21 Panzer Division:
German Records
German Kriegsstaerkenachweisungen
(K.St.N.), wartime organization tables, are available
for 21 Panzer Division. The following is one such chart with explanation and
references.
This
chart is from 1 May, 1944, 7AOK Kriegtagbuch 1.5.44, National Archives,
Captured German Documents section 312, roll 1566.
Note that each component
unit is contained within a block, with symbols representing
troop types and armament.

This
depicts 22 Panzer Regiment in June, composed of 8 Companies of tanks and
Headquarters units for Regiment and each Tank Battalion. The I. Battalion
is fully re-equipped with Mk IV tanks. The II. Battalion still retains
some ex-French Somua tanks. This battalion is due to be refitted with
Mk V Panther tanks. |

However, 21 Pz Div definitely discarded its French tanks shortly before D-Day. The crews were
already at Mailly-le-Camp (near Paris), to await delivery of Pzkpfw IVs when D-Day occurred.
This
shows the Reconnaissance Battalion of 21 Panzer. Companies are shown
from right to left. 1. Company has 16 Armored Cars armed with
20mm cannon.
2. Company has 30 Armored Cars, 6 with 75mm cannon, 16 with 20mm
cannon, and
1 with a 75mm howitzer. 3. Company has 11 armored half-tracks
with 2 81mm mortars, 3 37mm AT guns, and 6 with 20mm cannon. 4. Company
has 37 Half-tracks similarly armed. 5. Company has 27 Half-tracks,
1 with 37mm AT gun, 3 with 75mm AT guns, 6 with 37mm AA guns, 2 with
75mm howitzers, and 2 with flame-throwers.
|

This
shows the two Panzer Grenadier Regiments (192 and 125). Each Regimental
HQ Company has 3 50mm AT guns,a section of Pioneers, and a motorcycle
platoon. Each Regiment is supported by a company of 6 self-propelled howitzers
and a company of a section of 4 self-propelled 81mm multiple mortar launchers
and a section of 4 self-propelled rail 150mm rocket launchers. The first
(Armored) battalion of each Regiment is carried in half-tracks of French
design. There are 3 infantry companies and 1 heavy weapons support company
per battalion. Each infantry company has a section of 3 75mm howitzers.
The support company has 3 20mm AA guns on French P107 half-tracks and
3 75mm AT guns on French Somua half-tracks. The second (Motorized) battalion
of each Regiment is carried in assorted trucks.
The commander notes there were 50 different types! Each battalion is organized
as
the Armored battalions. |

This
shows the Division Flak Battalion. The first two batteries were equipped
with
88mm anti-aircraft guns. The next three batteries were equipped with 20mm
anti-aircraft guns. A section of the 5th Battery contained 2 quadruple-barrelled
20mm anti-aircraft guns. |

This
shows Anti-tank Battalion 200. Just prior to D-Day, the battalion was
re-organized from two batteries of 12 88mm towed Anti-tank guns to three
batteries of 6 guns each. |

This
shows Assault-gun Battalion 200. The HQ company is equipped with 12 47mm
AT guns on Renault 35 chassis. There is also a section of towed 75mm Anti-tank
guns. The four gun companies consist of self-propelled Anti-tank guns
(75mm) or artillery (105mm), built on ex-French Hotchkiss chassis. |

This
is the Engineer Battalion for the Division. The first two companies were
transported in half-tracks. The third was carried in trucks. The fourth
is the bridging section, which also carried pneumatic boats for crossing
river obstacles.
|

This
map shows the deployment of the Division just prior to the invasion. |

Sources:
United States National
Archives
39-45 Magazine,
Number 1, Editions Heimdal, December 1983, pages 13-19.
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