pocket and, from there, took part in the defence of eastern Poland and Hungary. It was engaged in defensive operations around Lake Balaton and took part in the unsuccessful attempt to break through to the Siege of Budapest and once more suffered heavy losses. The final month of the Second World War saw the division engaged in the defence of Styria. From there, it retreated westwards to surrender to US forces rather than Soviet ones, successfully crossing the demarcation line between the two. It surrendered on 8 May 1945 in southern Bavaria and most of its soldiers were released from captivity soon after. Commanders The commanders of the division: 10 January 1935 – 30 September 1937: General der Kavallerie Maximilian von Weichs 10 January 1937 – 2 November 1939: Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmidt 2 November 1939– 17 July 1941: Generalleutnant Friedrich Kirchner 17 July 1941 – 1 January 1944: Generalleutnant Walter Krüger 1 January 1944 – 19 February 1944: Generalmajor Richard Koll 19 February 1944 – 25 September 1944: Generalmajor Werner Marcks 25 September 1944 – 8 May 1945: Generalleutnant Eberhard Thunert Organization The organisation of the division: 1. Panzer-Brigade Panzer-Regiment 1 Panzer-Abteilung I (deleted July 1941; added Jan 1943) Panzer-Abteilung II Panzer-Regiment 2 (deleted Oct 1940) Panzer-Abteilung I Panzer-Abteilung II 1. Schützen-Brigade Schützen-Regiment 1 (renamed Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 Jul 1941) Schützen-Battalion I Schützen-Battalion II Schützen-Battalion III (added Oct 1939, deleted Nov 1940) Schützen-Regiment 113 (renamed Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113 Jul 1941) Schützen-Battalion I (added Nov 1940) Schützen-Battalion II (added Feb 1941) Kradschützen-Battalion 1 – Motorcycle battalion Artillerie-Regiment 73 Artillerie-Abteilung I Artillerie-Abteilung II Artillerie-Abteilung III (added 1941) Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4 – Reconnaissance battalion Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 – Tank hunter battalion Heeres-Flak-Abteilung 299 – Air defense battalion (added 1943) Pionier-Battalion 37 – Pioneer battalion Grenadier-Ersatz-Abteilung 1009 – Replacement infantry battalion (added 1944 or 1945) Nachrichten-Abteilung 37 – Signals battalion References Sources External links 0*01 Military units and formations established in 1935 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 1935 establishments in Germany 1945 disestablishments in Germany