Panzer Lehr Division
130. Panzer Division

The Panzer Lehr formed in December 1943 in Eastern France (Nancy) from a Cadre of tank school instructors and combat veterans. The division was considered an elite Wehrmacht (not Waffen SS) formation and was given high priority in terms of new equipment. By the Spring of 1944, the Panzer Lehr was in France, held in reserve against the imminent Allied invasion. Prior to D-Day, it was the one of best equipped Panzer divisions on the Western Front. The division moved to Normandy and entered action on June 9 in the Bayeux area tangling with British Forces. A battle of attrition commenced as German Armor fought to check British efforts to capture Caen. On June 10, Panzer Lehr reported 98 Pzkw IV, 88 Panther, and 31 Pzjg IV. At the end of June, the division reported the loss of 51 tanks and assault guns, 82 Halftracks, 296 other vehicles. On July 7 the Division was sent West to help contain the Americans advancing on St Lo. on July 10, a failed counterattack at Le Dezert cost the division 30 more tanks. 2 weeks of defensive fighting saw further attrition upon Panzer Lehr men and equipment but Allied carpet bombing of German positions in the path of the Operation Cobra assault shattered the already weakened division. There was nothing to do but fall back to Allencon to regroup. By this time the situation was untenable in Normandy and the remnants were ordered East. In September 1944,18 Pzkw IV and 11 Panthers reached Luxemburg, and the division was reformed at Sennelager, Germany.

Due to shortages, Panzer Lehr was issued 72 tanks and 21 Jgpz IV, but it was in action from November 1944 until surrendering to US forces in the Ruhr Pocket in April 1945. 17 November 1944, Panzer Lehr attacked American forces near Saverne (Saar region). In December Panzer Lehr was part of the 5th Panzer Army during the Ardennes Offensive The division had only 30 Panther, 27 Pzkw IV, and 20 Jgpz IV but was reinforced temporarily with 2 Panzer Jaeger battalions and 1 StuG battalion. Panzer Lehr moved out on December 16 in the center of the line and immediately bogged down as the 26th VGD failed to open gaps quickly. Day 2 found the division hung up at Wiltz and Hosingen due to stubborn American resistance. December 18 saw better progress in advancing toward Bastogne despite sharing the roads with 26th VGD's horse-drawn wagons. December 19th, Panzer Lehr finally reached Bastogne after being delayed by heavy fighting at Neffe where a roadblock by Combat Team Cherry (US 10th AD) had to be dislodged at heavy cost. The division was then split with the 901st PG remaining in the Bastogne area to help 26th VGD assault the town. The rest of the division raced West toward the Meuse River. On December 21, Panzer Lehr was reunited and ordered to push all out, with 2nd PD and 116th PD, for Dinant near the Meuse River. On 23 December, the advance was held up all day at Rocheport by a small but determined American force. By evening the Americans withdrew but the advance would go no further. The Delay had allowed significant Allied reinforcements to block access to the Meuse River including strong British armor as well as more American armored elements. The 2nd PD was cut off and broken with only 600 survivors escaping on foot. What was left of the Panzer Lehr was called back to Bastogne and joined fighting to close the George Patton's corridor into Bastogne from the South. These attempts proved in vain, and the now depleted (again) Panzer Lehr was recalled from the battle front.

Panzer Lehr was meagerly rebuilt due to critical shortages within the German war machine in its death throws. The division then fought Montgomery's 21st Army Group at the Maas River in Holland before moving to the Remagen sector in an attempt to stem the American breakthrough there in March 1945. At this point the once proud Panzer Lehr could only field some 15 tanks and 300 men. Their final battles were in the Ruhr Pocket which was surrounded and capitulated in Late April.




Division components:

130. Panzer Regiment:
Battalion I (Panther)
Battalion II (Pzkw IV)
316th Remote Control Panzer company (5 Tiger II, 9 StuG III and Borgard RC tanks)
901. Panzer Grenadier Regiment (SdKfz 251) Armored Infantry
902. Panzer Grenadier Regiment (SdKfz 251) Armored Infantry
130. PanzerJaeger Abt. (JgPz IV)
130. Panzer Artillerei Regiment (Wespe, Hummel, towed guns)
311. Heeres Flak Artillerei Battalion (SP and towed anti aircraft guns)
130. Panzer Aufsklarung Battalion (armored cars, kugelwagon, and motorcycles)
misc. HQ, Signals, Medical, Supply, Engineer units.


Sources: German Tanks in Normandy: Steven Zaloga, Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1939-45: Jorge Rosado/ Chris Bishop