.9 – 8.9 Combat near Tarnow and Wisloka8.9 – 9.9 Combat near Kolbuscowa

9.9 – 10.9 Combat near Jaroslau

12.9 – 16.9 Combat near Zamosc

23.9 – 26.9 Combat near Tomasco - Krasnobrod

26.9 – 4.10 Return march to the wartime home of Wöllersdorf

4.10 – 30.11 Occupation of the wartime home

1.12. 1939 - Occupation of the wartime west front base of Darmstadt

 

1940:

Western Campaign

31.1 Occupation of the wartime west front base

1.2 – 9.5 Security along the German western border from 1.2 1940

10.5 – 12.5 Advance through Luxembourg, breakthrough through the south Belgian reinforcements and the Ardennes

10.5 Combat near Nives - Vitry

11.5 Revue of Libramont

12.5 Advanced fight along the Semois. Forced advice over the Semois at Vresse

13.5 – 14.5 Forced advance over the Maas at Sedan and breakthrough through the extended Maginot Line

13.5 Breakthrough through the main line of resistance at Donchery

14.5 Revue of Filze

15.5 – 18.5 Breakthrough fight on the Maas and over the Oise

18.5 Seizure of St. Quentin

18.5 – 21.5 Breakthrough to the sea and development of a defensive front at the Somme

20.5 Seizure of Abbéville21.5 Formation of a bridgehead at Abbéville, Pont Remy, lÉtoile, Conde Folie

22.5 – 25.5 Combat in Flanders and Artois

22.5 Surrounding of the enemy powers in Flanders and the expansion of the breakthrough, fighting in Boulogne

25.5 Seizure of Montreuil, seizure of Etaples, combat around Samer and Questreques

26.5 – 28.5 Coastal guard duty in Gravelines -Authie-Mündung

23.5 – 29.5 Combat around Dunkirk. Attack on Wormhoudt to encircle Dunkirk

27.5 – 28.5 Bombardment of Dunkirk. Combat around Esquelbecq and Wormhoudt

 

In the area of the 12th Army

9.6 – 11.6 Breakthrough battle through the French Aisne Front

12.6 – 13.6 Combat in Chàlons and the Rhine-Marne canal

14.6 – 17.6 Pursuit and combat over the Rhine-Marne canal to the Swiss border In the area of the 7th Army

18.6 – 25.6 Battle of annihilation in Lothringen

18.6 – 23.6 Combat between Doubs and the Swiss border

19.6 – 23.6 Combat in the south Vogeses between Belfort and Epinal in the area of the battle of annihilation in Lothringen

24.6 – 3.7 Guard duty along the Swiss border

4.7 – 8.7 Retreat to the homeland war zone.

9.7. 1940 - Rest and refit in Wöllersdorf 4.3. 1941

 

1941:

4.3. Rest and refit in Wöllersdorf

4.3 – 20.3 Transportation via train in the area of Küstendil

10.3 – 14.3 Embarkation on the German Army mission in Rumania

21.3 – 31.3 Staging in the area of Küstendil15.3 – 5.4 March into Bulgaria

1.4 – 5.4 Positioning of forces in the Struma valley north of the Greek border.

 

Balkan Campaign

6.4 – 12.4 Breakthrough battle through the Mextas line Conquest of Saloniki

13.4 – 14.4 Penetration to the Aliakmon

14.4 – 18.4 Battle on Olympus in the area of Larissa

19.4 – 21.4 Pursuit and combat through Thessalien

1.5 – 6.5 Security of Greece

6.5 – 22.5 Retreat to the zone of operations in the homeland war zone

23.5 – 9.7 Rest and refit in Wöllersdorf

8.7 – 13.8 OKH reserve in the area of Lemberg

14.8 – 15.9 Garrison duty in the south of France

 

Action in Russia

16.9 – 1.10 March to the Eastern Front from Suwalki through Roslawl

2.10 – 4.10 Breakthrough through the Desna position

5.10 – 13.10 Battle for Wjasma

14.10 – 17.10 Attack over the Gzhat river

18.10 – 26.10 Breakthrough through the Moscow protection ring

27.10 – 14.11 Defensive battle west of Moscow

15.11 – 22.11 Attack over the Lama river to Klin

23.11 – 4.12 Seizure of Istra, Turicina, and Solnetschnogorsk

5.12 – 21.12 Defensive battle for Moscow

22.12 – 31.12 Defensive battles in the Rusa and Wolokolamsk position

 

1942:

1.1- 13.1 Defensive battles in the winter position of the 9th Army

14.1 – 18.4 Defensive battles in the winter positions in Juchnow, Gshatsk, and Subzoff

18.4 – 1.7 Defensive battles in Bjeloj

2.7 – 12.7 Attack south of Bjeloj. Encirclement in Bjeloj

15.7 – 29.7 Rest and refit in the area of Smolensk and Katyn

30.7 – 26.9 Defensive battle in the area of Rshew (Area of Karmanowo)

26.9 – 14.12 Defensive front south of Karmanowo

15.12 Relocation norteast in the area of Sytschewka

16.12 – 31.12 Defensive battle in the area of Rshew, northeast of Sytschewka

 

1943:

1.1 – 28.2 Defensive battle in the area of Rshew, northeast of Sytschewka

1.3 – 31.3 Digging into the “Joke” line; Demensk and Dorogobusch eastwards to Welish

1.4 – 16.4 Rear area duties for Army Group Middle

17. 4 – 4.7 Army reserve for the 9th Army (In the area of Orel and Kromy

)5.7 – 12.7 Offensive battles in the area of Kursk

13.7 – 7.8 Defensive battle in the area of Orel and Brjansk

8.8 – 19.9 Defensive battle in the area of Jelnja

11.9 – 15.9 Relocation to the area of Tschernigoff and Kiew

16.9 – 29.9 Defensive battles on the Desna river. Digging in on the Dnjepr

30.9 – 14.10 Defensive battles on the Dnjepr

15.10 – 31.12 Defensive battle in the area of Gomel, Retschitza and Pripyat in the area of the 15th Army; Army Group D Loading for movement in Schitkowitschi Relocation to France

 

1944:

(For the years 1944/45 no official records exist of the battles and combat that took place. The following records were put together assembled by the author) 

1.1 – 30.4 Garrison duty in the north of France, while refitting in the area of Arras, Cambrai, and Bapaume

1.5 – 14.5 Garrison duty in the area south of Amiens

15.5 – 9.6 Garrison duty in the area of Amiens and Abbèville

 

Normandy Campaign

9.6 – 11.6 Motorized units advance to the invasion front

10.6 One part of the division boarded trains in the area of Amiens

14.6 One part of the division went eastwards towards Paris, unloaded and marched overland towards the invasion front

18.6 The division comes together at the invasion front

12.6 – 21.7 Offensive and defensive battles eastwards and around Caumont

17.7 – 24.7 Offensive battles south of Caen with part of the division

27.7 – 3.8 Offensive and defensive battles southwest of St. Lô. Digging in on a line around Aunay, Pontfarcy, and Villedieu

6.8 – 11.8 Offensive battles for Avranches

13.8 – 20.8 Defensive battles in the area of Argentan

21.8 – 23.8 Division comes back together in the area northwest of Bernay

23.8 – 31.8 Crossing of the Seine and digging in the direction of Sedan and Mezieres

1.9 – 6.9 Front line security on the Maas river in a line from Givet to Charleville

6.9 – 10.9 Digging in along the west wall

11.9 – 31.10 Guard duty along the west wall in the area of Prüm and Daleiden (only part of the Division) The rest of the Panzer-Jäger Abteilung 38 is in Thür, Niedermending, Obermening and Bell

14.9 – 31.10 Part of the battalion under Captain Strauß is set up as operational headquarters of all anti-tank weapons between Daleiden, Dasburg, and Echternach. Headquarters is in Zweifelscheid

31.1 – 12.12 Refit west of Wittlich on the Mosel river and Kyllburg (in the area of Gindorf and Pickließem)

 

In the area of the 5th Tank Army

Ardennes Offensive

16.12 – 26.12 Attack of Bastogne and Dinat

27.12 – 31.12 Movement to Clerf. Offensive and defensive battles northwest of Bastogne

 

1945:

1.1 – 8.1 Defensive battles north of Bastogne

9.1 – 12.1 Withdrawal battles to the west wallJanuary Defensive battles in the area of Prüm, Neuerburg, Bitburg/Eifel

February Defensive battles on the Mosel river and Hunsrück-HöhenstraßeMarch Withdrawal battles in the area of Frankfurt am Main and Vilbel

April Withdrawal battles in the area of Friedberg, Fulda, and Bad NeustadtMay

Last action in Bamberg In the area of Bamberg the last parts of the 2nd Panzer Division laid down their arms. Marktredwitz in the area of Pilsen, one part in the area of Marienbad and Karlsbad. The rest of the division became between May 1 and May 8 American prisoners of war.

5.5 Part of the division west of Pilsen attempted on May 5 along with regimental Adjutants from Panzer Regiment 3 attempted to breakout towards Linz in Austria

5.5 – 6.5 Part of the division near Kirchberg in the Bavarian forest went into American captivity. A large part of the comrades out of the Franconia area escaped captivity and struggled along on foot to their homeland8.5 1945 The 2nd Panzer Division as well as Panzer-Jäger Abteilung 38 ceases to exist.

 

Translated from:

Geschiche Der 2. (Wiener) Panzer-Division

Franz Josef Strauss