6th Panzergrenadier Division (Bundeswehr)

The 6th Panzergrenadier Division (6. Panzergrenadierdivision) was a West German mechanized infantry formation. It was part of the I Corps of the Bundeswehr during peacetime, but fell under Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland Command in case of war.[1] In the wake of military restructuring brought about by the end of the Cold War, the 6th Panzergrenadier Division was disbanded in 1994, although a military readiness command incorporated the division's name until 1997.

6th Panzergrenadier Division
6th Panzergrenadier Division insignia
Active1 Nov 1958 - 30 Sep 1997
Country Germany
BranchArmy
RoleMechanized infantry
SizeDivision
Part ofI Corps (Bundeswehr) (Peace time)
Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland (War time) LANDJUT (Hostilities)

The then-named 6th Grenadier Division was constituted in November 1958 as part of the I Corps of the Bundeswehr. Initially, the division was organized with two brigade-sized battle-groups, "A6" and "B6". In 1959, these units were renamed and a third brigade was added, with the brigades being the 16 and 17th Panzergrenadier Brigades and the 18th Panzer Brigade. At this time, the division was retitled the 6th Panzergrenadier Division. Division headquarters was located at Neumünster.

The division provided assistance to civilians during floods in 1962 and 1976, and also fought forest and moor fires in 1959.

The division was given the strategic mission of defending Schleswig-Holstein had a Soviet attack against Germany taken place during the Cold War. In such an event, the division would have been subordinated to NATO's AFNORTH command. With the end of the Cold War, the German Army restructured and the 6th Panzergrenadier Division was disbanded in 1994.

Commanders
Nr. Name Start of command End of command
12 Generalmajor Jürgen von Falkenhayn 1990 1995
11 Generalmajor Klaus-Christoph Steinkopff 1986 1990
10 Generalmajor Wolfgang Malecha 1984 1986
9 Generalmajor Dieter Clauß 1983 1984
8 Generalmajor Konrad Manthey 1979 1983
7 Generalmajor Hans-Joachim Mack 1978 1979
6 Generalmajor Johannes Poeppel 1973 1978
5 Generalmajor Franz-Joseph Schulze 1970 1973
4 Generalmajor Karl Schnell 1968 1970
3 Generalmajor Gerd Niepold 1965 1968
2 Generalmajor Werner Haag 1962 1965
1 Generalmajor Peter von der Groeben 1958 1962
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References
  1. Keegan, World Armies, p. 248
  • John Keegan, World Armies, New York: Facts on File, 1979, ISBN 0-87196-407-4.

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