An SS Panzer Division () was a Waffen-SS formation during World War II. The table below shows the order of battle to which an SS panzer division aspired.Williamson, Gordon (1994). The SS: Hitler´s Instrument of Terror; appendix, p. 249, "Organisation of a SS Panzer Division", Brown Packaging Books Ltd., London.
UnitMILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil II/ Teil III, Deutsch – Englisch, Abkürzung Begriff, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001). Designation in GermanOfficial designation as to "Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv" in Freiburg im Breisgau, stores of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. Division headquarters DivisionsstabCommander of the division General staff officer Cartographical unit Communications unit Division escort Military policeDivisionskommandeur (DivKdr) Generalstabsoffizier Kartographieeinheit Fernmeldeeinheit Divisionsbegleitschutz Militärpolizei Quartermaster Quartiermeister (Qu)Weapon platoon Mechanical Captain Dr physician Captain Dr dentistWaffenzug Mechaniker Stabsarzt Stabszahnarzt Panzer regiment Panzerregiment (PzRgt) I Battalion 4 companies (1–4) Workshop company I. Abteilung4 Kompanien (1–4) Werkstattkompanie II battalion 5 companies (5–9) Workshop platoon II. Abteilung5 Kompanien (5–9) Werkstattzug Anti-tank battalion Panzerjägerabteilung (PzJgAbt) 3 companies of assault guns (1–3) 3 Kompanien von Sturmgeschützen (1–3) Panzergrenadier regiment Panzergrenadierregiment (PzGrenRgt) I battalion 4 companies (1–4) I. Bataillon 4 Kompanien (1–4) II battalion 4 companies (5–8) II. Bataillon 4 Kompanien (5–8) III battalion 4 companies (9–12) Heavy infantry gun company (13) Anti-aircraft company (14) Reconnaissance company (15) Engineer company (16) III. Bataillon4 Kompanien (9–12) Schwere Infanteriegeschützkompanie (13) Flakkompanie (14) Aufklärungskompanie (15) Pionierkompanie (16) Panzergrenadier regiment (as above) Panzergrenadierregiment Armoured reconnaissance battalion Panzeraufklärungsabteilung (PzAufklAbt)2 Panzer scout companies 2 Panzer reconnaissance companies 1 heavy company2 Panzerspähkompanien 2 Panzeraufklärungskompanien 1 schwere Kompanie Panzer artillery regiment Panzerartillerieregiment (PzArtRgt) I battalion 3 batteries I. Abteilung3 Batterien II battalion 3 batteries II. Abteilung3 Batterien III battalion 4 batteries III. Abteilung4 Batterien Rocket launcher battalion Werferabteilung 4 batteries (1–4)4 Batterien (1–4) Anti-aircraft battalion Flakabteilung (FlakAbt) 5 batteries (1–5) 5 Batterien (1–5) Armoured engineer battalion Panzerpionierabteilung (PzPiAbt) 1 (armoured) company (on IFV) 3 engineer companies Bridge convoy B1 (gepanzerte) Kompanie (auf SPw) 3 Pionierkompanien Brückenkolonne B Armoured signals battalion Panzernachrichtenabteilung1 communications company 1 radio company1 Fernmeldekompanie 1 Funkkompanie Divisional supply troops Divisions-Nachschubtruppe 6 vehicle companies 1 supply company6 Kraftfahrkompanien 1 Nachschubkompanie Panzer maintenance battalion Panzer-Instandsetzungsabteilung 3 workshop companies 1 (weapon) workshop company 1 spare and repair part company3 Werkstattkompanien 1 (Waffen-) Werkstattkompanie 1 Ersatzteilkompanie Provisioning battalion Wirtschaftsbataillon Bakery company Butcher company Divisional food services office Military post officeBäckereikompanie Schlächtereikompanie Divisions-Verpflegungsamt Feldpostamt Medical battalion Sanitätsabteilung 2 medical companies 1 ambulance company 1 medical supply company2 Sanitätskompanien 1 Krankenkraftwagekompanie 1 Versorgungskompanie Replacement battalion Feldersatzbataillon
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was organized according to the above table, and served as a template for many other SS Panzer Divisions during World War II. The average complement was approximately 19,000. However, only two out of seven SS panzer divisions contained that strength. In the second half of the war in Europe, in particular close to the end of war, some divisions achieved only the complement of regiment sized units. A Werfer (rocket) Battailon was only part of the 1st SS Panzer Division LAH and the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" until they were made independent in the second half of 1944.
See also German heavy tank battalion Panzer division List of Waffen-SS divisions
References