Tanks of the 18.PD Velikiye Luki 1943
The 18th Panzer Division was formed in October 1940 as a mechanized unit of the German Army during World War II, composed of a variety of armored, infantry, and supporting units. It fought extensively on the Eastern Front but suffered heavy casualties and was ultimately reorganized into an artillery division in 1943 due to its losses.
Initial Formation and Structure (1940-1941)
The division’s core elements included:
- Panzer Regiment 18 (two battalions).
- Rifle Brigade 18, consisting of:
- Rifle Regiment 52 (two battalions).
- Rifle Regiment 101 (two battalions).
- Motorcycle Battalion 18.
- Aufklärungs Abteilung 18 (Reconnaissance).
- Artillerie Regiment 88 (three battalions).
- Other divisional support units numbered 88, such as Panzer Pioniere Battalion 88 (Engineers) and Nachrichten Abteilung 88 (Signals).
Campaigns in Russia (1941-1942)
The division participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) starting in June 1941, fighting in the central sector. It played a role in the Battle of Moscow during the winter of 1941-1942 and subsequently shifted to the southern front. After heavy fighting, it was once again redeployed to the central sector by mid-1942. The division’s involvement in the harsh conditions on the Eastern Front significantly reduced its strength.
Reorganization and Decline (1942-1943)
In June 1942, Panzer Regiment 18 was disbanded, with its units redistributed:
- II Battalion became Panzer Abteilung 18, which remained with the division.
- Other battalions were transferred to form parts of other divisions, such as:
- Panzer Abteilung 160 for the 60th Panzergrenadier Division.
- Panzer Abteilung 103 for the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division.
In October-November 1943, the division took part in the German counteroffensive west of Kiev, where it sustained severe losses.
Reorganization as the 18th Artillery Division (1943)
Due to its extensive casualties, the 18th Panzer Division was disbanded in September 1943 while operating with Army Group Center. The remnants of the division were used to form the 18th Artillery Division:
- The divisional staff, Artillery Regiment 88, Nachrichten Abteilung 88, Panzerjäger Abteilung 88, and Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 18 were transferred to the newly formed artillery division.
- The II Battalion of Panzergrenadier Regiment 52 became the core of the new Field Replacement Battalion within the artillery division.
Final Full Establishment as a Panzer Division (1943)
Before its reorganization, the 18th Panzer Division’s structure included:
- Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 18 (Reconnaissance).
- Panzer Regiment 18 (two battalions).
- Panzergrenadier Regiment 52 (two battalions).
- Panzergrenadier Regiment 101 (two battalions).
- Panzer Artillerie Regiment 88 (three battalions).
- Heeres Flak Abteilung 280 (Anti-Aircraft).
- Panzerjäger Abteilung 88 (Anti-Tank).
- Nachrichten Abteilung 88 (Signals).
- Panzer Pioniere Battalion 88 (Engineers).
End of the Division
The division was officially disbanded on September 29, 1943, with many of its units being integrated into other divisions or reformed under different designations. Its remaining elements saw action until the final stages of the war, though it ceased to exist as a panzer division after 1943.