1st Panzer Division (Bundeswehr)
| Intervention Force Division / 1st Panzer Division 1. Panzerdivision |
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|---|---|
1st Armoured Division insignia
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| Active | 1956–present |
| Country |  Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Conventional warfare, peacekeeping |
| Size | 18,000 soldiers (+3000 dutch soldiers from 2019) |
| Part of | German Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Oldenburg (Oldenburg) |
| Nickname(s) | The first one Die Erste |
| Motto(s) | Roughly: Go! Let's tackle it! Man drup - man to! (Low German) |
| Anniversaries | July 1st 1956 |
| Engagements | Kosovo War War in Afghanistan |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Generalmajor Markus Laubenthal |
| Notable commanders |
General Henning von Ondarza, COMAFCENT 1991–1994 General Helge Hansen, COMAFCENT 1994–1996 General Wolf-Dieter Langheld, COMJFC-B 2010–2012 |
The 1st Panzer Division (German: 1. Panzerdivision) is an armoured division of the German Army. It also bears the designation Intervention Force Division (Division Eingreifkräfte). Its staff is based at Hanover. In the course of the current reorganisation of the Bundeswehr it will become the backbone of Germany's newly formed intervention forces which will have a manpower of 35,000 soldiers in total. This division is equipped and trained for high intensity combat operations against militarily organized enemies as well as peacekeeping missions. The majority of all German troops assigned to EU-Battlegroups and Nato Response Forces will come from this division. It also represents Germany's permanent contribution to the binational I. German/Dutch Corps.
The 43rd Mechanized Brigade of the Royal Netherlands Army is being integrated into the 1st Panzer Division, and will be operational from 2019.
History[edit]
This division was formed on July 1, 1956, the day of the official inauguration of the Bundeswehr. It was the first fully operational unit of the new German Army. At first referred to as 1st Grenadier Division, it was reorganized in the 1980s and made fully armoured in 1981. During this period it was part of I Corps of the Bundeswehr Heer, in turn part of NATO's Northern Army Group, Allied Forces Central Europe.
1st Panzer Division has deployed to the Balkans, Afghanistan and to several peacekeeping operations. Troops of this division were also deployed to the support of civilian agencies during large natural disasters such as the Hamburg Floods of 1962, disastrous wild fires in Northern Germany in the 1970s and the 2002 Floods in Eastern Germany.
The division cultivates a partnership with the United States Army 28th Infantry Division.
Organisation[edit]
1st Panzerdivision in Oldenburg
HQ and Signal Company 1st Panzerdivision in Oldenburg
325th Artillery Demonstration Battalion (Artillerielehrbataillon 325) in Munster with 16x PzH 2000 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 8x M270 MLRS multiple rocket launch systems, KZO drones and 2x Euro-Art COBRA counter-battery radars
9th Panzer Demonstration Brigade (Panzerlehrbrigade 9) in Munster
HQ and Signal Company 9th Panzer Demonstration Brigade in Munster
3rd Reconnaissance Demonstration Battalion (Aufklärungslehrbataillon 3) in Lüneburg with Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and KZO drones
33rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Panzergrenadierbataillon 33) in Neustadt am Rübenberge with 44x Puma infantry fighting vehicles
91st Rifles Battalion (Jägerbataillon 91) in Rotenburg an der Wümme with GTK Boxer armored personnel carriers
92nd Mechanized Infantry Demonstration Battalion (Panzergrenadierlehrbataillon 92) in Munster with 44x Puma infantry fighting vehicles
93rd Tank Demonstration Battalion (Panzerlehrbataillon 93) in Munster with 44x Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks
130th Armored Engineer Battalion (Panzerpionierbataillon 130) in Minden
141st Supply Battalion (Versorgungsbataillon 141) in Neustadt am Rübenberge
21st Panzer Brigade (Panzerbrigade 21) in Augustdorf
HQ and Signal Company 21st Panzer Brigade in Augustdorf
7th Reconnaissance Battalion (Aufklärungsbataillon 7) in Ahlen with Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and KZO drones
1st Rifles Battalion (Jägerbataillon 1), Schwarzenborn with GTK Boxer armored personnel carriers
203rd Panzer Battalion (Panzerbataillon 203) in Augustdorf with 30x Leopard 2A6 and 14 x Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks
212th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Panzergrenadierbataillon 212) in Augustdorf with 44x Puma infantry fighting vehicles
7th Supply Battalion (Versorgungsbataillon 7) in Unna
41st Panzergrenadier Brigade in Neubrandenburg
HQ and Signal Company 41st Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Neubrandenburg
6th Reconnaissance Battalion (Aufklärungsbataillon 6) in Eutin with Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and KZO drones
401st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Panzergrenadierbataillon 401) in Hagenow with 44x Puma infantry fighting vehicles
411th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Panzergrenadierbataillon 411) in Viereck with 44x Puma infantry fighting vehicles
413th Rifles Battalion (Jägerbataillon 413) in Torgelow with GTK Boxer armored personnel carriers
803rd Armored Engineer Battalion (Panzerpionierbataillon 803) in Havelberg
142nd Supply Battalion (Versorgungsbataillon 142) in Hagenow
- 43rd Mechanized Brigade in Havelte, (Royal Netherlands Army)
External links[edit]
- Official website of Intervention Force Division / 1st Armoured Division
- Concept of the Anti-Air Regiment 6
References[edit]
Coordinates: 52°22′11.31″N 9°46′11.77″E / 52.3698083°N 9.7699361°E
