60 RARE AND UNIQUE COLORIZED AND B&W WORLD WAR 2 PHOTOS OF THE GERMANY ARMY THAT WILL CAPTIVATE YOU

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Originally formed in 1921 it was known as the Wachregiment Berlin and served as a ceremonial guard unit and by 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.

This video is the fourth part of my remarkable Germany At War videos. It consists of rare authentic photos and portraits of soldiers during the war that I have put together from the period of 1933-1946.

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The amazing thumbnail photo is number 17 in the video. New volunteers to Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland getting outfitted, January 1944.

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Background

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12] 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.[13] By 25 April 1945, the division was engaged in heavy fighting in the battles around Pillau.[citation needed] 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.

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Make sure to watch my playlist of my World War Photos Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUFJKspPCM-Vjy-QT07MAaDCZKU4J1vfq

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#GermanWorldwar2 #Rarehistoricalphotos #GermanArmy

Видео 60 RARE AND UNIQUE COLORIZED AND B&W WORLD WAR 2 PHOTOS OF THE GERMANY ARMY THAT WILL CAPTIVATE YOU канала History Photos Gallery