Review of Panzer Grenadier Division
Grossdeutschland
and Panzer-Korps Grossdeutschland, Panzer Division
Brandenburg, Fuhrer Grenadier Division, Fuhrer
Begleit Division & Panzer Division Kurmark
Author: Horst Scheibert
Edited by: Bruce Culver
Squadron/Signal Publications no. 6009
ISBN: 0-89747-061-3
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 11.95 pounds on Amazon
Squadron/Signal Publications is an older on web hobby shop that sells model kits, hobby supplies and books. They are located in Texas.
ISBN: 0-89747-061-3
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 11.95 pounds on Amazon
Squadron/Signal Publications is an older on web hobby shop that sells model kits, hobby supplies and books. They are located in Texas.
HISTORY:
The Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland, (also commonly referred to simply as Großdeutschland or Grossdeutschland or Grossdeutschland Division) was an elite combat unit of the German Army (Heer) that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. Großdeutschland was one of the best-equipped units of the German Army.
The unit originally started out as a ceremonial guard unit in the 1920s and by the late 1930s had grown into a regiment of the Wehrmacht. 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.
Unit insignia:: A German steel helmet
Active: 1942–45
Country: Germany
Allegiance: Adolf Hitler
Branch: Heer
Type: Panzergrenadier
Size: Division
Part of: Expanded from Regiment to become Motorized Infantry Division 1942 and Panzer Grenadier Division 1943.
Garrison/HQ: Berlin, Cottbus, Akhtyrka
Nickname(s): die Feuerwehr (The Fire Brigade)
Motto(s): Our honor is the fulfillment of our duty!
Engagements:
World War II: Eastern Front
Notable commanders: Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel
Generalmajor Karl Lorenz
THE BOOK:
This book is soft cover of 176 pages in 8 1/4" x 10" page format.
The cover art shows "Grossdeutschland" Panzer Grenadiers dismounting from a Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack in front of a resistance point, during the drive on Rzhev, late Fall 1942.
The squad leader in the forground wears an autumn camouflage shelter-quarter over his issue field-gray feldbluse. On his right arm is the dark-green "Grossdeutschland" cuff-title.
The two grenadiers leaving the halftrack have the newly issued reversible mouse-gray and white winter parkas. While this garment was in short supply most of the Winter in 1942-43, this elite unit got them early and in sufficient quantity.
The back cover is the only other color illustrations provided. It shows 4 combat schemes:
1. Grossdeutschland panzer-grenadiers dismounting from a Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. D of the 3rd Panzer Div. in fornt of a Russian held tree-line, south of Moscow, Winter 1941.
2. BMW R-75 motorcycles of the 2nd Squadron, Kradschutzen Abteilung Grossdeutschland, advancing south of the Don, July 1942.
3. Outposts holding up Russian attack near Targul Frumos, Rumania, May 1944. The standing Feldwebel is wearing an army summer camouflage smock and helmet cover and is firing a MP44.
4. Final battle scene, moving west from the Oder-Neise line, troops following the last tanks of the Panzer Regiment, Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H's, April 1943.
PREFACE:
The intent of this book is to show the history and eventual fate of all the "GD" units. To make this a pictorial history as clear as possible, the text and photographs have been arranged by year. Brief chronologies at the beginning of each yearly chapter relate the combat actions of "Grossdeutschland" and its sister units to the historical events of the period. In this way, a better understanding may be gained of the detailed information in the text, photos and captions.
The book contains 268 wartime black and white photos, illustrations of the Grossdeutschland and Wachregiment shoulder patches.
There are 15 organization charts and 14 organization lists. Included are 54 maps, illustration of the Grossdeutschland steel helmet insignia, 6 variations of their cuff-band insignia, illustration of the shoulder-boards for a Oberst, a illustration of the wound badge and the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz). A copy of the Grossdeutschland enlistment form.
A line drawing of a Stug III Ausf. A. A illustration of a Panzerkampfabzeichen Panzer Assualt Badge. A fender pennant. A line drawing of a Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2. An illustration of the award badge for single-handed destruction of a enemy tank. Unteroffizier should boards illustration, GD commander's pennant.
On the last page are illustrations of the covers of 3 other Panzer Colors series books by Squadron.
Although this book could have stood a lot more color, it has very interesting photos throughout of Grossdeutschland's operations during WWII.
Recommended.
The Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland, (also commonly referred to simply as Großdeutschland or Grossdeutschland or Grossdeutschland Division) was an elite combat unit of the German Army (Heer) that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. Großdeutschland was one of the best-equipped units of the German Army.
The unit originally started out as a ceremonial guard unit in the 1920s and by the late 1930s had grown into a regiment of the Wehrmacht. 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.
Unit insignia:: A German steel helmet
Active: 1942–45
Country: Germany
Allegiance: Adolf Hitler
Branch: Heer
Type: Panzergrenadier
Size: Division
Part of: Expanded from Regiment to become Motorized Infantry Division 1942 and Panzer Grenadier Division 1943.
Garrison/HQ: Berlin, Cottbus, Akhtyrka
Nickname(s): die Feuerwehr (The Fire Brigade)
Motto(s): Our honor is the fulfillment of our duty!
Engagements:
World War II: Eastern Front
Notable commanders: Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel
Generalmajor Karl Lorenz
THE BOOK:
This book is soft cover of 176 pages in 8 1/4" x 10" page format.
The cover art shows "Grossdeutschland" Panzer Grenadiers dismounting from a Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack in front of a resistance point, during the drive on Rzhev, late Fall 1942.
The squad leader in the forground wears an autumn camouflage shelter-quarter over his issue field-gray feldbluse. On his right arm is the dark-green "Grossdeutschland" cuff-title.
The two grenadiers leaving the halftrack have the newly issued reversible mouse-gray and white winter parkas. While this garment was in short supply most of the Winter in 1942-43, this elite unit got them early and in sufficient quantity.
The back cover is the only other color illustrations provided. It shows 4 combat schemes:
1. Grossdeutschland panzer-grenadiers dismounting from a Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. D of the 3rd Panzer Div. in fornt of a Russian held tree-line, south of Moscow, Winter 1941.
2. BMW R-75 motorcycles of the 2nd Squadron, Kradschutzen Abteilung Grossdeutschland, advancing south of the Don, July 1942.
3. Outposts holding up Russian attack near Targul Frumos, Rumania, May 1944. The standing Feldwebel is wearing an army summer camouflage smock and helmet cover and is firing a MP44.
4. Final battle scene, moving west from the Oder-Neise line, troops following the last tanks of the Panzer Regiment, Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H's, April 1943.
PREFACE:
The intent of this book is to show the history and eventual fate of all the "GD" units. To make this a pictorial history as clear as possible, the text and photographs have been arranged by year. Brief chronologies at the beginning of each yearly chapter relate the combat actions of "Grossdeutschland" and its sister units to the historical events of the period. In this way, a better understanding may be gained of the detailed information in the text, photos and captions.
The book contains 268 wartime black and white photos, illustrations of the Grossdeutschland and Wachregiment shoulder patches.
There are 15 organization charts and 14 organization lists. Included are 54 maps, illustration of the Grossdeutschland steel helmet insignia, 6 variations of their cuff-band insignia, illustration of the shoulder-boards for a Oberst, a illustration of the wound badge and the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz). A copy of the Grossdeutschland enlistment form.
A line drawing of a Stug III Ausf. A. A illustration of a Panzerkampfabzeichen Panzer Assualt Badge. A fender pennant. A line drawing of a Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2. An illustration of the award badge for single-handed destruction of a enemy tank. Unteroffizier should boards illustration, GD commander's pennant.
On the last page are illustrations of the covers of 3 other Panzer Colors series books by Squadron.
Although this book could have stood a lot more color, it has very interesting photos throughout of Grossdeutschland's operations during WWII.
Recommended.