The Panzergrenadier Division Kurmark, sometimes also referred to as Panzer Division Kurmark, was a armoured formation of the

German Army The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...

during World War II. It was raised in January 1945 as part of the preparation for the

Battle of Berlin The Battle of Berlin, designated as the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, and also known as the Fall of Berlin, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II. After the Vistula– ...

. It was named after the

Kurmark The German term ''Kurmark'' (archaic ''Churmark'', "Electoral March") referred to the Imperial State held by the margraves of Brandenburg, who had been awarded the electoral (''Kur'') dignity by the Golden Bull of 1356. In early modern times, ''K ...

region of Brandenburg. The division was formed at

Frankfurt on the Oder Frankfurt (Oder), also known as Frankfurt an der Oder (), is a city in the German state of Brandenburg. It has around 57,000 inhabitants, is one of the easternmost cities in Germany, the fourth-largest city in Brandenburg, and the largest German ...

in January 1945 from elements of the

Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Ersatz Brigade Pan-Germanism (german: Pangermanismus or '), also occasionally known as Pan-Germanicism, is a pan-nationalist political idea. Pan-Germanists originally sought to unify all the German-speaking people – and possibly also Germanic-speaking ...

. It was an understrength unit. The unit did not receive enough motorized transport, so one of its Panzergrenadier battalions used bicycles and rode horses. During its short history, the division was commanded by Generalmajor Willy Langkeit.Mitcham, p. 240 The division was part of the

German 9th Army The 9th Army (german: 9. Armee) was a World War II field army. It was activated on 15 May 1940 with General Johannes Blaskowitz in command. History 1940 The 9th Army first saw service along the Siegfried Line during its involvement in the invas ...

(

Army Group Vistula Army Group Vistula () was an Army Group of the ''Wehrmacht'', formed on 24 January 1945. It lasted for 105 days, having been put together from elements of Army Group A (shattered in the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive), Army Group Centre (similarl ...

) and was deployed around Frankfurt on the Oder. It was surrounded alongside other Wehrmacht and SS formations of the 9th Army south-east of Berlin. They abandoned and blew up their last three

King Tiger The Tiger II is a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was ''Panzerkampfwagen'' Tiger ''Ausf''. B,'' Panzerkampfwagen'' – abbr: ''Pz.'' or ''Pz.Kfw.'' (English: "armoured fighting vehicle"), ''Ausf.' ...

tanks on 30 April 1945 after they had run out of fuel.Beevor, Antony (2002). ''Berlin: The Downfall 1945'' p. 362. Remnants of the Panzergrenadier Division Kurmark broke out of the pocket and reached Jerichow on the Elbe where they surrendered to the U.S. Army in May 1945.

Order of Battle, April 1945

The division order of battle:Mitcham, p. 239 * Panzer-Regiment ''Kurmark'' * Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment ''Kurmark'' * Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment ''Kurmark'' (former Grenadier-Regiment 1235) * Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ''Kurmark'' * Panzer- Aufklärungs-Abteilung ''Kurmark'' * Panzer- Pionier-Battalion ''Kurmark'' * Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung ''Kurmark'' * Versorgungstruppen Panzergrenadier-Division Kurmark

References

Bibliography

* {{Authority control 20th century in Brandenburg Military units and formations established in 1945

1945 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1945