Panzerdivision Müncheberg
Panzerdivision
Müncheberg
Formation
Panzerdivision Müncheberg was formed
on 5 March 1945 under the commander
of Generalmajor der Reserve Werner
Mummert, up to that point commander of
Panzer-Brigade 103. His new division’s
command staff was formed from that of
his old Brigade. Additional units were to
be raised to fill out the Divisional Staff
with a security company, mapping and
military police detachments. A FlaK
Platoon with six 2cm FlaK (Self-propelled)
was added on 11 March.
The initial orders on 5 and 6 March stated
that Panzer-Abteilung ‘Müncheberg’ was
to be created from Panzer-Abteilung
‘Kummersdorf’ and I. Abteilung/Panzer-
Regiment 29 (from 12. Panzerdivision).
The new Abteilung was to consist of a
Command and Staff Company, 1.
Panzerkompanie (with Tigers), 2.
Panzerkompanie (Panther), 3.(mixed)
Panzerkompanie (Panzer IV) and a
motorised supply company.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’
1 and Panzergrenadier-Regiment
‘Müncheberg’ 2 were formed on the same
day. Both regiments were to be made up
of a Command Staff and two battalions.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’
1 and was to draw in Panzer-Brigade 103
and replacement troops from
Wachtregiment Grossdeutschland and
SS. Panzergrenadier-Ersatz-und-
Ausbildungs-Bataillon 1 (of 1. SS-
Panzerdivision ‘Leibstandarte Adolf
Hitler’).
Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’ 2 was to draw its troops from a mix of sources, with
25% from Fahnenjunker-Schule der Panzertruppen (armoured troops officer cadet school),
20% from Vollssturm, and the rest from various replacement troops. Trucks were in short
supply and Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’ 2 was only partially equipped with
motorvehicles.
Panzerartillerie-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’ was also created on 5 March. It was composed of a
Command Staff, I. (Artillerie) Abteilung and II. (Flak) Abteilung. These troops were to come
from Volks-Artillerie-Korps 411, Volks-Artillerie-Korps 412 and Heeres-FlaK-Abteilung 301. It's
I. Abteilung was formed with three (1., 2., 3.) batteries equipped with six 10.5cm le FH18 each.
The II. Abteilung was formed by renaming Heeres-FlaK-Abteilung 301 and consisted of two
(1., 2.) heavy FlaK batteries equipped with six 8.8cm FlaK and two leFlaK each, plus a 3.
(medium) FlaK battery with nine 3.7cm FlaK43.
The division’s Panzerjäger-Kompanie was formed from 1. Kompanie/Schwere Panzerjäger-
Abteilung 682 (mot.). It was equipped with twelve 8.8cm PaK43 anti-tank guns.
On 8 March I. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 29 arrived with two Panther companies and a
maintenance company. This Abteilung was only tactically subordinated to the division and was
never officially an organic part of Panzerdivision Müncheberg, though by default it became the
second Abteilung of the division’s panzer regiment.
However, the same day
saw the withdrawal of
Panzer-Abteilung
‘Kummersdorf’ for
reorganisation. Panzer-
Abteilung ‘Kummersdorf’
was renamed on 11
March to Panzer-
Abteilung ‘Müncheberg’.
8 March also saw orders
issued for the transfer of
an Aufklärungskompanie
(VW) (motorised) from
Panzeraufklärungs-
Abteilung ‘Sternberg’
(from 10. Panzerdivision)
to Panzerdivision
Müncheberg to form
Panzeraufklärungs-
Kompanie ‘Müncheberg’.
When the company
arrives on 10 March at
the division’s assembly
area Generalmajor
Mummert was not
satisfied with the soft-
skin Volkswagen jeeps
and requests some
armoured
reconnaissance
vehicles. The division
was sent four Sd Kfz
234/1 and four Sd Kfz
234/4 8-wheeled
armoured cars soon
after. With the arrival of
the armoured cars the
company was renamed
Panzerspähkompanie
‘Müncheberg’ on 11
March.
Pionierkompanie ‘Müncheberg’ was formed with personnel from Truppenübungsplatz Döberitz
(troop training area Döberitz).
Panzerdivision Müncheberg reports a total strength of 6836 men on 12 March 1945, which is
close to the divisions authorized strength. On this same day the Tiger I heavy tanks from the
Schwere Panzerkompanie of Panzer-Abteilung ‘Müncheberg’ arrive back in the division area
and are put under command of I. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 29. Later the other panzers of
Panzer-Abteilung ‘Müncheberg’ were also transferred to the command I. Abteilung/Panzer-
Regiment 29 to create an additional mixed company.
On 16 March an order was issued to rearm of one Panzerkompanie of I. Abteilung/Panzer-
Regiment 29 and one Panzergrenadierkompanie (with half-tracks) with night-vision devices.
The panzergrenadierkompanie was to be then incorporated as an organic part of I.
Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 29. The equipping and reorganisation the Panzerkompanie was
temporarily withdrawn to the Wünsdorf training ground.
On 15 March the division reports the following tanks and assault guns on strength: 4 Panzer
IV, 4 Panzer IV/70, 11 Panther, 6 Tiger I E, 4 Königstiger, 1 Jagdtiger, and 4 StuG.
First Actions
During the night of 19 to 20 March some tanks of Panzerdivision Müncheberg begin deploying
around Golzow, on the vital road from Gorgast that connects with Kustrin, along with a
battalion from the 1. SS-Panzerdivision ‘Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler’, which had been sent to
reinforce the division. The garrison of this pocket between Neu Bleyen and Kuhbucken-
Vorstadt also included II. Bataillon/Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’ 1 and I. Bataillon
and II. Bataillon/Panzergrenadier-Regiment ‘Müncheberg’ 2.
On 22 March the division saw its first action as under command of the 9. Armee (Ninth Army)
in Heeresgruppe (Army Group) Weichsel, fighting against the Soviet forces attacking across
the Oder River near Küstrin. The town of Küstrin lies roughly 70 km to the east of Berlin.
Soviet forces had reached the outskirts of Küstrin on 31 January and had immediately began
efforts to secure a bridgehead across the Oder. Bridgeheads were established to the north
and south of Küstrin, but the Soviets could not consolidate these until Küstrin was captured.
The Soviets, unwilling to attack the well defended fortress head on, began attempts to encircle
Küstrin. Despite these attacks, a narrow strip of land between the Ninth Army and the Küstrin
defences, dubbed the Küstrin Corridor, was kept open by the Germans.
As Panzerdivision
Müncheberg arrived at
the corridor, a major
Soviet attack was
underway to cut it.
The Soviet plan
consisted of an inner
and outer
encirclement. The
inner encirclement
succeeded quickly,
and the corridor was
cut. Over the next
three days,
Müncheberg, together
with 25.
Panzergrenadierdivisi
on, destroyed over
200 Soviet tanks.
Despite this, the outer
Soviet encirclement
was completed by 25
March, trapping
several German units
inside.
Meanwhile, the
German operation to
relieve Küstrin had
been underway, and
continued in earnest
to break the
encirclement from 25
March. The Soviets
resisted fiercely and
the attack had ground
to a halt by 27 March.
A second German attack was launched immediately on 27 March. Panzerdivision Müncheberg
had following strength at the time of the attack:
Combat Ready: 4 StuG III, 5 Panther, 2 Tiger
Under short-term repair: 1 Panzer IV, 6 Panther, 7 Tiger
Under long-term repair: 4 Panzer IV, 1 Panzer IV/70
Replacements Shipped but not yet arrived: 10 Panther, 1 Tiger I
Panzerdivision Müncheberg was subordinated to XXXIX (39th) Panzerkorps for the attack.
The attack also included 20. Panzergrenadierdivision, 25. Panzergrenadierdivision, ‘Führer
Grenadier’ Panzergrenadierdivision, Kampfgruppe 1001 Nachts (Nights), and Schwere SS-
Panzer-Abteilung 502. The Soviet artillery shelling was so heavy that reports from 20.
Panzergrenadierdivision describe large groups of men breaking down and ‘fleeing in panic
towards the rear.’ Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Soviets, ‘Müncheburg’ was unable
to break the encirclement.
A Soviet counterattack
hit 20.
Panzergrenadierdivisi
on, disrupting the
attack and bringing it
to a halt. Soviet
artillery continued to
cause heavy
casualties as the
German units
withdrew. Despite
their reduced armour
strength the
Müncheberg units got
the closest to Küstrin
of all the German
attackers before the
advance stopped.
After the failure of the
Küstrin relief
operations
Panzerdivision
Müncheberg was
withdrawn for rest and
replacement in the
town of their name.
Refitting
Given the shortage of
armoured troops in the
Berlin area every
effort was made to
reinforce
Panzerdivision
Müncheberg in
preparation of the
expected Soviet thrust
towards Berlin.
On 30 March the ten new Panther tanks arrive. On 31 March orders are issued for the tactical
subordination of the remaining elements of Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 682 (mot.) to the
division. They were shipped from their Bergen training ground. They join the company that had
already been made part of the division, bring the division’s anti-tank assets up to three 8.8cm
PaK43 anti-tank gun companies.
On 3 April Panzer-Regiment zbV ‘Coburg’ Staff was attached to the division after arriving from
Kramptniz.
On 5 April ten Panthers equipped with FG1250 ‘Sperber’ infer-red equipment were issued to 1.
Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 29. This specially equipped company was command by
Oberleutant Rasim. In support of them was an Infer-red equipped Panzergrenadierkompanie
with Infer-red equipped Sd Kfz 251/1 and Sd Kfz 251/20 UHU Infer-Red searchlights under the
command of Hauptman Steuer.
The order was issued on 12 April to form an ad-hoc Panzer-Regiment from the armoured
element of the division. Panzer-Regiment zbV ‘Coburg’ Staff formed the regiments command,
with the following division of armoured troops:
I. Panzer-Abteilung: (Panzer-Abteilung ‘Müncheberg’), Command,
Panzerkompanie (Tiger), Panzerkompanie (Panther), Panzerkompanie (Panzer
IV).
II. Panzer-Abteilung: (I. Abteilung/Panzer-regiment 29), Command,
Panzerkompanie (IR Panther), Panzerkompanie (Panther), Gepanzerte
Panzergrenadierkompanie (IR), Gepanzerte Panzergrenadierkompanie.
The reported armoured strength of the division between 13 and 16 April was 1 Panzer III, 3
Panzer IV, 1 Panzer IV/70, 31 Panther, 13 Tiger (mix is unknown), 1 Jagdpanzer IV, 1 Hetzer,
3 Flakpanzer.
This same day an order was issued for the absorption of the personnel of 3.
Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 26 by the division. This company was a part of 26. Panzerdivision
had been sent to Germany from Italy in March 1945 to be trained with night-vision devices.
This never eventuated so the company was sent to Panzerdivision Müncheberg.
Soviet
Berlin
Offensiv
e
The Soviet
launched their
Berlin
Offensive on
16 April
aiming to take
the German
capital and
bring the war
to an end.
From this
moment
Panzerdivisio
n
Müncheberg
involved in
near-
continuous
action east of
Berlin. The
initially hold
off attacks
towards
Seelow,
between 14
and 17 April
the division
loses 14
Panther and 5
Tiger tanks in
savage
fighting.
The division
fought a
stubborn
rearguard
action at the
town of
Müncheberg,
inflicting
heavy losses
on the
advancing
Soviets.
However, the
Soviet
advance
continued
unabated and
the division
was forces to
conduct a
fighting
withdrawal
back into
Berlin itself.
Berlin
They slowly
retreat
towards
Berlin,
eventually
taking up
positons in
the
northeastern
sector of
Berlin, north
of the Spree
River, by 24
April.
They deploy with 11. SS-Panzergrenadierdivision Nordland on their right and 9.
Fallschirmjägerdivision on their left. By this time the division has about a dozen tanks and 30
half-tracks left.
On 26 April Nordland and Müncheberg were ordered to launch a counterattack to push back
the Soviet penetrations around Tempelhof Airfield and Neukolln. During the morning
Müncheberg attacked southward from the northwest end of the Tempelhof Airfield with its last
ten tanks. The attack was halted by intense Soviet fire.
While the majority of
Panzerdivision
Müncheberg was
encircled in Berlin, a
proportion of II.
Panzer-Abteilung of
Panzer-Regiment
‘Müncheberg’ (the
former I.
Abteilung/Panzer-
Regiment 29), had
managed to escape
and on 27 April was
reported in the area of
Neurippin. These
remaining elements
were split between 7.
Panzerdivision, 25.
Panzergrenadierdivisi
on, and 24.
Panzerdivision.
Hitler committed
suicide on 30 April.
The same day
Panzer-Abteilung
‘Müncheberg’, 18.
Panzergrenadierdivisi
on, and a few Tiger II
heavy tanks from
Schwere SS-Panzer-
Abteilung 503 were
engaged in heavy
fighting near the
Westkreuz and
Halensee train
stations and on
Kurfurstendamm
Street.
By 1 May Müncheburg had been pushed back to the Tiergaden, near the Zoo FlaK Tower.
When the German command in Berlin signalled for surrender on 2 May, Panzer-Abteilung
‘Müncheberg’ had just one last operating tank, a Tiger I. It was abandoned on the Unter den
Linden Straße, just a hundred yards from the Brandenburg Gate.
Break Out Attempt
Mummert, the division’s commander, was determined prevent as many of his troop as possible
falling into Soviet hands. He lead a breakout with the survivors of his division westward
through the suburb of Spandau. Mummert ignored Weidling's (the Berlin military commander)
calls for a cessation of hostilities and the breakout attempt got underway on 2 May. However,
as some point during the breakout Mummert went missing during heavy fighting. He surfaced
years later in a Soviet Gulag. Müncheberg Division was joined by the remnants of 18.
Panzergrenadierdivision.
By 3 May the two divisions had reached Fey Bridge on the Havel River, leading into Spandau
in northwest Berlin, after having fought several pitch battles. The bridge was under heavy
Soviet artillery fire, but a few brave souls crossed only to find that they were surrounded by the
Soviets. , On 5 May, Panzerdivision Müncheberg, last organized formation in Berlin,
disintegrated. Several small groups of men did manage to reach the Americans on the Elbe,
but the majority of the survivors of Panzerdivision Müncheberg and 18.
Panzergrenadierdivision fell into Soviet captivity.
