SS Panzer Division
SS-Panzerdivision (1943)
SS-PzDiv
Active1943
Country Germany
Branch Waffen-SS
TypePanzer
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeDivision, up to 20,000 soldiers
Part ofWaffen-SS
EngagementsWorld War II

An SS Panzer Division (German: SS-Panzerdivision, short: SS-PzDiv) was a Waffen-SS formation during World War II. The table below shows the order of battle to which an SS panzer division aspired.[1]

Unit[2] Designation in German[3]
Division headquartersDivisionsstab
  • Divisionskommandeur (DivKdr)
  • Generalstabsoffizier
  • Kartographieeinheit
  • Fernmeldeeinheit
  • Divisionsbegleitschutz
  • Militärpolizei
QuartermasterQuartiermeister (Qu)
  • Waffenzug
  • Mechaniker
  • Stabsarzt
  • Stabszahnarzt
Panzer regimentPanzerregiment (PzRgt)
I Battalion I. Abteilung
  • 4 Kompanien (1–4)
  • Werkstattkompanie
II battalion
  • 5 companies (5–9)
  • Workshop platoon
 II. Abteilung
  • 5 Kompanien (5–9)
  • Werkstattzug
Anti-tank battalionPanzerjägerabteilung (PzJgAbt)
3 companies of assault guns (1–3)3 Kompanien von Sturmgeschützen (1–3)
Panzergrenadier regimentPanzergrenadierregiment (PzGrenRgt)
I battalion4 companies (1–4)I. Bataillon4 Kompanien (1–4)
II battalion4 companies (5–8)II. Bataillon4 Kompanien (5–8)
III battalion
  • 4 companies (9–12)
  • Heavy infantry gun company (13)
  • Anti-aircraft company (14)
  • Reconnaissance company (15)
  • Engineer company (16)
 III. Bataillon
  • 4 Kompanien (9–12)
  • Schwere Infanteriegeschützkompanie (13)
  • Flakkompanie (14)
  • Aufklärungskompanie (15)
  • Pionierkompanie (16)
Panzergrenadier regiment (as above)Panzergrenadierregiment
Armoured reconnaissance battalionPanzeraufklärungsabteilung (PzAufklAbt)
  • 2 Panzer scout companies
  • 2 Panzer reconnaissance companies
  • 1 heavy company
  • 2 Panzerspähkompanien
  • 2 Panzeraufklärungskompanien
  • 1 schwere Kompanie
Panzer artillery regimentPanzerartillerieregiment (PzArtRgt)
I battalion
  • 3 batteries
 I. Abteilung
  • 3 Batterien
II battalion
  • 3 batteries
 II. Abteilung
  • 3 Batterien
III battalion
  • 4 batteries
 III. Abteilung
  • 4 Batterien
Rocket launcher battalionWerferabteilung
  • 4 batteries (1–4)
  • 4 Batterien (1–4)
Anti-aircraft battalionFlakabteilung (FlakAbt)
  • 5 batteries (1–5)
  • 5 Batterien (1–5)
Armoured engineer battalionPanzerpionierabteilung (PzPiAbt)
  • 1 (armoured) company (on IFV)
  • 3 engineer companies
  • Bridge convoy B
  • 1 (gepanzerte) Kompanie (auf SPw)
  • 3 Pionierkompanien
  • Brückenkolonne B
Armoured signals battalionPanzernachrichtenabteilung
  • 1 communications company
  • 1 radio company
  • 1 Fernmeldekompanie
  • 1 Funkkompanie
Divisional supply troopsDivisions-Nachschubtruppe
  • 6 vehicle companies
  • 1 supply company
  • 6 Kraftfahrkompanien
  • 1 Nachschubkompanie
Panzer maintenance battalionPanzer-Instandsetzungsabteilung
  • 3 workshop companies
  • 1 (weapon) workshop company
  • 1 spare and repair part company
  • 3 Werkstattkompanien
  • 1 (Waffen-) Werkstattkompanie
  • 1 Ersatzteilkompanie
Provisioning battalionWirtschaftsbataillon
  • Bakery company
  • Butcher company
  • Divisional food services office
  • Military post office
  • Bäckereikompanie
  • Schlächtereikompanie
  • Divisions-Verpflegungsamt
  • Feldpostamt
Medical battalionSanitätsabteilung
  • 2 medical companies
  • 1 ambulance company
  • 1 medical supply company
  • 2 Sanitätskompanien
  • 1 Krankenkraftwagekompanie
  • 1 Versorgungskompanie
Replacement battalionFeldersatzbataillon

The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was organized according to the above table, and served as a standard for all other SS panzer divisions during World War II. The average complement was approximately 19,000. However, only two out of seven SS panzer divisions contained that strength. In the second half of the war in Europe, in particular close to the end of war, some divisions achieved only the complement of regiment sized units.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Willamson, Gordon (1994). The SS Hitler´s Instrument of the Power; appendix, p. 249, "Organisation of a SS Panzer Division", Brown Packaging Books Ltd., London.
  2. ↑ MILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil II/ Teil III, Deutsch – Englisch, Abkürzung Begriff, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001).
  3. ↑ Official designation as to "Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv" in Freiburg im Breisgau, stores of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS.
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