What are the famous troops of the SS field division?

First SS Armored Division (Adolf Hitler Division)

The establishment and development of SS 1 Adolf Hitler's Armored Division [referred to as LSSAH, LAH] can be traced back to1March 933 17, and its predecessor was the Berlin SS Headquarters Guard established by josef dietrich. This is a private guard, dedicated to protecting the personal safety of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, always obeying the command of the Fuehrer and only loyal to Hitler himself. The 120 members of this unit were carefully selected by Dietrich himself from [Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler (founded in 192 1 for short, SAH)], and their barracks were stationed in Alexandria Barracks in Berlin, and later moved to [Berlin-litchfield]. Subsequently, the first batch of 12 members arrived in Berlin under the leadership of William Moenck and began to guard the Reich Chancellery. On April 8, the SS task force made its first public appearance as Hitler's escort at a rally held by the stormtroopers in Berlin Gymnasium.

1May, 933, the name of the company was changed to [SS-Sonderkommando Berlin]. Then it was renamed as [SS-Sonderkommando Zossen], and a brand-new unit-SS-Sonderkommando Juter Bog was established. 1September, 939, the two organizations merged, and they were collectively called [SS-Lbeibstandarte Adolf Hitle (abbreviated as LAH]]. 1933165438+1On October 9th, the young Adolf Hitler's flag guard team took part in an oath rally to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the riot in the beer hall. 1934, heinrich himmler, the national leader of the SS, ordered that LAH be renamed LSSAH, that is, Adolf Hitt, SS of Le Bustam. After the outbreak of World War II, the Leibstandarte followed the Southern Army Group to participate in the invasion of Poland, with 400 casualties. 1940 In March, Hitler approved the Leibstandarte Division to establish an artillery battalion equipped with105mm howitzers. That month, German officials publicly used the term [Waffen-SS] for the first time. Next, the Leibstandarte also participated in the invasion of French and low-lying countries, but mainly as a reserve and against the British troops retreating to Dunkirk. Later, the Ministry was attached to the 14 Army, and participated in the second and final stage of military operations against France.

After the Battle of France, the Leibstandarte division stayed in France to rest and began to train hard in amphibious operations to prepare for the upcoming invasion of British sea lions. 1940 in July, Georg Képler, three Waffen-SS commanders, Paul Hausel and josef dietrich, was awarded the Knights Cross at the military victory ceremony of the Reichstag in Berlin. Himmler awarded the flag bearing Hitler's name to the Leibstandarte stationed in Metz, Germany at that time. 1940 In August, the Leibstandarte Division was strengthened into a brigade. 1September, 940, Himmler officially awarded the revised new flag to Leiben Fort in Mace Alvins.

Later, the invasion of Britain was postponed indefinitely. 194 1 In March, the Leibstandarte Division was transferred to Romania, under the jurisdiction of the 40th Army, and participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece, becoming the first German army to invade Yugoslavia. In the next 18 days, the Leibstandarte division continuously carried out flank maneuvers, pursued the British troops to Ceylon, then plunged into the Peloponnesian Peninsula, and finally intercepted the retreating British troops at Calamata in Corinth Bay, forcing them to retreat to Crete and continue to resist.

194 1 in June, 2006, the Leibstandarte Division once again started the Barbarossa invasion of the Soviet Union with the Southern Army Group and participated in the fierce battle between Kiev and Rostov. 1June, 942, the Leibstandarte division was transferred to Toulon, France to rest. Later, on July 15, it was upgraded and renamed as the [motorized] infantry division of the Waffen-SS Adolf Hitler's Leibstandarte. In the same year, 10 year122 October, the division was renamed as the SS Panzer [SS-Panzer-grenadie-Division (hereinafter referred to as LSSAH Division). Issa division was an occupying force in Vichy, France. The total strength of the division is: 678 officers, 2,065,438 non-commissioned officers and +066 soldiers.

/kloc-at the beginning of 0/943, Hylsa Division returned to the Eastern Front and participated in the Battle of Kharkov and the unprecedented Battle of Kursk as part of Paul Hauser's newly formed SS Panzer Corps. Since the failure of the German operation in Kursk, Hylsa Division was transferred to Italy to engage in anti-guerrilla operations. Since then, this division has returned to the Eastern Front as an armored division of 1 Adolf Hitler's Guards Banner [1]. SS-Panzer-Division "SS Adolf Hiter", hereinafter referred to as LSSAH Division, suffered heavy losses after repeated hard struggle. Later, the army was surrounded by Soviet troops in Kamantes-Podolisk and suffered a devastating blow. However, the 2nd SS Panzer Corps, composed of the 9th SS Panzer Division "flensburg" and the 1st SS Panzer Division "10/0", successfully rescued these besieged troops. Although LSSAH Division succeeded in breaking through, there were only 1250 people left in the whole division, so it returned to France to rest again.

1Since June, 944, LSSAH Division has fought and retreated to Germany in Caen, Fares, Anheng and other places in Normandy. At the end of the year, the division was attached to the 6 th Panzer Corps of SS and participated in the Ardennes counterattack that Hitler had high hopes for. After Ardennes' counterattack failed, the division, which was still attached to the 6 th Panzer Corps of SS, returned to the Eastern Front, ready to rescue the German cluster surrounded by Soviet troops in Budapest, Hungary. Code-named "Spring Awakening", this was the last German attack on the Eastern Front. Later, Hylsa Hershey suffered heavy losses in the battle in the Hungarian Grand Region.

On February 26th, 1945, Hylsa Division took part in the attack code-named "Pinghu" which organized the Soviet troops to enter Austria. On March 14, Hitler was furious when he learned that the attack of Pinghu failed, and immediately ordered Hylsa Division, Imperial Division, Skull Division and Hohenstaufen Division to remove all the honorary armbands on their uniforms. Finally, Dietrich, then commander of the 6 th SS Panzer Corps, refused to carry out this order. On March 16, Hylsa Division, as a defender, covered the retreat of the whole SS 6th Panzer Corps and continued fighting. On May 7th, after learning of Berlin's surrender, the last division commander, otto kum, led the remaining 1682 people in the division. After destroying all the equipment, he went to Austria to surrender to the US military, completely ending the glorious life of this once brilliant national flag guard.

1 adolf Hitler's guard flag, commander of armored division, guard duty list

1939 September1~1943 April 7 [josef dietrich]

1April 7, 943 ~1August 20, 943 [Theodore Visch].

1August 20th, 943 ~1February 6th, 945 William monk [wilhelm mohnke]

Second SS Armored Division (Imperial Division)

The division first appeared in the battle of 1940, when the low-lying countries were at war with France. At that time, it was named Waffen-SS Aviation Cluster Division. Its first war zone was to fight the Dutch army near Rotterdam, and then the division intercepted a French reinforcements with other divisions and drove them back to the starting area. In the next stage, the division is mainly responsible for clearing the rear of the German-occupied area (the Germans are advancing too fast, and there are still many enemy troops behind, still resisting), and then participating in the battle to break through the canal defense line and point to Paris. By the end of the whole campaign, the division had reached the Spanish border. At first, the division was composed of three of the four Waffen-SS regiments at that time, with the only exception of the LAH (Adolf Hitler's Guards) regiment, which was not incorporated into the division. These three groups are: Germany, Germania and Fuehrer. After the Battle of the Western Front, the Waffen-SS Germania Regiment was transferred out, and together with the Waffen-SS North Regiment and the Waffen-SS West Regiment, another Waffen-SS Division "Germania" was formed, which was later renamed the Waffen-SS Division "Viking". In order to make up for the lost Germania regiment, the 1 1 Waffen-SS infantry regiment, which was adapted from an Waffen-SS skeleton detachment, joined the division. Soon after, this division was renamed the "German" division of the Waffen-SS, and then became the "Imperial" division of the Waffen-SS.

After the Battle of France, the division participated in the preparations for the invasion of Britain. With the cancellation of the "Sea Lion Project", German troops gradually moved to the east. The "Imperial Division" moved to Romania in March of 194 1 2000, preparing to participate in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece. 1941April, the "Imperial Division" captured Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia, at an incredible speed. (500,000 Italian troops fought for six months, losing 63,000 people and not getting an inch of land; It took the Germans 14 days to capture Yugoslavia and Greece, and even the Germans blocked the road in front of the Italians because they advanced too fast. After the Balkan War, the department moved to Poland to prepare for the upcoming "Barbarossa" project. As a part of the Central Army Group, the Imperial Division participated in the invasion of Russia and performed well in the battles of Yernia and Smolensk. It is also one of the vanguard forces in the "Typhoon" campaign against Moscow. 194 1, 1 1 year, the "Imperial Division" arrived in the suburbs of Moscow, which witnessed the German advance to Russia. But just as the Russian capital was in sight, the bad weather, the huge loss of personnel and equipment and the large-scale winter offensive of the Soviet Union ended the division's efforts to continue advancing. With a series of bloody, deadly and losing defensive operations, the division's combat effectiveness is gradually exhausted. Finally, they withdrew from the front, were sent to France, and were reorganized into armored grenadiers. However, a part of this division stayed on the eastern front, known as the "Hostains Dov" battle group. This division fought in the front line until it was sent to France to join forces with the main force of this division in June 1942. 1942 1 1 In June, 2006, part of this division participated in the attempt to capture the French fleet in Toulon. Soon after, the division was renamed the "Royal" Panzergrenadier Division of the Waffen-SS.

In the early period of 1943, the "Imperial Division" returned to the Eastern Front and participated in the Battle of Kharkov, which was one of the heroes who saved the front on the verge of collapse. After retaking Kharkov, the division is ready to join other brothers in the Battle of Kursk. 1July, 943, the "Imperial Division" successfully advanced to the south of Kursk Projection, reaching the front of the Soviet Union for 40 miles, but still failed to achieve the set goal of encircling the Soviet Union. With the suspension of the fighting, it was transferred out of the front line with other Waffen-SS divisions. After some small-scale battles, the "Imperial Division" was transported to the west again for reorganization, and this time it became the "Imperial" armored division of the Waffen-SS. While reorganizing in the rear, the division also left a battle group at the front, which was called "Imperial" battle group, although the official name should be "Lammerding Battle Group". At the same time as the reorganization of the western front, the division also participated in the anti-guerrilla action in France. 1

During the winter solstice of 9431the beginning of 944, the Soviet army launched another large-scale winter offensive, which surrounded some German troops in the center of the front line, and the "Imperial" battle group was one of them. But unlike Stalingrad, Paul? Paul Hauser (who was also the commander of the first division of the Imperial Division)' s Waffen-SS 2nd Panzer Corps helped them. Subsequently, the battle group was transported to France to join the main division. Some remnants of the Eastern Front formed a "Weidinger" battle group and retreated from Proskuro to Bohr, Talneau.

1at the beginning of the Normandy campaign in June, 944, the Imperial Division, as one of the main forces of the German armored forces, made unremitting efforts to drive the allies out of the sea. In particular, the bitter battles around Caen and San Lo hindered the advance of the allied forces, but the division also suffered heavy casualties. After successfully retaking Mont Motan, the division began to retreat, because there were signs that it fell into the encirclement called "Falisse Pocket" with many other troops. Thanks to the concerted efforts of this division and the 9 th Waffen-SS armored division, a large part of the German army was able to break through the encirclement eastward. After that, the division crossed the Seine River and then retreated behind the "Western Wall" (formerly siegfried line). After a short rest, the 2nd Waffen-SS "Imperial" armored division participated in the Ardennes Battle in June 65438+February 0944. After breaking through the American defense line, the division stormed forward, but when the Mas River was visible to the naked eye, the offensive was stopped by the reinforced American troops. With the gradual counterattack of the US military, they retreated step by step. After this defeat, the division returned to Germany to replenish personnel and equipment, and then participated in the last German offensive in World War II, with the goal of retaking Budapest, but this action in Hungary was also frustrated by the powerful forces of the Soviet Union. After that, the division fought in Dresden, Prague and Vienna until the end of the war. Most of the staff of Normal University managed to push westward until they surrendered to the American army.

SS 3rd Armored Division (Skull)

After the Polish campaign, some Waffen-SS divisions were established. The Third Waffen-SS Division consists of some "backbone" troops who participated in the Polish campaign, the reserves of domestic "backbone" organizations and other auxiliary forces of the Waffen-SS. Some of them came from the Waffen-SS "Heimwehr Danzig" unit, which was originally the Waffen-SS Skeleton Battalion "Gotze" and was renamed as the Waffen-SS "Heimwehr Danzig" unit after expansion, and its scale was between the battalion and the regiment. This unit took part in the Polish campaign under the command of the army, and then transferred some troops as the backbone of the newly established "Skeleton" Division. Skull and Bones Division was established at the Waffen-SS training base near Dachau, and then received further training in Wü rttemberg and Truppen Ubenslatz Obermongsingen. After the training, Theodor Eicke was officially appointed as the division commander. He was originally the commander-in-chief of the domestic "skeleton" organization.

1February, 943, the division returned to the eastern front to join the southern army group. Then he took part in the counterattack against the Soviet winter offensive (the Sixth Army was completely annihilated in Stalingrad). In the second battle of Kharkov, he joined the southern counter-offensive forces and recovered Kharkov with outstanding achievements. During this period, the teacher Ike died in battle. After that, he participated in the Battle of Kursk, and participated in several most important and bloody battles along the southern line with his SS brothers (including the tank battle in Prodjorovka). After the battle, the "Skull" Division, as the Eastern Front Reserve Team (Fire Brigade), moved to the southern and central parts of the Eastern Front for nearly a year. During this period,1June, 943, it was reorganized into an armored division, and its name was also changed to the "Skull" armored division of the 3rd Waffen-SS.

During the period of 1944, the situation on the entire eastern front became very bad, and the Soviet army made breakthroughs in every section. Especially on the central front, the Soviet army defeated the German Central Army Group in the biggest offensive in World War II and advanced more than 300 kilometers in two weeks. When the offensive stopped, they had crossed the Vistula River and stood at the gate of Warsaw. In order to cooperate with the advance of the Soviet Union, an uprising broke out in Warsaw. The Skull Division and other troops rushed to Warsaw together, which stopped the advance of the Soviet Union and suppressed the uprising (apart from moral factors, it has to be said that this is a very remarkable military achievement, the rear is unstable and it is not easy to face strong enemies). Nearly two Soviet army groups were repelled by Skull Armored Division, Viking Division and Army 19 Armored Division, and were forced to retreat to the other side of the Vistula River.

Subsequently, the division was sent to the south to participate in the Budapest war. In order to rescue the besieged 45,000 German troops, the Skull Division has been attacking Budapest Airport, but it has never been able to achieve its goal due to the strong strength and resource advantages of the Soviet Union. The history of the war is also controversial, because the division withdrew from the vicinity of the airport and launched an attack north of Budapest, hoping to surround and destroy some Soviet troops, but failed. If we continue to attack from the airport, it is possible to open channels for the besieged troops, but this is another story. )

Since then, the division has been conducting defensive operations in western Budapest and has been retreating to the vicinity of Vienna. The division surrendered to the U.S. on May 9, 1945, but was handed over to the Soviet Union as a prisoner of war.

The fifth armored division of the SS (Viking division)

The division was established in 1940 and 65438+ February. Originally called "Germania Division", 194 1 year 1 month was renamed "Viking Division". In February, a Finnish volunteer unit joined the Division. The training in Truppen-Ubungsplatz Heuberg lasted until April, and the division completed the attack preparation. The second-class monitor of the landscape architect led the flowers.

The first battle of Viking Division was on June 29th, 194 1, when it attacked Talneau Bohr near Galasia. 1941August, "Viking Master" competed for the bridgehead on the Dnieper River. Soon they crossed Dneproof and ran to Rostov. 194 1 in winter, this division retreated to the Mius River, where it spent several months in winter.

When the German army launched an offensive in the spring and summer of 1942, the "Viking Division" pushed into the Caucasus, which was one of the troops that the German army pushed to the limit. They fought in the Caucasus until the spring of 1943, and had to retreat because of the disastrous defeat in Stalingrad.

Like other divisions, the "Viking Division" is constantly changing its troops. The Nordland Infantry Regiment was disbanded, and together with other units including Scandinavian personnel, a new Waffen-SS division was formed. Similarly, "Narwa" is an Estonian army, which joined the Viking Division on 1944, but was abolished in the same year.

1943 10, the name of "Viking division" was changed to the 5th Waffen-SS armored division, becoming another Waffen-SS armored division. 1943 During the summer and autumn, this division conducted defensive operations in Kharkov and Dnieper River and participated in the Battle of Kursk. When the Soviet army launched a big offensive in June 1944, aiming at rushing to the German border and destroying the Central Army Group, the "Viking Division" was one of many besieged divisions. They are surrounded by "Cherkasi Pocket", and they are the only armored troops in the encirclement, acting as the "armored spearhead" when they break through. At that time, another foreign military unit "Wallonien" (French-speaking Belgian) was also placed under the command of the division. Although the whole army finally succeeded in breaking through, it lost all armored forces and a large number of personnel and equipment.

The remaining personnel and equipment were temporarily organized into battle groups and quickly sent to Poland to form the new Viking armored division of the 5 th Waffen-SS. At the same time of reorganization, Soviet troops have advanced to the Vistula River and Warsaw, Poland. The Viking Division, together with the Skull Armored Division of the 3rd Waffen SS and the Army 19 Armored Division, desperately stopped the Soviet troops from advancing, stopped them at the gates of Warsaw, and made them retreat across the Vistula River, thus maintaining the stalemate on the front until 1945 65438+ 10.

The "Viking Division" was transferred from the front line of Warsaw at 1944 and 12, and was immediately transported to the south to participate in the Budapest clearance war. In order to rescue the besieged 45,000 Germans, the "Viking Division" pushed forward for two weeks, but it never achieved its goal due to the powerful strength and resource advantages of the Soviet Union. Then the division carried out defensive operations in the west of Budapest and gradually retreated to Czechoslovakia until/kloc-0 surrendered to the Soviet Union in May, 945.

9 th SS Armored Division

Because the Waffen-SS had "excellent performance" on the Soviet battlefield between 194 1 and 1942, Hitler ordered the establishment of two more Waffen-SS divisions, namely, the Waffen-SS Panzer Division No.9 in Hoorns and the Wafrenzburg Panzer Division No.0 in Waffen-SS. But at that time, the Germans were exhausted because of the long-term battle, and had to requisition the imperial labor force, most of whom were only 18 years old.

1In April, 944, the division and the Frentzburg Division formed a new SS 1 armored army, which was commanded by Hauser. Its first battle site was in the Tapo area of the Soviet Union. Because it successfully rescued the besieged German army, it made great contributions in the first battle.

In the battle of Normandy, the division was violently attacked by allied fighter-bombers and had to quit the battle. But later, in Anheng, the British 4th paratroopers brigade in Montgomery and the Polish 4th paratroopers brigade 1 fought a decisive battle, which forced the besieged British army to surrender and saved some face.

1944 65438+In February, the division returned to Germany and immediately took part in the Ardennes vote, taking charge of attacking St. Victor in the north. Because Barton's American Third Army quickly counterattacked, the division saw that it was no match for the other side and pulled away. Hoorns's division withdrew from the battlefield to Germany, and finally participated in the rescue operation in Budapest with the remaining divisions of the Waffen-SS, and retreated to Austria after defeat. 1In May, 945, he surrendered to the American army in Steyr.

Shi daofen

SS 10 Armored Division-"Flanders Castle" Division

1In February, 943, the Army began to recruit German recruits over the age of 18. From March to September, 1943, started training and acquired weapons and equipment. On June 6th, the Army was awarded the honorary title of "Karl de Gross". 19431013 October, this unit was named the SS armored division-"Flanders Castle". 10 year122 October, changed to SS Panzer Division 10-"Flanders Castle". By the end of June 1943, 1 1, the number of people in the branch of Flanders Castle had reached 193 13.

1in March, 944, the division was sent to the front of the Soviet Union. On March 3rd, the troops took part in the battle for the first time in Kerviel, Kamenz and podol (Thallner Bohr). On March 25th, Marshal erich Manstein decided to ask the "Flanders Castle" division to launch an attack to rescue the besieged First Army, which is located 35 miles east of Zbruz River and Talneau Bohr. 1 April, the Army and the Fourth Armored Army formed the "Northern Ukraine" Army Group (formerly "Southern Army Group"). A battalion of the 10 armored regiment under Flanders division stayed in France. On April 6, a fierce battle broke out in Bagchi, and the "corridor" began to open. On April 7, the troops made contact with the First Front Army for the first time. On April 9th, we began to approach Cauvel in the north. From April 9th to14th, there was a battle with the Soviets in Bohr, Talneau, but Talneau Bohr was still occupied by the Soviets in June14th. 1June 944, the strength was reduced to 13552. On June 6th, Allied forces landed in Normandy, so the division was transported from Poland to Normandy on June 12. On June 25, the troops arrived at the Normandy landing site. 1July, 944, fierce fighting took place in Caen, Chase, Avrain, and Fares. As of July 2008, there were 2200 casualties. 1in August, 944, the troops had to retreat to Anam due to heavy casualties in Caen, Chase, Avrain and Fares. 1September, 944, there were only 3500 people left in the division.

On September 17, the "Market-Garden" campaign began. General Montgomery of Britain hopes to open a road to Germany through this action and end the war at the end of 1944. The "Flanders Castle" division fought against British and American troops in Anam and Nijmegen. On September 20th, the armored forces of the division entered Kampfgruppe Knaust. On the same day, the allies occupied the Nijmegen Bridge. On September 2 1 day, after heroic resistance, the British airborne troops in Anam surrendered. On September 24th, the 2nd Panzer Corps handed over 45 Tiger tanks to the SS Division 10, which had just been delivered from the German factory. On September 26th, the British army retreated from the right bank of the Rhine, and the "Market-Garden" operation ended in failure.

In June 1944, 10, the troops were sent to Aachen, and there were 15542 personnel at this time. 1945 65438+1On October 9th, Hitler ordered the division to attack the eastern part of Hagenau forest and meet with 14 SS troops. On June 65438+1October 17, the troops entered the area of Hrisem, but the progress was uncoordinated and hesitant, and finally they retreated strategically because they were attacked by the US military. 1On 24th and 25th October, fighting broke out in Haguenau. The 2nd1and 22nd SS Panzergrenadiers crossed the Maud River in rubber boats and captured the highland between Hagunau and Kaltenhouse. Other troops of the division tried to surround Haguenau. Although the troops were well-equipped, well-supplied, and high in morale, the tenacious resistance of the American army shattered every German attack.

1March, 945, the troops entered Settin, Germany to rest. On March 27, the "Flanders Castle" division joined the "Wichel" (or Wisva) army group and became part of the reserve of the Third Armored Army. On April 19, Soviet troops surrounded the Flanders Division, the 334th Infantry Division and the Fuehrer's Guard Division near Springborg. On April 20, Himmler ordered the division to fight back. On April 2 1 day, the "Flanders Castle" division and the "Fuehrer Guard" division decided to break through. From April 22nd to 25th, the division of "Flanders Castle" successfully broke through the encirclement, but they gave up all vehicles. On May 6th, 1945, the remnants of the division surrendered to the Soviet Union in Teplitz-Shonau.

Hitler Youth League SS 12 Armored Division

12 "Hitler Youth" armored division of the Waffen SS (12 "Hitler Youth" of the Waffen SS armored division) is a special force in the German army, and its soldiers are all composed of "Hitler Youth" volunteers born in 1926.

A group of members of Hitler Youth League wearing 12SS logo, according to the post-war memories of some former members of the group, not all of them joined voluntarily, but many of them were forced to join.

1June 943 12 armored division was originally an armored grenadier division, but it was upgraded to an armored division in June 65438+1October of the same year. /kloc-most of the officers and noncommissioned officers of the 0/2 armored division were transferred from the Fuehrer's Guard Division. They all have experience in fighting on the eastern front, while others are from the navy and air force. As many members of the Hitler Youth League volunteered to join this elite unit, the establishment of the whole division greatly exceeded, including 520 officers (vacancy 144), 2,383 non-commissioned officers (vacancy 2 192), 65,438 soldiers+07,637 soldiers (excess of 2,360) and 654,337 foreign volunteers.

The first teacher was Major General Fritz Witt, who insisted on training recruits with live ammunition in a real environment. Excellent instructors and strict training made the 12 armored division quickly become a very effective force, and guderian also praised it when he inspected the division. 1in early April, 944, the 12 armored division, which completed the group training, entered France.

1June 6, 944, the allied forces landed in Normandy. 12 armored division was placed in the seventh army by the reserve (2 1 armored division and armored instructor also belong to this army) and was ordered to launch a counterattack against the landing allies. In the early morning of June 7, 12 armored division took the lead in going to the battlefield and fought back. Due to the absolute superiority of the allied forces, 12 armored division was forced to move to Caen area. On June 65438, 2004, Commander Major General Witt was killed because the command post was attacked by allied naval guns. Colonel Kurt Meyer, head of the 25th tank grenade regiment, succeeded as commander. In the face of the powerful allied offensive, the 12 armored division held out for 33 days in Caen and retreated on July 9. On July 20th, 12 armored division stopped the British-Canadian allied forces in Vermont again, and stayed here for another two weeks. At the beginning of August, the Allies surrounded the Germans in Falese, and the 12 armored division was ordered to guard both sides of the encirclement to cover the main forces from jumping out of the encirclement. The fighting was extremely fierce. 12 armored division fought against 600 allied tanks, leaving only 60. Many grenadiers jumped into allied tanks with explosives and died together. Even on the second day after the Allied invasion of Forrest City, 50-60 soldiers of 12 armored division fought tenaciously to the last man. In the battle of Normandy, the enthusiasm and training of 12 armored division in the battle left a profound impact on the allies. After the war, a British soldier recalled, we began to have bad luck. We met an armored division of 12, and they fought wildly until the last one didn't surrender. We must kill each and every one of them. It's terrible. In Normandy, 403 officers and men of 12 armored division were killed, 847 were injured, 63 were missing, and most of the heavy equipment was lost.

1September 6, 944, division commander Meyer led his troops into Belgium from France and was captured by the US military. The rest of the 12 armored division withdrew to Germany under the command of acting commander Lieutenant Colonel hubert meyer. After the reconstruction, the 12 armored division was placed under the command of Dietrich's 6th armored army, with Colonel hugo kraas as the division commander.

1944 16 February 12 Armored Division joined the 6th Armored Army in the Battle of Ardennes and the Battle of Bastogne. After the defeat, he rushed to the eastern front on June 65438+1October 20 to lift the Soviet siege of Budapest. In mid-March, the 12 armored division retreated to Austria after failing to clear it. On may 8, the 12 armored division surrendered to the American army in Enns. Until the surrender, the 12 armored division still tried to protect its honor and dignity, and they flatly refused to hang a white flag on the vehicle.

Successive commanders:

Brigadier General Fritz Witt ————————— 65438+March 0943 ~ 65438+June 0944.

Commodore general Kurt Meyer ———————1944 June-September.

Lieutenant Colonel hubert meyer —————————— 65438+September 0944 ~ 65438+ 10.

Brigadier General hugo kraas —————————1944165438+10 ~ 1945 May.