page_title: Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland
section_title: 1943–1945
hierarchical_section_title: Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland / 1943–1945
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Russland, Grenadiere auf Sturmgeschütz ADN-ZB/Archiv II.Weltkrieg 1939- 45 An der Front in der Sowjetunion, Schlacht im Kursker Bogen im Juli-August 1943 Während eines Angriffs faschistischer deutscher Truppen Anfang Juli 1943 dringen Sturmgeschütze mit aufgesessenen Grenadieren der Division "Grossdeutschland" gegen sowjetische Stellungen vor. (Kempe) 3546-43 [Kämpfe bei Belgorod - Orel]
context_page_description: The Panzergrenadier Division "Großdeutschland" was an elite combat unit of the German Army that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II.
  Originally formed in 1921 it was known as the Wachregiment Berlin and served as a ceremonial guard unit and by the 1939 had grown into a regiment of the combined Wehrmacht German armed forces. The regiment would later be expanded and renamed Infantry Division Großdeutschland in 1942, and after significant reorganization was renamed Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland in May 1943. In November 1944, while the division retained its status as a panzergrenadier division, some of its subordinate units were expanded to divisional status, and the whole group of divisions were reorganized as Panzerkorps Großdeutschland.
context_section_description: The newly re-equipped division was subordinated to the XLVIII Panzer Corps, part of Fourth Panzer Army, and took part in the Battle of Kursk. During the buildup period, a brigade of two battalions equipped with the new Panther tanks, which were plagued by technical problems, suffering from engine fires and mechanical breakdowns before reaching the battlefield. By 7 July, the division had only 80 of its 300 tanks still fit for combat. After the Kursk offensive was cancelled, the division was transferred back to Army Group Center, and resumed its role as a mobile reserve. The Tiger I tank company was expanded to a battalion, becoming the III. Battalion of the Panzer Regiment. Großdeutschland saw heavy fighting around Karachev before being transferred back to XLVIII Panzer Corps in late August. For the rest of 1943, Großdeutschland retreated across Ukraine, and in 1944 into Romania, where it took part in the First Battle of Târgu Frumos.
  In early August, the division was transferred to East Prussia from Army Group South Ukraine. Over the next months, Großdeutschland was involved in heavy fighting in both East Prussia, including a counter-attack on 
  Wilkowischken and the Baltic States, suffering high casualties in both men and materiel. The division was nearly destroyed during the battles in the Memel bridgehead.
  In November 1944, while the division and several attached units were redesignated as  Panzerkorps Großdeutschland. By March 1945, the Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland had been reduced to around 4,000 men after the Battle of Memel. By 25 April 1945, the division was engaged in heavy fighting in the battles around Pillau. 800 men of the division were evacuated on ferries via the Baltic Sea and surrendered to British forces in Schleswig-Holstein on may 9. The rest were either killed or captured during the fighting in Pillau or surrendered to soviet forces on may 9 on the Vistula spit.
caption: Großdeutschland Division soldiers, Kursk, July 1943
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