Wehrmacht - 2nd Panzer Division

The 2nd Panzer Division (2. Panzer-Division) was created in 1935, and stationed in Austria after the Anschluss. It participated in the campaigns in Poland (1939) and France (1940), and then returned to Poland for occupation duties (1940-1941). It participated in the Balkans campaign (1941) and then transferred to the Russian Front, though it missed participating in Operation Barbarossa because most of its tanks and other heavy equipment were lost when the transport ships carrying them were sunk by British mines or submarines (1941). It fought with Army Group Center in the battles of Moscow (1941) and Kursk (1943). After heavy losses on the Russian Front it was sent to France for rehabilitation (1944). It fought in Normandy and was almost completely destroyed in the Falaise Pocket (1944). It was rebuilt once more and fought in the Battle of the Bulge (1944) and in the defense of the Rhine (1945), surrendering to the Americans at war's end.

2.PzD;
Invasion of Poland;
Invasion of France;
First division to reach the Atlantic;
First division to reach the Swiss border;
A tank from the division sank a British destroyer at Boulogne;
Invasion of the Balkans;
Invasion of Russia;
Advanced to within 25 km of Moscow;
Participated in the battle of Kursk;
Fought in Russia - 1941-1943;
Fought in France (Normandy area) 1944;
Fought in the Battle of the Bulge (advanced further than any division);


Wehrmacht Ranks.
Schutze Private
Oberschutze Private 1st Class

Gefreiter LanceCorporal

Obergefreiter

Obergefreiter(+6 years service) #

Unteroffizier Corporal

Unterfeldwebel Sergeant

Feldwebel Staff Sergeant

Oberfeldwebel Master Sergeant

Stabsfeldwebel WarrantOfficer

Leutnant SecondLieutenant

Oberleutnant Lieutenant

Hauptmann Captain




# This was abolished after 1942