14th Panzer Division

The 14th Panzer Division (14. Panzer-Division) originally the 4th Infantry Division, belonging to the peacetime army, with personnel from Saxony and Sudetenland. As such fought well in Poland and in the French campaign and was reorganized as the 14th Panzer Division in the late summer of 1940. Fought in Yugoslavia in the Balkan campaign and was continuously engaged on the Southern Russian front, where it was finally encircled and virtually destroyed at Stalingrad.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Ferdinand Heim, from 1st July 1942 to 1st November 1942

Generalleutnant Ferdinand Heim commanded the 14th Panzer Division during World War II, showcasing strategic leadership. He participated in key campaigns, including the Battle of Stalingrad, where his decisions faced criticism. Captured in 1944 at Boulogne, Heim was held as a prisoner until his release in 1948, marking a controversial military career.

Generalleutnant Hans Freiherr von Falkenstein, from 1st November 1942 to 16th November 1942

Generalleutnant Hans Freiherr von Falkenstein commanded the 14th Panzer Division during World War II, showcasing strategic leadership and resilience. He participated in key campaigns, including Operation Barbarossa and the Battle of Stalingrad. Falkenstein’s division faced significant challenges, reflecting the difficulties encountered by German armored units on the Eastern Front.

Generalleutnant Johannes Baeßler, from 16th November 1942 to 26th November 1942

Generalleutnant Johannes Baeßler briefly commanded the 14th Panzer Division during World War II, showcasing strategic leadership and resilience. He participated in key campaigns, including the Battle of Stalingrad, where he was wounded and evacuated. Baeßler later commanded the 242nd Infantry Division, reflecting his adaptability and dedication to German military operations.

Generalmajor Martin Lattmann, from 26 November 1942 to 1943

Generalmajor Martin Lattmann commanded the 14th Panzer Division during World War II, showcasing strategic leadership and resilience. He participated in key campaigns, including the Battle of Stalingrad, where his division faced encirclement. Captured by Soviet forces, Lattmann later joined the National Committee for a Free Germany, reflecting his adaptability and dedication.

Units

36 Panzer Regiment
103 Panzergrenadier Regiment
108 Panzergrenadier Regiment
14 Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
4 Artillery Regiment
13 Panzer Pionier Battalion
4 Anti-Tank Battalion
4 Signal Battalion

Auxiliary unit number 4
Home Station Dresden (Wkr. IV)

Locations

History

The 14th Panzer Division was formed in 1940 by converting the 4th Infantry Division into an armored unit. It participated in key campaigns, including the invasion of Yugoslavia and Operation Barbarossa, advancing through Ukraine and engaging in significant battles. The division showcased its strategic importance in German military operations during World War II.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, the division faced relentless Soviet attacks and harsh conditions, ultimately being destroyed in February 1943. Reformed later in France, it returned to the Eastern Front, fighting until its surrender in the Courland Pocket in 1945. Its history reflects German armoured warfare challenges.