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'''Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg''''' was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[panzer]] [[division (military)|division]] which saw action on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] around [[Berlin]] during [[World War II]].
==
Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg'' began forming on [[8 March]] [[1945]] in [[Müncheberg]], [[Germany]]. The majority of the division's staff and panzer troops were drawn from the [[German 103rd Panzer Brigade|103.Panzer-Brigade]], which had been dissolved three days before. Major General of the Reserve (''Generalmajor der Reserve'') [[Werner Mummert]], the commander of 103.Panzer-Brigade and a highly decorated veteran, was placed in command of Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg''.
Despite the fact that it was severely understrength and an ad-hoc formation, the ''Müncheberg'' division eventually received small amounts of the latest in supplies and equipment, including several ''Sperber'' [[Infrared]] (IR) system equipped [[Panther Tank|Panther ausf G]]s, as well as a company of [[panzergrenadier]]s equipped with the ''Sperber'' IR system.
In addition, the division received several of the superheavy [[Jagdtiger]]s, as well as several [[King Tiger|Tiger II ausf B]]s, and the last five [[Tiger 1|Tiger 1 ausf E]]s to be sent to the front. By [[12 March]] the division's strength was still only 6,836 men. On [[18 March]] the men from an infantry battalion of the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|1.SS-Panzer-Division ''Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'']] were used to bolster the division's strength.
As the advancing [[Soviet]] forces neared Müncheberg, the partly formed Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg'' was ordered to move east as the mobile reserve for Infantry General (''General der Infanterie'') [[Theodor Busse|Theodor Busse's]] [[German Ninth Army|Ninth Army]]. The Ninth Army represented a significant part of Colonel General (''[[Generaloberst]]'') [[Gotthard Heinrici|Gotthard Heinrici's]] [[Army Group Vistula]] (''Heeresgruppe Weichsel'').
Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg'' arrived at the front in [[Cottbus]] on [[22 March]].
== Baptism of fire - Küstrin ==
The town of [[Küstrin]] lies roughly 70 km to the east of [[Berlin]]. German dictator [[Adolf Hitler]] had declared that the town was to be a fortress (''[[festung]]''). Unlike other so-called fortress towns and cities, ''Festung Küstrin'' actually was a fortress. [[Frederick the Great]] had been imprisoned there by his father in the 1720s. The forces of Marshall [[Vasily Chuikov]] had reached the outskirts of [[Küstrin]] on [[31 January]] and had immediately been committed in efforts to secure a bridgehead across the [[Oder]]. Bridgeheads were established to the north and south of Küstrin, but the Soviets could not consolidate their bridgehead until Küstrin was captured. The Soviets, hesitant to attack the well defended fortress, began attempts to surround Küstrin and thereby render it impotent.
Despite repeated Soviet attacks, the narrow strip of land between Busse's 9.Armee and Küstrin, dubbed the ''Küstrin Corridor'' was kept open. On [[22 March]], as the ''Müncheberg'' reached the front, a major Soviet effort to sever the corridor went into action. The Soviet plan was complicated, consisting of an inner and outer encirclement. The inner encirclement succeeded quickly, and the corridor was cut. ''Müncheberg'' went into action on [[22 March]] alongside General der Panzertruppen [[Karl Decker]]'s [[XXXIX Panzer Corps|XXXIX.Panzerkorps]]. Over the next three days, ''Müncheberg'', together with the [[German 25th Panzergrenadier Division|25.Panzergrenadier-Division]] was to claim 200 enemy tanks destroyed. Despite this, by [[25 March]] the outer encirclement was completed, trapping several German units including a platoon from the ''Müncheberg''.
On [[27 March]], the Germans launched a counter-offensive aimed at re-opening the [[Küstrin Corridor]]. ''Müncheberg'' was subordinated to XXXIX.Panzerkorps for the attack. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, the corps was unable to break through to the city. A Soviet counter-attack hit the [[German 20th Panzergrenadier Division|20.Panzergrenadier-Division]] and soon the attack was in disarray, with elements of the 20.Panzergrenadier falling back in a disorganised rout. The Soviet artillery caused heavy casualties among the retreating Germans.
After the failure of the Küstrin counter-attack, the exhausted ''Müncheberg'' was pulled out of the line to be refitted.
==
During this refit period, a panzergrenadier company and a company of Panther ausf Gs were sent to [[Panzertruppenschule II]] at [[Wünsdorf]] to be refitted with the Sperber-IR equipment. The formations were returned to the division on 7 April 1945. By now, the ''Müncheberg'' was dug in at the 'Hardenberg Positions' on [[Seelow Heights]].
The IR equipped company, I./29.Panzer-Regiment under the command of Oberleutnant Rasim, together with the supporting IR capable panzergrenadiers under Hauptmann Steuer, launched a night attack towards Soviet troops entrenched on the [[Reitwein Spur]]. This was the one of the first uses of Infrared in combat and the attack, although limited, was a resounding success.
[[Image:PzDM Tiger1 - Berlin.jpg|thumb|left|A knocked out Tiger 1 ausf E of Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg'', Tiergarten, Berlin 1945.]].
On 16 April Marshall [[Georgi Zhukov]] launched a massive assault across the Alte Oder aimed at capturing [[Berlin]]. From this date until the end of the war, ''Müncheberg'' was in constant combat. Zhukov, launching his attack at night, had set up [[search light|searchlights]] which were to illuminate the German positions in the pre-dawn darkness. Instead, they silhouetted the advancing Soviet tanks and men, and enabled the entrenched Germans to hold the heights for several days. The division, equipped with several self-propelled 8.8 cm and 12.8 cm anti-tank guns, caused heavy casualties on the advancing Soviets in what was to be known as the [[Battle of Seelow Heights]].
Over the next few days, Zhukov threw thousands of troops and tanks against the entrenched Germans, who managed to rebuff each assault. On 19 April the [[German 9th Fallschirmjäger Division|9.Fallschirmjäger-Division]], on the ''Müncheberg's'' right, finally cracked and the entire front collapsed. On 20 April, after holding the line for eight days, ''Müncheberg'', together with its neighboring formation [[11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland|11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division ''Nordland'']] fell back into Berlin itself.
== Berlin ==
:''See also [[Battle in Berlin]]''
The division halted for a ferocious rearguard action in the village of Müncheberg, inflicting more heavy losses on the advancing Soviets. Despite this, the Soviet advance did not slow and the division was pushed back into Berlin itself. The remnants of the ''Müncheberg'' were positioned in the north-eastern sector of Berlin, north of the [[River Spree]]. By this stage, the division retained roughly a dozen tanks and about thirty [[SdKfz 251|halftracks]].
On [[25 April]], ''General der Artillerie'' [[Helmuth Weidling]], the recently appointed commander of the defence of Berlin, ordered Mummert to take command of the [[German LVI Army Corps|LVI Corps]], command of the ''Müncheberg'' being handed over to Colonel (''[[Oberst]]'') [[Hans-Oscar Wöhlermann]], the artillery commander (ArKo) for the city. On [[26 April]] ''Müncheberg'', along with ''Nordland'', was ordered to attack towards [[Tempelhof International Airport|Tempelhof Airport]] and [[Neukolln]]. With its last ten panzers, the ''Müncheberg'' at first made good progress against the surprised Soviets, however fierce defensive fire and several local counter-attacks soon halted the advance.
Around noon on [[26 April]] Wöhlermann was released from command and Mummert was reinstated as commander of the division. The following is from the diary of an officer with the ''Müncheberg'' Division and describes the evening of [[26 April]].
<blockquote> "Scarlet night. Heavy artillery fire. Uncanny silence. We get shot at from many houses. Foreign workers, no doubt. From the Air Ministry comes news that General [[Erich Bärenfänger]] has been relieved of his post of commander of the Berlin garrison. One hour later we hear that General Weidling is our new commander. General Mummert takes charge of the Tank Corps . . . " </blockquote>
On [[27 April]], very early in the morning, Hitler ordered the flooding of the Berlin underground to slow the advancing Soviets. Hitler's order resulted in the drowning of thousands of German soldiers and civilians who had taken refuge in the tunnels. The diary of the officer with the ''Müncheberg'' Division went on to describe the flooding.
<blockquote> "New command post: Anhalter subway station. Platforms and control rooms look like an armed camp. Women and children huddle in niches and corners. Others sit about in deck chairs. They all listen for the sounds of battle . . . Suddenly water starts to pour into the station. Screams, sobs, curses. People fighting around the ladders that run through the air shafts up to the streets. Masses of gurgling water rush over the stairs. Children and wounded are abandoned and trampled to death. The water overs them, rises three feet or more and then slowly goes down. The panic lasts for hours. Many are drowned. Reason: On somebdy's orders, engineers have blsted the locks of the canal between Schoeneburg and Mockern Bridges to flood the tunnels against the advancing Russians. Meanwhile heavy fighting has been going on above ground level. Change of position to Potsdamer Platz subway stationin the late afternoon. Command post on the first floor, as tunnels still under water. Direct hits on the roof. Heavy loses among wounded and civilians. Smoke pours in through the shell holes. Outside, stacks of Panzerfists go up in the air. Another direct hit, one flight below street level. A horible sight: Men, soldiers, women, and children are literally glued to the wall." </blockquote>
As the division was engaged in desperate fighting in [[Wilmersdorf]], the encirclement of Berlin was completed and the remnants of the ''Müncheberg'' were trapped. The diary of the officer with the ''Müncheberg'' Division also described the "flying courts-martial" prevalent at this time.
<blockquote> "Flying courts-martial unusually prominent today. Most of them very young SS officers. Hardly a decoration among them. Blind and fanatical. The hope of relief and the fear of these courts bring men back to the fighting. General Mummert refuses to allow any further courts-martial in the sector under his command . . . He is determined to shoot down personally any courts-martial that appears . . . We cannot hold the Potsdamer Platz and move through the subway tunnel to Nollendorferplatz. In the tunnel next to ours, the Russians are advancing in the opposite direction." </blockquote>
[[Image:PzDM Tiger II berlin.jpg|thumb|right|An abandoned Tiger II ausf B of Panzer-Division ''Müncheberg'' outside the Reichsklanzei.]]
On [[30 April]], Hitler committed suicide. The ''Müncheberg'', [[German 18th Panzergrenadier Division]] along with a few Tiger IIs from [[103rd SS Heavy Panzer Detachment|schwere-SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503]] were engaged in heavy fighting near the [[Westkreuz]] and [[Hlensee]] train stations and on the [[Kurfurstendamm]]. By 1 May the division had been pushed back to the [[Tiergarten]] and was fighting to defend the Zoo [[Flak Tower]], the shelter of thousands of civilians. The ''Müncheberg's'' last operating panzer, a Tiger 1, was abandoned on the [[Unter den Linden]] straße a hundred yards from the [[Brandenburg Gate]].
Mummert was determined to lead the survivors of his division in an escape to the west, through the suburb of [[Spandau]]. Ignoring Weidling's calls for a cessation of hostilities, Mummert ordered the breakout attempt to get underway. Late in the day he went missing during heavy fighting, surfacing years later in a Soviet [[Gulag]]. The remnants of 18th Panzergrenadier joined the escape attempt, and both divisions attempted to battle their way to the west and surrender to the Americans. By [[3 May]] the divisions had reached the [[Charlottenbrücke]] crossing the [[Havel River]] in Spandau. The bridge was under heavy Soviet artillery fire, but the few survivors of the ''Müncheberg'' attempted to cross the carnage of the bridge. Those who made it across the bridge found that they were surrounded by the Soviets, and on [[5 May]] the division, which was now the last organised formation in Berlin, disintegrated.
Several small groups of men had managed to reach the Americans, but the majority of the survivors faced an uncertain fate in Soviet captivity.
==
* ''Generalmajor der Reserve'' [[Werner Mummert]] (9 Mar 1945 - 25 Apr 1945)
* ''Oberst'' [[Hans-Oscar Wöhlermann]] (25 Apr 1945 - 26 Apr 1945)
* ''Generalmajor der Reserve'' [[Werner Mummert]] (26 Apr 1945 - 9 May 1945)
== Orders of battle ==
== March 1945 - Küstrin Counterattack ==
* Panzer-Regiment ''Müncheberg'' - Oberstleutnant Kuno von Meyer
** [[Panzer Abteilung Kummersdorf|Panzer-Abteilung ''Kummersdorf'']]) - Hauptmann Horst Zobel
** I./Panzer-Regiment 29 - Major Marquad
* Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 ''Müncheberg'' - Oberst Goder
* Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 ''Müncheberg'' - Oberstleutnant Werner Rodust
* Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ''Müncheberg'' - Oberstleutnant Martin Buhr
* Panzerspäh-Kompanie ''Müncheberg''
* Panzer Pionier Kompanie (mot) ''Müncheberg''
* Feld-Ersatz Bataillon ''Müncheberg''
* Panzer Nachrichten Kompanie ''Müncheberg''
* Panzer Versorgungstruppen
=== April 1945 - [[Battle of Berlin]] ===
* Panzer-Regiment ''Müncheberg''
** I./Panzer-Regiment ''Müncheberg''
** II./Panzer-Regiment ''Müncheberg''
* Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 ''Müncheberg''
* Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 ''Müncheberg''
* Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ''Müncheberg''
* Panzerspäh-Kompanie ''Müncheberg''
* schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung (mot) 682
* Heeres Flak Artillerie Abteilung (mot) 301
* Panzer Pionier Kompanie (mot) ''Müncheberg''
* Feld-Ersatz Bataillon ''Müncheberg''
* Panzer Nachrichten Kompanie ''Müncheberg''
* Panzer Versorgungstruppen
== External Links ==
[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840664,00.html Time Magazine: The Final Agony]
* [[Category:German panzer divisions|Mun]]
[[zh:慕赫堡裝甲師]]
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