8. Regiment, 15. Panzer-Division of the Deutsches Afrika Korps
The 15th Panzer Division was formed in August 1940 from the 33rd Infantry Division and was one of the key German armored divisions involved in the North African Campaign. It was part of the Afrikakorps, fighting in the desert battles against Allied forces until its surrender in Tunisia in May 1943. After its destruction, the division was re-formed as the 15th Panzergrenadier Division in July 1943.
Formation and Structure (1940-1941)
The 15th Panzer Division was composed of units from the 33rd Infantry Division and the 10th Panzer Division:
- Panzer Regiment 8 (two battalions) – transferred from the 10th Panzer Division
- Rifle Regiments 104 and 115 (two battalions each)
- Motorcycle Battalion 15
- Aufklärungs Abteilung 115 (Reconnaissance)
- Artillery Regiment 33 (three battalions)
- Other divisional units numbered 33, except for Nachrichten Abteilung 40 and Pioniere Battalion 13.
North African Campaign (1941-1943)
In April 1941, the division was sent to Libya as part of the Afrikakorps, commanded by General Erwin Rommel. It fought in many of the key battles along the North African coast, including the defense and counterattacks at El Agheila, the Siege of Tobruk, and the various battles around El Alamein.
- In 1941, Schützen Regiment 104 was transferred to the 21st Panzer Division, and in return, the MG Battalion 2 was attached to the 15th Panzer Division. This MG Battalion later became the third battalion of Panzergrenadier Regiment 115 in April 1942.
The division’s primary role in the North African theater involved rapid, mechanized warfare, conducting offensive and defensive operations across the deserts of Libya and Egypt. However, following the defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942 and the subsequent Operation Torch landings by the Allies in North Africa, the Axis forces, including the 15th Panzer Division, were pushed westward into Tunisia.
Final Engagement and Surrender (1943)
By early 1943, the division was severely weakened. Efforts were made to reinforce the division, including the assignment of a third battalion to Panzer Regiment 8 from Panzer Abteilung 504, and the division’s infantry elements were consolidated into two Panzergrenadier Regiments.
Despite these reinforcements, the 15th Panzer Division, alongside the rest of the Afrikakorps, was encircled and forced to surrender to the Allied forces in Tunisia on May 12, 1943.
Final Full Establishment (1943)
Before its surrender in Tunisia, the 15th Panzer Division’s full establishment included:
- Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 151 (Reconnaissance)
- Panzer Regiment 8 (two battalions)
- Panzergrenadier Regiment 104 (two battalions)
- Panzergrenadier Regiment 115 (two battalions)
- Artillerie Regiment 33 (three battalions)
- Heeres Flak Abteilung 315 (Anti-Aircraft)
- Panzerjäger Abteilung 33 (Anti-Tank)
- Nachrichten Abteilung 33 (Signals)
- Panzer Pioniere Battalion 33 (Engineers)
- Divisional HQ, HQ Abteilung, and divisional services.
Re-formation as the 15th Panzergrenadier Division
After its destruction in North Africa, the division was re-formed in Sicily in July 1943 as the 15th Panzergrenadier Division, continuing to fight on the European front, particularly in the defense of Italy.
The 15th Panzer Division was a key element of Germany’s armored forces in the North African theater, taking part in Rommel’s offensives and defensive operations, ultimately being part of the Axis defeat in Tunisia in 1943.