Unit Analysis : The 21st Panzer Division, March 1944

I could be interesting to have a detailed look at how the armoured divisions in WWII was composed. And why not start with the famous 21st Panzer Division. I would be interested in knowing if there was any changes by June btw. The breakdown is from the book "The 21st Panzer Division" by Chris Ellis ( page 67 ).

The 21st Panzer Division consisted of the following units ( I´ll add more detailed breakdowns of these later ) :

- Division HQ
- 100th Panzer Regiment
- 200th Panzer Recce Battalion
- 200th Sturmgeschütz Battalion
- 200th Panzerjäger Battalion
- 305th Army Flak Battalion
- 125th Panzergrenadier Regiment
- 155th Panzer Artillery Regiment
- 200th Feldersatz Battalion
- 220th Panzer Pioneer Battalion
- 200th Panzer Signals Battalion
- 200th Supply Troop
- 200th Motorized Field Post Office
- 200th Motorized MP Troop
- 1/,2/200th Motorized Ambulance Companies
- 1/,2/200th Med Companies
- 200th Motorized Admin Platoon
- 200th Motorized Buthcer Company
- 200th Motorized Bakery Company

I would appreciate if anyone knew the correct German unit designations, as well as any other corrections.

 

The 100th Panzer Regiment :

Regimental HQ :

- Signal Platoon

- Staff Panzer Platoon ( 3 tanks )

Panzer Battalion I :

- Battalion HQ : One staff company (2 x PzKpfw II, 5 x PzKpfw IV ), one self propelled flak company

- 4 x Panzer companies ( 17 x PzKpfw IV each )

Panzer Battalion II :

- Battalion HQ : One staff company ( 7 tanks )

- 2 companies of 18 Somuas each

- one company consisting of 10 Hotchkiss and 6 Somuas

- one company of 17 PzKpfw IVs

Panzer Maintenance Company



That´s about all I have on the 100th Panzer Regiment for now. Let´s see if we can add some further details to it.

 

Ellis & Nafziger appear to agree totally at this time in 1944 re composition of 200th Panzer Regiment, as these are my two main sources for this topic, I'm afraid that I have nothing to add that is new, just supporting exisiting info.

There were however, changes on 20/05/1944. I'll post them, if you haven't got them, and if you want me to.

I'm going into hospital first thing tomorrow for a minor operation, so I don't know quite when I will be healthy enough to pound the keypad. But I will be off work for 2 - 3 months recuperating, so expect to hear a lot more from me soon(ish).