The 3rd Light Division (sometimes described as ''Light Mechanized'' or ''Light Panzer'' to distinguish it from the later ''Light'' infantry divisions) was raised in November 1938. In 1939 it fought in the
Invasion of Poland. On 4 September 1939, soldiers from the division entered the region of
Katowice
Katowice ( , , ; szl, Katowicy; german: Kattowitz, yi, קאַטעוויץ, Kattevitz) is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the central city of the Upper Silesian metropolitan area. It is the 11th most popul ...
where they met resistance from the local Polish population. In retribution 80 Polish
prisoners of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold priso ...
were gathered in Kosciuszko Square by German soldiers and executed.
Due to shortcomings that the campaign revealed in the organization of the Light divisions it was reorganized as the
8th Panzer Division in October 1939.
References
Bibliography
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{{German Armoured Divisions of World War II
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1939