21. Panzer Division
Of the German panzer divisions that participated in the Normandy campaign this was probably the most unique. It had no Panther battalion like the other panzer divisions (except 10. SS-Pz.Div.). On the other hand it had both an assault gun battalion and an anti tank battalion with towed 8,8 cm AT guns (such were not found in the other panzer divisions). Each of its infantry regiments had one SPW battalion which was rather unusual. Another unusual feature was that it had two, rather than one, of its companies in the engineer battalion equipped with SPW. Finally it had many modified captured vehicles included in its organization. The structure of the division on 1 June 1944 was1:
Since this was an unusal division it can be of interest to present its equipment in detail2:
|
Stab Pz.Rgt. 22 |
3 Pz III, 1 Pz III (Bef), 5 Pz IV lg |
|
Stab I./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
1 Pz III, 1 Pz III (Bef), 5 Pz IV lg |
|
1./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
17 Pz IV lg. |
|
2./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
17 Pz IV lg. |
|
3./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
17 Pz IV lg. |
|
4./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
17 Pz IV lg. |
|
Stab II./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
5 Pz IV lg., 3 Somua (Bef) |
|
5./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
5 Pz IV lg., 9 Somua |
|
6./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
5 Pz IV lg., 2 Hotchkiss, 13 Somua |
|
7./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
5 Pz IV lg., 13 Somua |
|
8./Pz.Rgt. 22 |
6 Pz IV kz. |
|
I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 (gp) |
137 MG, nine 3,7 cm Pak, four 7,5 cm Pak (Sf), three 2 cm Flak (Sf) |
|
II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 |
85 MG, three 7,5 cm Pak (Sf), three 2 cm Flak (Sf) |
|
Rgt.Einh./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 |
six 15 cm IG auf Lorraine, four Reihenwerfer auf So, three 5 cm Pak, 25 MG |
|
I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 (gp) |
104 MG, nine 3,7 cm Pak, four 7,5 cm Pak (Sf), three 2 cm Flak (Sf) |
|
II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 |
91 MG, three 7,5 cm Pak (Sf), three 2 cm Flak (Sf) |
|
Rgt.Einh./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 |
six 15 cm IG auf Lorraine, four Reihenwerfer auf So, 26 MG |
|
1./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
four 12,2 cm howitzers (captured Russian) |
|
2./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
four 12,2 cm howitzers (captured Russian) |
|
3./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
four 10 cm K 18 |
|
4./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
six 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine |
|
5./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
six 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine |
|
6./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
six 15 cm s.FH 13 auf Lorraine |
|
7./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
six 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine |
|
8./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
six 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine |
|
9./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
six 15 cm s.FH 13 auf Lorraine |
|
10./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155 |
Nebelwerfer (Sf) |
|
1./Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
9 Beob.Pz., 16 m.SPW |
|
2./Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
14. s.Pz.Sp.Wg (six of them with 7,5 cm gun)., 16 le.SPW |
|
3./Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
2 le.Fu.Pz.Wg., 28 le.SPW, 7 m.SPW |
|
4./Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
2 le.Fu.Pz.Wg., 28 le.SPW, 7 m.SPW |
|
5./Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
27 m.SPW |
|
1./StuG.Abt. 200 |
four 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Ho, six 10,5 cm le.FH 16 auf Ho |
|
2./StuG.Abt. 200 |
four 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Ho, six 10,5 cm le.FH 16 auf Ho |
|
3./StuG.Abt. 200 |
four 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Ho, six 10,5 cm le.FH 16 auf Ho |
|
4./StuG.Abt. 200 |
four 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Ho, six 10,5 cm le.FH 16 auf Ho |
|
1./Pz.Jg.Abt. 200 |
twelve 8,8 cm Pak (mot. Z.) |
|
2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 200 |
twelve 8,8 cm Pak (mot. Z.) |
|
1./Flak-Abt. 305 |
four 8,8 cm Flak (mot. Z.), three 2 cm Flak (gp) |
|
2./Flak-Abt. 305 |
four 8,8 cm Flak (mot. Z.), three 2 cm Flak (gp) |
|
3./Flak-Abt. 305 |
nine 2 cm Flak (Sf), two 2 cm Flakvierling (Sf) |
|
1./Pz.Pi.Btl. 220 (gp) |
two 8 cm GrW, 43 MG |
|
2./Pz.Pi.Btl. 220 (gp) |
two 8 cm GrW, 43 MG |
|
3./Pz.Pi.Btl. 220 (mot) |
two 8 cm GrW, 20 MG |
Altogether this meant that the division had 98 Pz IV lg and six obsolete Pz IV kz. However, on 24 May another fourteen Pz IV lg were sent to the division. Possibly they had not arrived by 1 June, since deliveries before 24 May comprised 98 vehicles.3 The division also received tanks during the battle in Normandy. On 8 July seventeen Pz IV were sent and three weeks later three Pz IV (Bef.Wg.) were also sent.4 Finally on 10 August another ten Pz IV were dispatched to 21. Pz.Div.5 It is highly doubtful that the last ten arrived in time to take part in the battle.
The manpower situation for the division on 1 June and 16 June was6:
|
|
|
Officers |
Beamte |
NCO:s |
Men |
Total |
|
Pz.Rgt. 22 |
1 June 1944 |
58 |
5 |
558 |
1729 |
2350 |
|
Pz.Rgt. 22 |
16 June |
51 |
5 |
524 |
1641 |
2221 |
|
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 |
1 June 1944 |
55 |
3 |
441 |
1891 |
2390 |
|
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 |
16 June |
45 |
3 |
359 |
1484 |
1891 |
|
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 |
1 June 1944 |
57 |
4 |
512 |
1819 |
2392 |
|
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 |
16 June |
43 |
4 |
442 |
1476 |
1965 |
|
Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
1 June 1944 |
20 |
3 |
289 |
829 |
1141 |
|
Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 21 |
16 June |
20 |
3 |
255 |
684 |
962 |
|
Pz.Jg.Abt. 200 |
1 June 1944 |
18 |
2 |
87 |
439 |
546 |
|
Pz.Jg.Abt. 200 |
16 June |
14 |
2 |
76 |
394 |
486 |
|
StuG.Abt. 200 |
1 June 1944 |
23 |
1 |
267 |
620 |
911 |
|
StuG.Abt. 200 |
16 June |
20 |
1 |
247 |
573 |
841 |
|
Art.Rgt 155 |
1 June 1944 |
55 |
6 |
386 |
1323 |
1771 |
|
Art.Rgt 155 |
16 June |
47 |
6 |
336 |
1106 |
1495 |
|
Flak-Abt. 305 |
1 June 1944 |
17 |
2 |
117 |
590 |
726 |
|
Flak-Abt. 305 |
16 June |
16 |
2 |
113 |
565 |
696 |
|
Pi.Btl. 220 |
1 June 1944 |
20 |
4 |
126 |
735 |
885 |
|
Pi.Btl. 220 |
16 June |
18 |
4 |
118 |
636 |
776 |
|
Other Elements |
1 June 1944 |
84 |
57 |
597 |
2448 |
3186 |
|
Other Elements |
16 June |
84 |
57 |
576 |
2383 |
3100 |
|
Total |
1 June 1944 |
407 |
87 |
3380 |
12423 |
16297 |
|
Total |
16 June |
358 |
87 |
3046 |
10942 |
14433 |
Since the division had an authorized strength of 16 925 it was close to full strength on 1 June.7 From the table above it can be concluded that casualties up to 16 June amounted to 1 864. The losses mounted and by 20 June (inclusive) 2 390 casualties had been incurred.8 Until 24 June (inclusive) casualties amounted to 2 597.9 During the enitre month of June, the division lost 472 men killed in action, 1 606 wounded and 776 missing, while only 54 men had arrived to replace losses.10
From 6 June to 11 July the division lost 3 411 men11, and during the entire month of July it lost 229 killed in action, 601 wounded and 1 019 missing12. These losses were however covered by the arrival of 2 399 replacements and 26 convalescents that returned.13 This meant that the division had suffered 4 703 casualties 1 June &endash; 31 July and received 2 479 men to cover losses. Some of the replacements received were probably infantry from the 16. LW. Feld.Div.
At the end of July the II./Pz.Rgt. 22 was sent to Mailly-le-Camp.14 It was still there on 18 August.15
During June and July the division had been fighting in the Caen area. At the end of July the division was transferred to the LXXIV. Korps.16 It continued to fight on the northern shoulder of the salient protruding to thw west.
The 21. Pz.Div. was among the German divisions that suffered most during the battle in Normandy. On 1 October it had 12 097 men.17 During September the division lost 593 men and received 1 745 replacements.18 This indicates that the division had about 10 945 men on 1 September. This was about 3 600 less than it had on 1 August. The II./Pz.Rgt. 22 had not returned to the division after its departure and it probably had at least 500 men when it departed. This would indicate a loss of about 3 000 men during August and almost 8 000 for the entire campaign.
The tank strength of the division varied during the campaign:
|
Date |
Panzer IV lg |
Panzer IV lg in |
Panzer IV lg in |
|
1 June19 |
98 |
6 |
8 |
|
9 June20 |
approx 60 |
? |
? |
|
16 June21 |
85 |
? |
? |
|
17 June22 |
67 |
? |
? |
|
18 June23 |
65 |
? |
? |
|
20 June24 |
67 |
? |
? |
|
21 June25 |
76 |
? |
? |
|
1 July26 |
61 |
24 |
? |
|
6 July27 |
67 |
2 |
? |
|
9 July28 |
38 |
8 |
? |
|
13 July29 |
59 |
? |
? |
|
14 July30 |
46 |
14 |
? |
|
15 July31 |
47 |
13 |
? |
|
16 July32 |
50 |
? |
? |
|
17 July33 |
50 |
? |
? |
|
22 July34 |
22 |
? |
? |
|
23 July35 |
18 |
? |
? |
|
24 July36 |
22 |
? |
? |
|
25 July37 |
30 |
? |
? |
|
27 July38 |
40 |
? |
? |
|
29 July39 |
41 |
? |
? |
|
1 August40 |
42 |
? |
? |
|
4 August41 |
26 |
? |
? |
|
6 August42 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
7 August43 |
19 |
? |
? |
|
8 August44 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
9 August45 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
10 August46 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
11 August47 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
22 August48 |
20 |
? |
? |
Notes:
|
1 |
Status report to Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
2 |
Ibid. |
|
3 |
Lieferungen der Pz.Fahrzeuge, Bd. ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. Between 5 March and 24 May no Pz IV were sent to 21. Pz.Div. |
|
4 |
Lieferungen der Pz.Fahrzeuge, Bd. ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. |
|
5 |
Ibid. |
|
6 |
H.Gr. B Ia Nr. 3725/44 g.K. 17.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/2. |
|
7 |
Status report to Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
8 |
21. Pz.Div. Ia Nr. 1766/44, 21.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/2. |
|
9 |
Gen.Kdo. I. SS-Pz.Korps Ia Tgb. Nt. 880/44 g.Kdos 26.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/3. |
|
10 |
Status report to Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.7.44, BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
11 |
KTB OB West Ia, entry 12.7.44, T311, R16, F7016788. |
|
12 |
Status report to Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.8.44, BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
13 |
Ibid. |
|
14 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 633/44 g.Kdos. 29.7, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 28.7, T313, R420, F8714037. |
|
15 |
Besprechung Oberst i.G. Köslin bei Ia/Ob.West. (Ia Gen.Kdo. LXXX A.K.) 18.8.44, T311, R29, F7035710. |
|
16 |
See Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 647/44 g.Kdos, 1.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 31.7, BA-RH 21-5/50. |
|
17 |
Status report to Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.10.44, BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
18 |
Ibid. |
|
19 |
BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
20 |
Reisebericht Hauptmann Pickardt, 10.6.44, T311, R25, F7029430. |
|
21 |
HGr B Ia Nr. 3725/44 g.K., 17.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/2. |
|
22 |
21. Pz.Div. Br.B.Nr. 1755/44 g.K. 18.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/2. |
|
23 |
21. Pz.Div. Ia Nr. 1757/44 g.Kdos, 19.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/2. |
|
24 |
T311, R25, F7029701. |
|
25 |
21. Pz.Div. Ia Nr. 1766/44, 21.6.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/2. |
|
26 |
BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
27 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 217/44 geh. von 7.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 6.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
28 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 306/44 geh. von 10.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 9.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
29 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 348/44 geh. v. 14.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 13.7., T313, R420, F8713903. |
|
30 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. Unleserlich, v. 15.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 14.7, T313, R420, F8713914. |
|
31 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 388/44 g.Kdos 16.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 15.7, T313, R420, F8713920. |
|
32 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 479/44 geh. von 18.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 17.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
33 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 424/44 geh. von 17.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 16.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
34 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 535/44 geh. von 23.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 22.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
35 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 547/44 geh. von 24.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 23.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
36 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 557/44 geh. von 25.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 24.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
37 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 572/44 geh. von 26.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 25.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
38 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 605/44 geh. von 28.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 27.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
39 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 647/44 g.Kdos, 30.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 29.7, T313, R420, F8714042. |
|
40 |
BA-MA RH 10/158. |
|
41 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 758/44 g.Kdos. 5.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 4.8, T313, R420, F8714097. |
|
42 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 801/44 g.Kdos, 7.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 6.8, T313, R420, F8714118. |
|
43 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 811/44 g.Kdos, 8.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 7.8, T313, R420, F87141130. |
|
44 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 846/44 g.Kdos. 9.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 8.8, T313, R420, F8714139. |
|
45 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 853/44 g.Kdos, 10.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 9.8, T313, R420, F87141177. |
|
46 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 890/44 g.Kdos, 11.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 10.8, T313, R420, F87141181. |
|
47 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 899/44 g.Kdos, 12.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 11.8, T313, R420, F87141187. |
|
48 |
Fernschreiben von HGr B an OB West 22.8.44, BA-MA RH 19 IX/9b. |