
Through Belgium and France with a Panzer division – 6 Pz in the west 1940.
Assembly and Preparation - January to May of 1940.
In October of 1939, was organized the new 6 Pz Division on the base of the ex - 1 Leichte Division under the command of Generalmajor Werner Kempf; the core of the new armored division was given by Panzerregiment (PR) 11 under Oberst Wilhelm Phillips and was organized in two battalions (abteilungen), I./PR 11 commanded by Major Stephan and the II. /PR 11 by Major Koll. The armored regiment had been reinforced as well by the Panzerabteilung 65 commanded by Major Thomas. This was the unique division equipped with the Czech tanks Skoda LT 35 (Light Tank mod 1935) designated as Pz Kw 35 (t) with a weight of 10 ton, a crew of 4 men and armed with a tube of 37 mm L/42 plus 2 machine guns of 7.92 mm. It was fitted with the FuG 5 (10-watt transmitter/receiver) and the FuG 2 (receiver) radio equipment. The Germans also added a fourth crew member to act as a loader (as it was requested by the Divisional Commander), giving space in the turret but increasing the rate of fire of the Pz Kw 35 (t) which was comparable to the German PzKpfw III and was an important addition to the Armored Branch.
Besides were within the organic of the division:
Schützenbrigade 6
SR 4 (con I., II y III. Bon)
Kradsch. Btl 6
AR 76 (con I. y II Grupos) + Schw. Art Abt 605.
Pi Btl 57.
Pz Jäg Abt 41.
A.A. 6
NA 82.
Sources: Artillerie-Regiment 76 - Lexikon der Wehrmacht.htm
Panzer Aces. Chapter 1. Franz Bäke.
The 6th Panzer Division 1937 – 45. Oberst a.D. Helmut Ritgen.
3d Battalion 4th Armored Regiment Forces a Crossing of the Meuse River at Monthermé May 13, 1940. Lieutenant Colonel James Crockett. Military Review Vol XXI, Nº 83.
Diario de una Campaña. Ingenieros “Panzer” a través de Bélgica y Francia. Ingenieros en Combate. Brig General Paul W. Thompson. Círculo Miltar.
PANZER Photo Album. Auction of Historical media 2007. LLC (now expired). Sábado, 25 de Octubre de 2008.
BATTLES IN THE ARDENNES, ON THE MEUSE RIVER AND IN THE MONT-DIEU AREA (10-25th May 1940). David Lehmann
Mit dem K durch Frankreich.
Cheers. Raúl M
