Panzer-Abteilung 40
| Panzer Abteilung 40 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 8 March 1940 – 10 June 1943 |
| Country |
.svg.png){kind=small} Germany |
| Branch | Heer |
| Type | Tank battalion |
| Equipment | Panzer I, Panzer II, Panzer III and Neubaufahrzeug |
| Engagements | Operation Weserübung, Operation Arctic Fox |
| Disbanded | 10 June 1943 |
Panzer-Abteilung 40 was a tank battalion of the German army during World War II. The battalion fought during the German invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung) and afterwards during Operation Silver Fox, which was a combined German-Finnish offensive attempting to capture the Soviet port of Murmansk. The unit remained in Finland until it was removed from the frontline to Oslo in occupied Norway and then disbanded.
Operation Weserübung
Panzer-Abteilung 40 was created as Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 40 in March 1940 to fight during the planned German invasion of Norway and Denmark in 1940. The unit consisted entirely of Panzer I and Panzer II tanks. It aided during the invasion of Denmark, and was then shipped to Norway in April 1940. For propaganda purposes a special tank unit consisting of three Neubaufahrzeug tanks was assigned to Panzer-Abteilung 40, with the goal to convince the Allies that the Germans already possessed heavy tanks in their arsenal. After they arrived in Norway all the Neubaufahrzeug tanks were paraded through Oslo before driven to the frontline. They then engaged in combat in southern Norway. One Neubaufahrzeug was immobilized after being hit and had to be demolished by engineers. After the successful conquest of Norway, the unit, without the Neubaufahrzeug tanks, was reorganized and moved to Finland.[1][2]
Operation Silver Fox
The Soviet port of Murmansk was a high-value target for the German command in 1941. Panzer-Abteilung 40 together with Panzer-Abteilung 211 was subordinated to XXXVI Mountain Corps which conducted Operation Arctic Fox (a sub operation of Operation Silver Fox), which aimed to recapture the Salla region from the Soviets and then proceed eastwards to cut off the Murmansk railway at Kandalaksha. The offensive launched on 1 July 1941. The combined German-Finnish force was able to recapture the Salla region, but was embroiled in attritional battles around Kestenga, where the operation merged into a stalemate in late 1941.[3] The unit remained in the area during 1942, but was later pulled back to Norway. It was disbanded on 10 June 1943.[4]
References
- ↑ Haarr (2010), p. 391 & 422
- ↑ McCarthy & Syron (2002), p. 65
- ↑ Mann & Jörgensen (2002), p. 87-94
- ↑ "Panzer-Abteilung 40". Lexikon der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
Sources
- Kuusela, Kari. Panzers in Finland: Panzerunits in Finland 1941-1944.
- Mann, Chris M.; Jörgensen, Christer. Hitlers Arctic War. Hersham, UK: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-2899-0.
- Haarr, Geirr H. (2010). The Battle for Norway – April–June 1940. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-057-4.
- McCarthy, Peter; Syron, Mike (2002). Panzerkrieg: The Rise and Fall of Hitler's Tank Divisions. London UK: Constable & Robinson Ltd. ISBN 1-84119-800-5.