15. Panzer Division Wehmacht

In October 1940, the 33. Infantry Division began transformation to a Panzer Division. The 8. Panzer Regiment was transferred from the 3. Panzer Division and the new organization was designated the 15. Panzer Division.

1941: April; began operations in North Africa under command of General Irwin Rommel. 8th Panzer Rgt.- 42 PzKw II, 71 PzKw III, 20 PzKw IV, 10 Pz.Bef.
May/June; Defeated British Offensives (Brevity and Battleax) to relieve Tobruk.
November/December; Rommel was defeated by the British during Operation Crusader with heavy losses in tanks.
1942: May/June; Rommel shattered the British defenses at Gazala forcing them back to El Alamein in Egypt. 8th Panzer Rgt.- 29 PzKw II, 134 PzKw III, 22 PzKw
IV, 4 Pz.Bef.
July/August; All attempts to break the El Alamein line failed and Rommel went over to a defensive posture.
October/November; British Operation Lightfoot assaulted Rommel's defenses for several days followed by Operation Supercharge which broke through
the lines. Rommel retreated. All hopes of halting and making a stand were hopeless as his force was too depleted.
8th Panzer Rgt.- 14 PzKw II, 87 PzKw III, 18 PzKw IV, 2 Pz.Bef.
1943: January; Rommel lost Tripoli and Halted at the Mareth Line in Tunisia.
February/May; Final battles in Tunisia depleted the 15. Panzer Division and all axis forces in North Africa surrender on May 13.
June; 15. Panzer Division was written off. Later a 15. Panzer Grenadier Division was formed.

Components:
8. Panzer Regiment
115. Motorized Infantry Regiment
33. Motorized Artillery Regiment
33. Motorized Reconnaissance Battalion
33. Motorized Combat Engineer Battalion
78. Motorized Anti-Tank Battalion
33. Armored Signals Battalion