War and Game

At the time of the Polish campaign, not being quite up to full strength, the division was placed in the reserve. Every single Panzer Division actually formed the spearhead of its own corps and army. 4. Armee, which later included 10. Panzer Division, attacked south of Danzig and advanced to the north of Warsaw. It played a decisive role in May-June 1940. Attached to XIX.A.K. (mot.) then to XIV. A.K. (mot.) with Gruppe von Kleist, it passed through Luxembourg and Belgium, crossing the Meuse at Wadelincourt and reaching the Channel coast. It remained in France until February 1941, when it was sent home to Germany.

Composition: 1939 (after the Polish campaign): 10. Schützen-Brigade (Schützen-Rgt. 69, Schützen-Rgt. 86), 4. Panzer-Brigade (Pz.Rgt. 7, Pz.Rgt. 8), Art.Rgt. (mot.) 90, Pz.Jag.Abt. 90, Pz.Pi.Btl. 49, Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 90, Pz.Nachr.Abt. 90, Div.Nachsch.Fhr. 90.

Commanders: Gen.Maj. Georg Gawantka (1.May.-14.July.1939), Gen.Lt. Ferdinand Schaal (July.1939-2.August.1941).

History: 10. Pz.Div. was raised in Prague on 1 April 1939. It was composed of men drawn from, among others, 20. and29. Inf.Div. (mot.). It then comprised the following units: Inf.Rgt. (mot.) 86, Pz.Rgt. 8, II./Art.Rgt. (mot.) 29, l/Aufkl. Rgt. 8, Pi.Btl. 49, Pz.Nachr.Abt. 90, Pz.Div.Nachsch.Fhr. 90.

The Stab of 10. Panzer Division had begun forming on 1 April 1939 in Prague, and was still forming in September when it was put at the head of a provisional formation that included, amongst others, Panzer Regiment 8 and Infanterie Regiment 86 (mot). At the end of the Polish campaign, it was sent back to Prague in late September, and on 11 October the division absorbed Panzer Regiment 7 (already part of Panzerverband Kempf, another provisional unit) and the Stab of Panzer Brigade 4 (both Panzer Regiments were organized according to the revised war establishments of 21 February 1940). On 1 November 1939 - three days after the creation of Schützen Brigade 10 II./ Infanterie Regiment 69 (mot) was attached to the division from the 20. Infanterie Division and, merged with III./IR 86 (which became I./IR 69), formed the new Infanterie Regiment 69. Both IR 69 and 86 were renamed as the Schützen Regiment on 1 April 1940, when Aufklarungs Abteilung 90 was formed as well from I./AufkHirungs Regiment 8, while two weeks later Pionier Bataillon 49 (formerly corps troops) eventually became part of the division. Other units had already been formed in late 1939: Artillerie Regiment 90 (formed on 28 October 1939 using II./AR 29, with schwere Artillerie Abteilung 105 attached from 9 January 1940, subsequently renamed III./AR 90 on 1 February 1941), Panzerjager Lehr Abteilung (formed as Panzer Abwehr Abteilung 90 on 18 November 1939, expanded to three companies and renamed Panzerjager Lehr Abteilung on 1 April 1940, only to revert to the old designation on 14 February 1941), Nachrichten Abteilung 90 (formed on 27 October 1939 from the Nachrichten Kompanie 90) and the divisional services (formed between the summer and autumn of 1939). In May 1940 the division had the Luftwaffe Flak Abteilung 71 and the 1.(H)/Staffel 71 attached.