Großdeutschland Division
| Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland (Greater Germany) | |
|---|---|
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Unit insignia
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| Active | 19 May 1942 – 25 April 1945 |
| Country |
 Nazi Germany
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| Branch | Army |
| 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) | The Fire Brigade |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel Generalmajor Karl Lorenz |
| Insignia | |
| Cuff title |  |
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.
The Infantry Regiment Grossdeutschland was activated on 14 June 1939. The regiment saw action in France in 1940. It was attached to Panzer Group 2 in the opening phases of Barbarossa, and was nearly destroyed in the Battle of Moscow in late 1941. On the last day of February 1942, Rifle Battalion Großdeutschland (all that was left of the original regiment) was disbanded and two battalions formed a new Großdeutschland Regiment out of reinforcements arriving from Neuruppin. The regiment later moved to Orel after, and on 1 Apr 1942 the former Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland was expanded to the Infantry Division Großdeutschland.
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