33rd Infantry Division
15th Panzer Division
15th Panzergrenadier Division

History

This unit was created as the 33rd Infantry Division in 1936, and mobilized in 1939, but it did not take part in the invasion of The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania... Poland. In 1940 it participated in the invasions of The Kingdom of Belgium ( Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. Belgium is at a cultural crossroad between Germanic Europe and Romance Europe. It has Dutch speakers... Belgium and The French Republic or France ( French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. France is a democracy organised as a... France. It was then reorganized as the 15th Panzer Division in August 1940 at Map of Germany showing Darmstadt Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland (federal state) of Hessen in Germany. Its population is estimated (2003) at 137,900. The city is located to the south of the conjoined metropolitan areas of Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. History Darmstadt was first mentioned towards the end... Darmstadt and Categories: Germany geography stubs ... Landau by incorporating the 8th Panzer Regiment from the 10th Panzer Division and giving up its 110th Infantry Regiment to the 112th Infantry Division.

In April 1941 the division began transport to This article is about Libya, the country in North Africa. For the mythical character of the same name see: Libya (mythology). The Great Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya or Libya (Arabic: ليبيا) is a country in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, located between Egypt... Libya, joining General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (November 15, 1891–October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals and commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps in World War II. He is also known by his nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs). Early life and... Erwin Rommel's The Deutsches Afrikakorps (often just Afrika Korps or DAK) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypts Western Desert during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps the term is... Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) with the 5th Light Division 21st Panzer Division Created as 5th Light Division or 5th Light Afrika Division in Africa in early 1941, from an ad hoc collection of smaller units rushed to support the collapsing Italian army. Reorganized as 21st Panzer Division later the same year. Fought throughout the African campaign... 21st Panzer Division and the 90th Light Division. By June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a solar eclipse that will be used to fix the chronology of Mesopotamian history. 923 - Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is... June 15th the division was deployed in reserve to the south of For the Persian king, see Smerdis of Persia. Bardia is a seaport in eastern Libya. During World War II, it was the site of a major Italian fortification, commanded by General Annibale Electric Whiskers Bergonzoli, so nicknamed because of his spiked beard. The town changed hands several times before it... Bardia, and the panzer regiment fought in the successful defense during Operation Battleaxe Conflict World War II Date June 15, 1941 – June 17, 1941 Place Tobruk, Libya Result Operation Failure, Axis Victory During World War II, Operation Battleaxe (June 15-17, 1941) was the second British attempt to relieve the Axis Siege of Tobruk. British Lieutenant General Noel Beresford-Peirse... Operation Battleaxe at Halfaya Pass (Hellfire Pass) is located in North Africa., near the border between Egypt and Libya. In World War II, it was the anchor for the Axis positions, which opposed the Allied forces during Operation Battleaxe. The German commander of the position, Captain Wilhelm Bach, had set up artillery there... Halfaya Pass.

On November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. Events 1000-1899 1095 - The Council of Clermont began. The council was called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land. 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issued the Papal... November 18 the British forces began Operation Crusader (November 18 - December 10, 1941) was the third attempt to relieve the Siege of Tobruk and the one that succeded. See also North African Campaign External links BBC - WW2 Peoples War - Operation Crusader OPERATION CRUSADER and Rommels Dash To The Wire Australian War Memorial wwii operation... Operation Crusader with the objective of relieving the besieged forces at Tobruk is a sea-port in eastern Libya. At the beginning of the Second World War, Libya was an Italian colony and Tobruk became the site of important battles. It was captured by British and Australian forces on January 12, 1941, but was then besieged by German and Italian forces... Tobruk. The 15th was situated to the east of Tobruk, and by November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 41 days remaining. Events 1200-1899 1272 - Following Henry III of Englands death on November 16, his son Prince Edward becomes King of England. 1407 - A solemn truce between John... November 20 they joined the 21st Panzer Division to battle the armored forces of the The XXX Corps was an infantry corps in the British Army. It played a major role in many operations in Northwest Europe, including Operation Market Garden, during which it was commanded by Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks. Categories: Stub | British field corps ... British XXX Corps.

With the XXX Corps situated on the approaches to Tobruk, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (November 15, 1891–October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals and commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps in World War II. He is also known by his nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs). Early life and... Erwin Rommel sent his panzer divisions on a rapid advance to the east, threatening the British rear. However the British continued to advance on Tobruk and by November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year. There are 34 days remaining. Events 1300-1899 399 - St. Anastius I becomes Pope. 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont. 1703 - The first Eddystone Lighthouse destroyed in storm. 1839 - In... November 27th they had linked up with the fortress. The Axis forces were forced to withdraw.

By December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. It is the final day of the Gregorian year. Events 406 - Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia 1600 - British East India Company is chartered 1687 - The first... December 31, 1941, Rommel's forces halted at the line at El Agheila for refitting his depleted forces. By January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 344 days remaining (345 in leap years). Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. 1276 - Innocent V becomes Pope. 1525 - The Swiss... January 21st he was ready to advance again, and the DAK and Italian forces began another march to the east.

The The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. It was British in name, and was always commanded by a British general, but most of its component units were from British Commonwealth countries, including Australia, India... British Eighth Army had drawn up in Mine can refer to a number of things: Mines are tunnels used in mining for extraction of resources. In medieval times, a mine was a tunnel dug under a castle wall to make it collapse. This was known as undermining or sapping. These tunnels were sometimes packed with explosives, leading... mine-fortified positions on the coastal town of Gazala, to the west of Tobruk. The 15th Panzer was deployed with the other The word axis has several meanings: In geometry, it may refer to: An axis of rotation A coordinate axis An axis of symmetry In anatomy, the axis is the second cervical vertebra. Axis Communications (also known as AXIS) is a swedish manufacturer of network print servers, high_end webcameras and miscellanous... Axis armor on their southern flank, with infantry dividions holding the northern part of the line.

The Axis began their attack on May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). There are 219 days remaining before the end of the year. Events 1300-1899 1328 - William of Ockham secretly leaves Avignon under threat from Pope John XXII. 1538 - Geneva throws out John Calvin... May 26th, with the DAK sweeping around the southern end of the British line. They were met by the armoured forces of the British, and took losses in tanks. Without a supply line, the Germans had to withdraw into a "Cauldron" position along the front until supplies could be moved through the minefields.

On June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. Events 1200 BC-AD 1899 1184 BC - According to the calculations of Eratosthenes, the date that Troy was sacked and burned. AD 1509 - Marriage of King Henry VIII of... June 11 they began their breakout, advancing to the east and threatening to encircle the British. The Eighth Army was forced to withdraw, leaving Tobruk once more encircled. This time, however, the Tobruk fortifications were weaker, and an attack on June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. Events 1200-1899 1214 - University of Oxford receives its charter. 1685 - Monmouth Rebellion: The Duke of Monmouth declared himself King of England at Bridgwater. 1756 - English garrison imprisoned in... June 20, which included 15th Panzer, captured the town and the garrison.

The axis forces now began a rapid advance to the east, Much of the armor of the XXX Corps had been destroyed at Gazala, so a stand at Mersa Matruh is a seaport in Egypt, Africa. Mersa Mutrah is ~240 km west of Alexandria. During World War II, the British Armys Baggush Box was located to the east. During this period, Mersa Matruh was the terminus for a single-track railway which passed through El Alamein. Categories... Mersa Matruh on June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. Events 600-1899 684 - Benedict II becomes Pope. 1483 - Richard III becomes king of England. 1819 - The bicycle is patented. 1900-1999 1924 - American occupying forces leave the Dominican... June 26 quickly broke through the defenses. In this battle the 15th Panzer was held up by the British 1st Armoured Division, but the remainder of the DAK broke through to the north.

At the beginning of July the Eighth Army had reached their final defensive position before Antiquity and modernity stand cheek-by-jowl in Egypts chief Mediterranean seaport Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandria (in Arabic, الإسكندرية — al-Iskandariyah) is the chief seaport in Egypt, and that countrys second largest city, and the... Alexandria at the railroad junction of El Alamein is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast. It is located 106 km (66 miles) west of Alexandria and 240 km (150 miles) northwest of Cairo. It is mostly a port facility for shipping oil but it played a major role in the outcome of... El Alamein. The DAK was understrength from its recent battles, but Rommel attempted an attack along Ruweisat with the 15th Panzer and the remainder of the corps. Only minor progress was made, and British counterattacks and mounting losses caused Rommel to call off the attack on July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. Events 1499 - Battle of Dornach - The Swiss decisively defeat the Imperial army of Emperor Maximilian I. 1587 - Colony of Roanoke: A second group of English settlers arrive on Roanoke... July 22.

Another attack was attempted by Rommel on August 30 is the 242nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (243rd in leap years), with 123 days remaining. Events 700-1899 711 - Kinich Kan Joy Chitam, king of Palenque, disappears from history. He was probably taken prisoner by a rivalling city state. 1574 - Guru Ram... August 30th, with the armored forces attacking the southern flank. The 15th Panzer Division reached as far as the Alam Halfa ridge on September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). There are 121 days remaining. Events 5509 BC - The world was created, according to the Byzantine calendar. 327 - start of first indiction cycle 1644 - Battle of Tippermuir, Montrose defeats Elchos Covenanters, reviving Royalist cause 1715 - King... September 1st, but failed to break through the British defenses.

At this point Rommel went onto the defensive and began to build a deep defensive position with thick minefields. The 15th Panzer Division formed the reserve in the northern part of the front, and the 21st Panzer in the south.

With the able General Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. He was born in London in 1887. During the Irish War of Independence (1919_1921), Montgomery was Officer... Bernard Montgomery taking charge of the allied forces, the Eighth Army now underwent a long, steady buildup that the axis forces couldn't, or wouldn't, match. By October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. Events 4100 BC-AD 1899 4004 BC - The universe was created, according to the Ussher-Lightfoot Calendar. 42 BC - Roman Republican civil wars: Second Battle of Philippi - Brutuss... October 23rd, Monty's forces were ready and they began a breakthrough attack in the northern front. Counterattacks by 15th Panzer failed to halt the advance, and by November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. Events 1500-1899 1576 - Eighty Years War: In Belgium, Spain captures Antwerp (after three days the city was nearly destroyed). 1612 - Moscow China Town taken by Russian troops under... November 4 the British tanks achieved a breakout.

Now began a period of steady British advance to the west, combined with allied landings in In various forms, France had colonial possessions since the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. Currently, the only remnants of what was once a large empire are four overseas départements — the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Réunion in the Indian Ocean, and the small... French North Africa on November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. Events 1500-1899 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great pomp as would befit a returning god... November 8th. So the remains of the 15th Panzer Division, and the remainder of the axis forces, were continually forced to withdraw. The British XXX Corps reached and flanked the line at El Agheila on December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 14 days remaining. Events 283 - St Gaius becomes Pope. 384 - St Siricius becomes Pope. 1586 - The reign of Emperor Go-Yozei, the 107th imperial ruler of Japan, began. 1637 - The Shimabara... December 17th, then took Tripoli (population 1 million, Arabic: Ţarabulus) is the capital of Libya. The city is located in the northwest of the country; it lies on the edge of the desert, on a point of rocky land projecting into the Mediterranean Sea and forming a bay. The city was founded in... Tripoli on January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 342 days remaining, 343 in leap years. Events 1510 - Henry VIII of England, 18, appears incognito in the lists at Richmond, and is applauded for his jousting before he reveals himself. 1533 - Anne Boleyn, mistress... January 23rd, 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. Events January January 4 - End of term for Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Earl Warren. January 11 - The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China. January 11 - General Juanto dies in Argentina - Ramon... 1943.

By February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 316 days remaining (317 in leap years). Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin) of the Kali Yuga. 1478 - George, Duke of Clarence, convicted of treason against his older brother Edward IV of England, is privately executed... February 18th the XXX Corps reached the defensive line at Mareth in The Tunisian Republic, or Tunisia, is a Muslim Arab country situated on the North African Mediterranean coast. It borders on Algeria to the west and Libya to the south and east. National motto: n/a Official language Arabic Capital Tunis President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi... Tunisia, and were forced to halt. The 21st Panzer Division was drawn away to the The Battle of the Kasserine Pass took place in World War II during the Battle of Tunisia, fought between the German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel, and the Americans under General Lloyd Fredendall in the Kasserine Pass (a 2 mile wide gap in the Dorsal Chain of the Atlas... Kasserine Pass operation on February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 312 days remaining, 313 in leap years. Events 1300 BC-AD 1899 1290s BC - The coronation of Ramses II, on whose face the suns rays fall each year in Abu Simbel temple. AD 1281... February 22, so the 15th Panzer held the Mareth Line with the remaining Italian forces.

On March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). There are 300 days remaining. It is 啓蟄 (Keichitsu) in the Japanese calendar. Events 1447 - Nicholas V becomes Pope. 1460 - Treaty of Alcacovas - Portugal gives Castile the Canary Islands in exchange for... March 6th, with the 21st Panzer having returned, the DAK counter-attacked the Eighth Army at Medenine, but were repulsed. On the 20th, the British 50th Infantry Division breached the defensive position, but they were contained by the 15h Panzer Division. However the axis position was flanked in the west, and by March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in Leap years). There are 279 days remaining. Events 1300-1899 1306 - Robert I of Scotland and Elizabeth de Burgh are crowned king and Queen of the Scots. 1513 - (not 1512 as often cited) - Explorer Juan... March 27th they were forced to withdraw northward.

The axis forces in North Africa were now forced back to their final defensive position in north Tunisia. For other people with the surname Hitler, see Hitler (disambiguation). Adolf Hitler ( 20 April 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary – 30 April 1945 in Berlin, Germany) was leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (more widely known as the Nazi Party) and Führer und Reichskanzler... Hitler chose this time to heavily reinforce his forces in this theater; forces that would have been far more beneficial a year earlier. But by it was now too late, and the US First and British Eighth armies now relentlessly ground through the enemy defenses.

By May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). There are 233 days remaining. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. 1264 - The Battle of Lewes, between King Henry III of England and the rebel Simon de Montfort, 6th... May 12th, 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. Events January January 4 - End of term for Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Earl Warren. January 11 - The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China. January 11 - General Juanto dies in Argentina - Ramon... 1943, all German and Italian forces in Tunisia surrendered, including the 15th Panzer Division.

In July 1943 the surviving remnants of the division were reconstituted as the 15th Panzergrenadier Division; it was never brought back up to the strength of a full Panzer division. 15th Panzergrenadier fought the rest of the war in Italy and on the West Front, and surrendered to the British at war's end.

Commanders

Organization

1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-February January 5 - FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 - World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 - World War... 1940

• 15th Panzer Division
  • 8th Panzer Regiment
  • 104th Panzergrenadier Regiment
  • 115th Panzergrenadier Regiment
  • 33rd Artillery Regiment
  • 15th Motorcycle Battalion
  • 115th Reconnaisance Battalion
  • 33rd Engineering Battalion
  • 33rd Anti-Tank Battalion

See also

• 15th Infantry Division (an unrelated unit with a confusingly similar name)

• The Deutsches Afrikakorps (often just Afrika Korps or DAK) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypts Western Desert during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps the term is... Deutsches Afrikakorps, The Western Desert Campaign was the primary early theatre of the North African Campaign of World War II. It is sometimes referred to as the Libya-Egypt Campaign. On entering World War II the United States supplied a small USAAF contingent to support the campaign, for which personnel taking part... Western Desert Campaign, The battle in the North African desert during World War II from 1940-1943. It is also known as the Desert War. The fighting in this region began with Italian attacks on British occupied areas. Following the terrible reverses suffered by the Italians, the German Afrika Korps came to their... North Africa Campaign
• This article needs cleanup. Please edit this article to conform to a higher standard of article quality. Panzergrenadier in German means motorized infantry. Mechanized infantry is also a new concept in World War II, like tank warfare and aircraft. The concept of Panzergrenadier divisions is to provide fast, rapid transport... Panzergrenadier, Tiger II, perhaps the most advanced Panzer Panzer is an abbreviation of Panzerkampfwagen, a German compound noun which translates as Armoured Combat Vehicle. It became synonymous with German tanks during the 1930s, and is usually shortened to become PzKpfw. Panzers were used in both Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht. Panzer models... Panzer, Panzer Division is the German term for armored division. It is commonly used in English when referring to armored divisions in the German army, past or present, and is often treated as part of a proper name, in which case it is always capitalized (e.g., 2nd Panzer Division). Panzer... Panzer Division
• A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around 10,000 soldiers. In most armies a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions make up a corps. History Pre-modern divisions The term division came into use as armies began... Division (military), A military unit is an organisation within an armed force. It may consist of any number of soldiers, ships, vehicles, or aircraft. Armies, navies, and air forces, are organised hierarchically into groups of various sizes for functional, tactical and administrative purposes. This organisation is sometimes called an Order of Battle... Military unit
• The Wehrmacht (literally defence force or means/power of resistance) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It replaced the old Reichswehr and was succeeded by the West German Bundeswehr, and the East German Nationale Volksarmee (NVA). The term was not only used for... Wehrmacht, This is a list of German divisions in WWII. Artillery Divisions German 18th Artillery Division German 310th Artillery Division German 311th Artillery Division German 312th Artillery Division Fortress Divisons German 41st Fortress Division German 133rd Fortress Division Infantry Divisions German 69th Infantry Division German 71st Infantry Division German 163rd Infantry... List of German divisions in WWII

References

Note: The Web references may require you to follow links to cover the unit's entire history.

• von Mellenthin, Major General F. W. (1956). Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War. First Ballantine Books Edition, 1971. New York: Ballantine Books is a major publisher of books, and is currently owned by Random House. Ballantine Books has several imprints of its own, including DelRey, one of the leading publishers of paperback science fiction and fantasy books. Ballantines logo is a B back to back with a backwards B... Ballantine Books. ISBN 0345244400.
• Wendel, Marcus (2004). "15. Panzer-Division (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1288)". Retrieved April 2, 2005.
• Wendel, Marcus (2004). "15. Panzergrenadier-Division (http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1331)". Retrieved April 2, 2005.