the Ścinawa (German: Steinau) bridgehead in mid-February. The division had suffered heavy losses during those events and was re-supplied near Görlitz, now renamed Kampfgruppe 17th Panzer Division due to being severely understrength and being no more in size than a regiment. It continued its defensive actions in the region during the Silesian Offensives. The division was eventually forced to retreat into Czechoslovakia, heading towards Brno. In February 1945, the division, by now reduced to a Kampfgruppe, was attached to Army Group Center on the Oder River. By March 1945, it retreated as far as Jägerndorf by the Red Army. Early in April, it had retreated southwest into Moravia, where in quick succession it came under the order of 17th Army and 1st Army. The division surrendered to the Soviet army near Görlitz at the end of April 1945. Commanders Area of operations Order of battle in 1944 The order of battle in 1944. The 63rd Panzergrenadier Regiment was disbanded in late 1944. The regiments first battalion replaced the third battalion of 40th Panzergrenadier Regiment. The second battalion of the 63rd Regiment became the second battalion of the 79th Panzer-Füsilier Regiment. The 297th Army Flak Battalion had only joined the division in 1943 and the Panzergrenadier Regiment had been called Schützen Regiment until July 1942. HQ Divisional Staff Mapping Detachment (mot) Military Police Detachment (mot) Escort Company 39th Panzer Regiment Regimental Staff 2 x Battalion Panzer Maintenance Company 40th Panzergrenadier Regiment Regimental Staff 3 x Battalion Pioneer Company (mot) Infantry Support Gun Company (self-propelled) 63rd Panzergrenadier Regiment. 27th Panzerjäger Battalion Battalion Staff Panzerjäger Battalion Staff Company 2 x Sturmgeschütz Company Panzerjäger Company (mot) Panzerjäger Supply Column (mot) 27th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion Battalion Staff Battalion Staff Company Luchs Reconnaissance Company 2 x Reconnaissance Company (half-track) Heavy Reconnaissance Company (half-track) Reconnaissance Supply Company (mot) 27th Panzer Artillery Regiment Regimental Staff & Staff Battery Battalion (self-propelled) 2 x Battalion (mot) 297th Army Flak Battalion Battalion Staff & Staff Battery 2 x Heavy Flak Battery (mot) Light Flak Battery (mot) 27th Panzer Signals Battalion Signals Battalion Staff Panzer Telephone Company Panzer Radio Company Signals Supply Company (mot) 27th Panzer Pioneer Battalion Battalion Staff (half-track) 2 x Pioneer Company (mot) Pioneer Company (half-track) Support & Supply Units References Bibliography External links 1*17 Military units and formations established in 1940 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945