The 2.Panzer-Division was formed in October of 1935 in Wurzburg, where it stayed until recruitment and training was completed. During the training phase and until February 1938, the Division was commanded by the famous general Heinz Guderian. March 1938 the division participated in the Anschluss of Austria, where it moved into Vienna to act as an occupying force. The stay in Austria was brief, as the division was moved into the Sudetenland already in October 1938, where it was once more an occupying force until March of 1939 where it was used to occupy the last of Czechoslovakia.

 

After the complete occupation of Czechoslovakia the division was moved on, and participated in the invasion of Poland and then afterwards the invasion of France in 1940. After the invasion of France was over, the division was once more moved towards the east for occupational duties in Poland, whilst the division was being reorganized, where it stayed till the invasion of the Balkans where it also participated.

 

The Eastern front was where the division spent the majority of it time, from the initial invasion until 1944. During its stay on the Eastern front it fought in the central sector and participated in several major battles such as the fighting around Moscow and later on as part of the offensive at Kursk and short afterwards Dnieper. After the two tough defeats in the east, the Division was moved back to France in the start of 1944.

 

The refitting of the Division took place in the north of France, so it was out of harms way at the beginning of the Normandy landings in June 1944. However, it was moved directly there to stop the tide of allied divisions moving inlands. The Division saw heavy combat against both the British and the Americans, and did well despite having taken heavy losses from allied planes during the travel to Normandy. The end for the Division in Normandy took place in the Falaise pocket, where it was nearly destroyed but managed to retreat, being thereafter pulled off the line for refitting once more.

 

After a few months of refitting the division was once more ready for action, this time as part of the ardennes-offensive. Here it suffered heavy casualties once more, but escaped back into Germany and continued the defensive at the Rhine. The fighting at this point was hopeless, and the division finally surrendered in May of 1945.

 

 

Sources:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Panzerdivisionen/2PD.htm

http://www.axishistory.com/about-ahf/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3946-2-panzer-division