German 2nd Panzer Division

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

[edit] War crimes

During the September Campaign in Poland soldiers from the division took part in atrocities against Polish citizens. On the 5th of September 1939 near the village of Toporzysko-Bystra a Polish soldier surrendered after becoming separated from his unit. Soldiers from the 2nd Panzer Division ordered him to run, then shot him under the pretext of "attempted escape".^[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu na jeńcach wojennych w II Wojnie Światowej Szymon Datner Warszawa 1961

Pipes, Jason. "2.Panzer-Division". Retrieved April 2, 2005.
Wendel, Marcus (2004). "2. Panzer-Division". Retrieved April 2, 2005.
"2. Panzer-Division". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de, with photos. Retrieved April 2, 2005.
"Unteroffizer Franz Eschner". English language autobiographical notes from a veteran of 2nd Panzer Division, with photos. Retrieved April 2, 2005.
Szymon Datner (1974). Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu (Crimes of the Wehrmacht)