History

DateTheaterAction
1 August 1941North AfricaFormed in North Africa from 5. leichte Division, Panzer-Regiment 5, and parts of 3. Panzer-Division.
July 1942North AfricaHeavy losses at Alam Halfa.
October 1942North AfricaHeavy losses at El Alamein.
May 1943North AfricaHeavy losses performing rear guard actions for German retreat to Tunisia. Surrenders to Allied forces in Tunis.
July 1943 to June 1944FranceRe-formed in Normandy. Occupational duties in France.
June 1944 to February 1945France and GermanyAction in Normandy following the Allied invasion. Retreats to Germany through Saar[/lang] and Northern [lang=fr]Alsace.
February 1945 to April 1945Eastern FrontTransferred to Eastern Front. Defensive actions at Lauban, Görlitz, and Cottbus.
April 1945Eastern FrontOverrun by Soviet forces.

Armor Strength

Armor strength of 21. Panzer-Division.
Date Pz Kpfw I Pz Kpfw II Pz Kpfw III Pz Kpfw IV Command tanks
Feb 1941 25 45 75 20 -
Mar 1941 25 45 71 20 -
18 Nov 1941 - 35 58 17 -
25 May 1942 - 29 122 19 4
15 Aug 1942 - 14 87 18 2

Sources

  1. ELLIS, Chris. Spearhead 1 - 21st Panzer Division : Rommel's Afrika Korps Spearhead. Surrey : Ian Allan Publishing, 2001. 96 p. ISBN 0-7110-2853-2.
  2. WINDROW, Martin & HOOK, Richard. Men-At-Arms 24 - The Panzer Divisions. Oxford : Osprey Publishing, 1998. 40 p. ISBN 0-85045-434-4.