Heer Panzergrenadier
“NEW” Ritterkreuzträger Oberst Günter Pape Panzergrenadier Regiment 394 3. Panzer Division:
Not flamboyant, Oberst Güther Pape served in command positons with Krad Schützen-Bataillon u. Panzergrenadier-Regiment 394 of 3. Panzer Division. Following the creation of the Bundeswehr Pape was one of those selected to command which he did until August 1966 when he resigned as part of ‘Generlkrise’ which centered around the inner leadership of the force.
3. Panzer Division was formed on 15. Oktober 1935 and was headquartered in Berlin. It was one of the first three Panzer Divisions created at the time. Panzer Regiment troops fought in the Spanish Civil War as part of the German Legion Condor. The division also took part in the Austrian Anschluss in Marz 1938. Following the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the Battle of France in 1940, the division lost a tank regiment to a newly forming Panzer Division gaining an Infanterie Regiment in its place.
The division was prepared for service in Libya, North Africa that same year to help support the Italian efforts there. This deployment was canceled by Hitler due to the invasion of Greece in Oktober 1940. The Division was diverted to the invasion force for Operation Felix, the invasion of Spain, and the seizing of the British fortress at Gibraltar, which was never initiated. Part of Operation Barbarossa the division fought as part of Armee-Gruppe Süd for the entire war finally surrendering to the US Army at Styria, Austria. The evolution from Schützen-Regiment to Panzergrenadier Regiment was organizational with more SDKfz 252 SPW for the Panzergrenadier but also the addition of organic Infantrie Geschtuz, Infanterie Flak, u. Stap-Kompanie.
Even with the addition of more armored vehicles only part of the regiment was gepanzered the rest, ‘Gummi Panzergrenadier’ (Rubber Panzergrenadier) road in trucks conducting standard infanterie operations. The Heeresdienstanzug Model 1936 is cut in an officers’ pattern from wool gaberdine. The Litzen u. Schulterklappen display the Wiesengrün (Meadow Green) Waffenfarbe of the Heer Panzergrenadiertruppen. The regiment’s identification ’394’ is notated on the shoulder insignia with pin-on metal numerals. All the insignia is bullion embroidered. The officer may wear matching breeches, or he may utilize the Feldgrau wool version. The Einheitfeldmütz Model 1942, a rare one-year issue cap, is piped with silver officer metallic cord and displays officer-grade insignia
Feldwebel, Panzergrenadier Regiment 156, 116 Panzer Division ,,Windhund”:
Infanterie Regiment (mot.) 156 was reorganized from Infanterie Regiment 156 in August 1940 in Wehrkreis VI at Truppenübungsplatz Sennelager following taking part in the Polish Campaign and Battle of France. Following its destruction, at Stalingrad, the regiment was renamed Panzergrendadier-Regiment 156 and in March of 1944 became part of the newly raised 116. Panzer-Division. The 116. Panzer-Division fought for the first time in the Normandy battles suffering heavy losses in the Falaise Pocket. Falling back into Germany it prevented American divisions from breaching the Siegfried Line in 1944 in the Hurtgenwald. From there it was shifted to the Ardennes Offensive as part of Manteuffel’s 5. Panzer-Armee. In the spring, following the battles of the Ruhr, the division surrendered.
Schnell wie ein Windhund, Zäh wie Leder, Hart wie Kruppstahl, Windhund Vor! Quick like a greyhound, tough like leather, hard like Krupp steel, Greyhounds in front!
Windhund’ Abzeichen was adopted by the 16 Panzer Grenadier Division as their heraldic animal in 1943. This badge depicts a Windhund or greyhound running on the steppes of Russia. Divisional lore tells that Feldgendarmen brought to divisional Stab a starving Windhund that they had found in the countryside. The divisional commander, General Major Gerhard Graf Von Schwerin decided to adopt the animal which from then on followed him everywhere. Named ‘Sascha’ this hunting dog from the steppes came to symbolize the division’s memorable combat in Russia. The Feldwebel wears the Feldbluse Model 1936 with Feldmütz. Schulterklappen, with metal regimental number, and Litzen are piped with the branch W affenfarbe. Awarded the Infanterie Sturmabzeichen in Bronze while part of the IR(mot.) 156 he has also won the Nakampfspange in Bronze and the Eisernes Kreuz I. u. II. Klasse
Note: The last photo, from the internet, shows the use of the ‘Tin’ disc, with the Grayhound (116 Pz. Div) insignia on this Panzer Commander Crusher.
Obergefreiter, SdKfz 251 Fahrer, 7. Kompanie, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7, 7. Panzer-Division:
7. Panzer-Division, der Gespensterdivision, or Ghost Division, met with great success in France in 1940 where under Rommel it made such fast advances it appeared out of nowhere like a ghost. Leading in Operation Barbarossa it was recalled to France in Mai 1942 for rest and refit. In 1943 it returned to Southern Russia following the defeat at Stalingrad and helped to check a general collapse of the front in a series of defensive battles as part of Heeres Gruppe Don, and participated in General Erich von Manstein's counterattack at Kharkiv.
The division fought in the unsuccessful offensive at Kursk in the summer of 1943, suffering heavy losses in men and equipment. Through 1944 and 1945, even though understrength, it continuously engaged in a series of defensive battles across the eastern front. After fighting defensively across Prussia and Northern Germany, the surviving men escaped into the forest and surrendered to the British Army northwest of Berlin in Mai 1945. 7. Kompanie, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7 was commanded by Ritterkreuzträger Christoph Krämer. By 1944 the special Feldgrau uniform for Sturmgeschutz had mostly replaced the standard Dienstanzug, especially for SdKfz251 Fahrer or driver.
A more senior rank than the normal, he may well be assigned to the command vehicle. Not only is he tasked with getting the vehicle into and through combat, but he must also make sure it is in top working order at all times. His Litzen combine the influence of Panzer and Grenadier, as documented in use by the Panzergrenadier of Panzer-Lehr. He has been awarded the Eiserne Kreuz II Klasse as well as the Panzerkampgabzeichen in Bronze. The Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 was designed as part of the new Panzer divisions. Panzergrenadier was able to move to contact with the Panzer.
This provided the tanks with Infanterie to protect them from dismounted counterattacks as well as to overcome enemy defenses. The vehicle’s armor plate protected the Panzergrenadier against shrapnel and small arms fire until they were on top of the enemy. Normally crewed by a squad of eight soldiers that would dismount to fight either by leaping off the side or exiting from the rear doors.
They would then assault on foot and fight through the objective. The driver and machine gunner would follow in the 251 supporting the dismounted troops. The vehicle interior had numerous fixed spots for weapon and gear placement. As the Panzergrenadier Trupp began to spend more time on the move in the 251 and the likelihood of the Kompanie supply trucks not keeping up, personal gear was collected.
Major, 2. Panzergrenadier Regiment, 2 Panzer Division:
This Major is a senior officer in a regiment with a long tradition of 2. Panzer-Division. The regiment began as a Schutzen Regiment in 1939 and became a Panzergrenadier Regiment in late June 1943.
Dressed for combat, he wears a custom-made Model 1944 Field Service Unifrom, cut from Wehrmacht splinter camouflage cloth. He has applied (Against regulation) his standard officer’s insignia to the tunic. This officer has proven his combat leadership and wears the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class and the War Merit Cross with Swords. Additionally, he wears the Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze.
The lack of a Russian Front Ribbon indicates he was not with the division in Russia during that first year of the campaign. Headgear is and officers Schirmmutz. Standard officer double claw belt buckle / black belt with sidearm and boots would complete the uniform. The 2. Panzer-grenadier Rgt.,
2. Panzer-Division History: This unit was originally formed on October 15th, 1935. In 1938, it moved to Austria after the annexation of that country, taking on a large number of Austrians into its ranks.
The Division was used in the Polish Campaign in 1939, suffering heavy losses against the Poles. After Poland fell, the Division saw action in the West as part of 12. Armee/Gen.Kdo XIX. Armeekorps, starting in the Eifel area. In May, the 2. Panzer-Division took Abbeville along the English Coast which helped seal the ring around Allied Forces in the Dunkirk Pocket.
After the Campaign in the West, the 2. Panzer-Division spent time on occupation duty in Poland. During the months in Poland, the 2nd was reorganized and it provided personnel for forming other divisions, as well as taking on other units. It was then moved to Rumania in April 1941 for action in the Balkans. In the Balkans, the 2nd helped take Athens in Greece, along with the 6. Gebirgsjager-Division.
After the Campaign in the Balkans ended the wheeled units of the 2. Panzer-Division moved to Yugoslavia via Albania and was entrained in Croatia for Germany. The tracked elements of the division were loaded for sea transport from the Greek port of Patras to Tarent in the South of Italy. On May 21st, 1941 the German transport ships Marburg and Kybfels carrying the tracked elements of the division were sunk by a recently laid sea mine barrage.
A considerable number of armored vehicles were thus lost causing any deployment of the division to be seriously delayed. The 2. Panzer-Division was in Germany when the Invasion of the Soviet Union began and in July of 1942 was transferred to Poland. In August 1941 it was transferred to the South of France, and in September it was finally entrained for Russia, arriving at the front in October of 1941.
The 2. Panzer-Division was once more refit and reformed, this time at Wittlich in the Eifel area of Germany where it absorbed the remains of the 352. Infantry-Division. The division again saw action, this time in the Wacht am Rhein Offensive in December, and in Belgium, the division again suffered heavily.
As WWII drew to a close in March and April of 1945 the weak remains of the 2. Panzer-Division was absorbed into the Thuringen Panzer-Brigade which fought in the middle Mosel region and later Fulda. The unit surrendered to the American forces at Plauen and Koetzing in May 1945.
3rd Panzergrenadier NCO, Water & Sand Wrap:
The naming of Infanterie units as Panzergrenadier was not adopted until 1942. Infantry in panzer divisions from 1937 onwards was known as Schützen Regiments. Formed in Oktober of 1935 the 3. Panzer-Division renamed its non-motorcycle Infanterie support Schützen Brigade 3 in 1937 Following campaigns in Poland, then Belgium, and France the division was ordered to prepare for deployment to Libya to support the Italian army. However, it was diverted to prepare for Operation Felix, the planned invasion of the British bastion in Spain guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. With the operation called off the division trained and re-fitted until deployed to the east.
As part of Operation Barbarossa, the division was Initially engaged in Heeresgruppe Mitte but then was directed to Heeresgruppe Süd advancing into the Caucasus in the winter of 1942 then withdrawing across the frozen Sea of Azov. The division was reorganized in time to take part in the Battle of Kursk and then remained on the Ost Front until the end of the war. During the reorganization following Kursk Schützen Regiment 3, becomes Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 fully adapted into armored Sd. Kfz. 251 half-track to keep pace with the Panzers.
The armored vehicle crew authorized the Feldgrau armored uniform. Being engaged in the south of Russia troops quickly adopted both the HBT as well as the lightweight camouflaged version of this uniform. The Feldwebel has the very rare Sumpfmuster pattern version of this uniform. The regimental identification number ’3’ is embroidered on Überschübe für Schulterklappen (slip-on bands on the Hellgüne (light green) shoulder insignia so that it can be removed for security. Panzerkampfabzeichen was introduced on 20 December 1939 for Panzer crewmembers who had participated in three armored assaults on different days. On 1 June 1940, a bronze version was created for Schützen units equipped with armored vehicles serving with Panzer divisions.
The Medalia Cruciada împotriva Comunismului (Crusade Against Communism medal) was a Romanian military award issued on 1 April 1942 by the Royal Decree Number 1014, of King Michael I of Romania. The award was commissioned to recognize the distinguished service of Romanian and other Axis Powers military and civilian personnel operating on both the Eastern and Home fronts. 31.5 mm in diameter and of brass construction the medal features on the front side a clenched fist holding a sword representative of the campaign.
The same side also displays the date 1941 and around its circumference is written CRUCIADA ÎMPOTRIVA COMUNISMULUI. The reverse side features the Romanian liberty symbol and the phrase ROMÂNIA RECUNOSCĂTOARE, or ‘Romania is Grateful’. The medal is suspended by primarily red medal ribbon, bordered by white, and the center features the national colors of Romania, red, yellow, and blue.
The medal continued to be awarded until its disestablishment in October 1944, after Romania joined the Allies, and issued retrospectively to the starting date of Operation Barbarossa The medal was produced by several firms within Romania and was also made under license by the German maker C. E. Junker of Berlin. The number of medals made and awarded is unknown, but believed to be more than 1,250,00.
Haumptmann, 3. Panzergrenadier Division, Regiment 15:
The 29. Panzergrenadier-Division began as the 29. Infantry Division, known as the Falcon Division, first saw combat in August 1939 during the invasion of Poland. Afterward, they were transferred to France, fighting in the Battle of France and the occupation. Like most of the ‘Heer’, it then took part in ‘Operation Barbarossa’ in 1941, where they fought in multiple cities including Minsk, Smolensk, Bryansk, and Stalingrad where it was destroyed by the Red Army in January 0f 1943.
Rebuilt in France in ‘29. Panzergrenadier’ was then transferred to Sicily beginning a long combat tour in Italy at Salerno, Anzio, and San Pietro, until eventually surrendering to the American forces in Italy.
Photos of the late war German combat forces of the period often show a wide use of camouflage uniform parts. While having camouflage was often a positive combat modifier, many chose it because the patterns were printed on the lightweight, breathable cloth which was more comfortable in the humid climate of the Italian Theater. Often these garments were produced by local labor with small unit or individual contracts or, by overworked unit tailors. In this Hauptmann’s case, a Sumpfmuster model 1943 bluse was tailored into the new Model-1944 pattern Feldbluse. With the Feldbluse he wears a lightweight version of the Einheitsfeldmutz fur Fuhrer (or M-43 Officers Cap). He may wear matching trousers, or the Reed Green HBT type, or even the feldgrau woolen Feldhosen. Under the Felbluse he would wear the standard Hemd or shirt with two button-down pockets.
The Feldbluse has shoulder insignia piped in the Waffenfarbe of the Panzergrenadiers, a light green color. The National Insignia is in the later style BEVO produced on a triangle backing for ease of sewing. A veteran of service, we can see that Hauptmann has served in some capacity on the West Wall, before the start of the war, before he was sent to Russia during the initial year’s campaign. He has earned the Nahkampfabzeichen in Bronze (‘Combat Clasp’ for Hand-to-hand combat). He has been awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I and II Klasse for his combat leadership as well as the Kriegsverdienst Kreuz II. Klasse mit Schwerte for his supporting role in a combat mission. He has also been awarded the Infantrie Sturmabzeichen in Bronze and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz.
Ritterkreuzträger, Oberfeldwebel, Helmut Thierfelder, 6. Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33, Kurland Pocket 1944:
Oberfeldwegel Helmut Thierfelder earned the Ritterkreuz for exemplary combat leadership on 2. Sep.1944. As part of 6. Kompanie Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33 which was part of 4. Panzer-Division. As the Red Army pushed westward, the Germans relinquished the city of Riga, in Latvia, and soon cut off on the Kurland peninsula. With the Baltic Sea to the north and west and the Red Army to the south and east, several hundred thousand Germans, amounting to 32 German divisions and approximately 20,000 Latvian nationals, dug in to fight it out until the surrender on 8 Mai 1945. Following the war, Thierfelder became a civilian employee of the Bundeswehr.
Hauptmann, Panzergrenadier Regiment 60, 116 Inf. Division, ‘Windhund’:
116. Panzergrenadier Division was formed from the remnants of the 16. Panzergrenadier Division and the 179. Reserve Panzer-Division in Marz 1944. Engaged in the battles of Normandy the division was nearly destroyed in the Falaise Pocket, pulling back across the German border to Dusseldorf to refit it was sent to defend Aachen with only 600 troops and a dozen panzers. Aachen fell to advancing American forces on 21 Oktober. Generalleutnant Gerhard Graf von Schwerin, the division commander, ordered his troops out of the city against Hitler’s orders to spare the city and residents massive destruction. In a communication to the American commander, he wrote “I stopped the absurd evacuation of this town; I am responsible for the fate of the inhabitants and ask you, in the case of occupation by your troops, to take care of the unfortunate population in a humane way. I am the last German Commanding Officer in the sector of Aachen”.
In early November the division had deployed on the German border in the Hürtgen Forest. On 8 November it defeated the US 28th Infantry Division and recaptured the town, of Schmidt. Following a long, trench-like battle in the forest the ‘Windhund’ division then took part in the failed Wacht am Rhein operation in the Ardennes followed by the defense on the Dutch border, falling back over the Rhein River and then surrendering, on 18 April, to the US 9th Army in the Ruhr pocket. A leader in the I. Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60 the Hauptmann has served with the unit since the second year in Russia. He has, like many officers, replaced his worn service uniform with the new Felduniform 44 adding officer grade insignia. The Feldbluse and Schrimmütz are both piped in green.
