2nd Panzergrenadier Division (Bundeswehr)

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2nd Panzergrenadier Division
2. Panzergrenadierdivision (Bundeswehr).svg
2nd Panzergrenadier Division insignia
Active1 July 1956 – 31 March 1994
Country Federal Republic of Germany
Role Mechanized infantry
Size Division
Part ofGerman III Corps
Nickname(s)Hessische Division, Die Zwote

The 2nd Panzergrenadier Division (2. Panzergrenadierdivision) was a West German mechanized infantry formation. It was part of the III Corps of the Bundeswehr , which also incorporated in 1985 the 5th Panzer Division and 12th Panzer Division. [1] III Corps was part of NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG), along with the Bundeswehr's II Corps and the American V and VII Corps. In the wake of military restructuring brought about by the end of the Cold War, the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division was disbanded in 1994.

Contents

The division was constituted as the 2nd Grenadier Division in Kassel on 1 July 1956 as part of the II Corps (then called "Army Staff II") of the Bundeswehr. At that time, it commanded the "A2" and "B2" battle-groups. In 1957, the division was subordinated to the German III Corps and one year later it received a third battle-group, "C2". The battle-groups later became the 6th Panzer, 5th Panzergrenadier, and 4th Panzergrenadier Brigades. As part of an army reorganization in 1959, the division was renamed the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division and division headquarters was quartered at Marburg.

In 1970, the division was renamed the 2nd Jäger (light infantry) Division. In 1974, the division headquarters was moved back to Kassel. The division once again became the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division in 1980. Following the end of the Cold War, the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division was disbanded in 1994.

Commanders

Nr.NameStart of commandEnd of command
15Wolfgang Estorf19911994
14Hans Grillmeier19871991
13Carl-Helmut Lichel19841987
12Manfred Fanslau19811984
11Werner Schäfer19791981
10Fritz von Westermann19761979
9Carl-Gero von Ilsemann19711976
8Rolf Juergens19701971
7Ernst Ferber19671969
6Werner Drews19641967
5Klaus Müller19611964
4Ottomar Hansen19601961
3Alfred Zerbel19581960
2 Friedrich Foertsch 19571958
1Otto Schaefer19561957

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References

  1. Isby and Kamps, Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company, 1985, p.196

Literature

51°18′24″N9°26′48″E / 51.306673°N 9.446568°E / 51.306673; 9.446568