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The 21st Panzer Division was a German armoured division best known for its role in the battles of the North African Campaign from 1941–1943 during World War II when it was one of the two armoured divisions making up the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). ==Origins== The formation was originally created from the 5th Light Division or the '5th Light ''Afrika'' Division' in Africa in early 1941, from an ''ad hoc'' collection of smaller units rushed to support the collapsing Italian forces in Cyrenaica, Libya. It comprised elements of the 3rd Panzer Division, the unit initially earmarked for North Africa in the summer of 1940. The first unit incorporated was the 39th ''Panzerjäger'' (anti-tank) Battalion. This was a motorised unit with halftracks and trucks to tow heavy equipment, including nine ''3.7 cm PaK 36'' and two ''5 cm PaK 38'' guns. The armoured element, 5th Panzer Regiment, was moved from the 3rd Panzer Division. Its strength included 20 PzKpfw IV, 75 PzKpfw III, 45 PzKpfw II and 25 PzKpfw I Ausf B tanks which included a number of ''Befehlspanzer'' (command vehicles). Even with these seemingly impressive numbers the unit was understrength. The infantry forces were the 200th ''Schutzen'' (Rifle) Regiment, the sole artillery unit was a single battalion of the 75th Regiment. The Divisional staff, also from 3rd Panzer Division, included the Chief of Staff, ''Major Hauser'' and the intelligence officer; ''Hauptmann'' Von Kluge. The formation was officially named on 18 February 1941; its first divisional commander was Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross winner ''Generalmajor'' Johannes Streich, who had commanded the 15th Panzer regiment during the successful French Campaign in 1940. By this time most of the units had arrived in Tripoli, but the last tank elements did not deploy until 12 March 1941, missing the first battles of ''General'' Erwin Rommel's Cyrenaica offensive. The '5th Light ''Afrika'' Division' did not have a full establishment of tanks immediately following its deployment. Having only 150 machines of all types of which 130 were actually combat worthy, the rest being an assortment of command and unarmed observer vehicles. Despite the slow build-up, largely due to most ''Wehrmacht'' reinforcements being directed to the Eastern Front to support Operation ''Barbarossa'' (the invasion of the Soviet Union), by September 1941 the '5th Light ''Afrika'' Division' had achieved Panzer Division strength. It was then renamed the 21st Panzer Division. Throughout its war in the Desert, the Afrika Korps's units were nearly always understrength, made up of any men and equipment that were available. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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