The 25. Panzer-Division was formed in February 1942 in Eberswalde and was sent to Norway where it remained until August 1943 when it was transferred to Denmark where it took part in the disarming of the Danish Army. It was sent to the Eastern front in October and suffered heavy losses during the withdrawal through the Ukraine. It was once again sent to Denmark, this time for refitting in May 1944. It was sent to the front in Poland in September 1944 and withdrew through Poland and into eastern Germany where it ended the war.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Johann Haarde (20 Feb 1942 - 31 Dec 1942)
Generalleutnant Adolf von Schell (01 Jan 1943 - 15 Nov 1943) (1)
Generalleutnant Georg Jauer (15 Nov 1943 - 20 Nov 1943) m.d.F.b. (2)
Generalmajor Hans Tröger 20 Nov 1943 - 09 Feb 1944)
Oberst Kurt Truehaupt (10 Feb 1944 - 31 May 1944) m.d.F.b.
Generalmajor Oswin Grolig (01 June 1944 - 18 Aug 1944)
Oberst Oskar Audörsch, Dipl.Ing. (19 Aug 1944 - 08 Nov 1945) m.d.F.b.
Generalmajor Oskar Audörsch, Dipl.Ing. (09 Nov 1944 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

Norway (Feb 1942 - Aug 1943)
Denmark (Aug 1943 - Sep 1943)
France (Sep 1943 - Oct 1943)
Eastern front, central sector (Oct 1943 - May 1944)
Denmark (refitting) (May 1944 - Sep 1944)
Poland (Sep 1944 - Apr 1945)
Eastern Germany (Apr 1945 - May 1945)

Nicknames

Mondschein (Moonlight)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (1)
- Peter, Erwin, 25.10.1944, Hauptmann, 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 87
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (7)
- Fritsche, Hans-Otto, 30.12.1944, Major, I./Pz.Art.Rgt. 91
- Kreuter, Georg, 13.01.1945, Hauptmann, I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 146
- Lieske, Oskar, 22.03.1945, Hauptmann d.R., I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 147
- Rehm, Robert, 13.12.1944, Wachtmeister, 3./Pz.Art.Rgt. 91
- Rochlitz, Hans, 07.04.1944, Major, Heeres-Flak.Art.Abt. 284
- Treuhaupt, Kurt, 02.08.1944, Oberst, Kdr. Pz.Gren.Rgt.146
- Wagner, Georg, 27.04.1945, Oberfeldwebel, 6./Pz.Rgt. 9
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (5)
- Jedermann, Otto, 07.02.1944, Hauptmann, I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 146
- Lindner, Ottomar, 17.02.1944, Major, I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 146
- Müller, Adolf, 00.00.1945, Oberleutnant, 6./Pz.Rgt. 9
- Ruppert, Heinrich, 07.12.1944, Leutnant, 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 87
- Treuhaupt, Kurt, 07.12.1944, Oberst, Pz.Gren.Rgt. 146
Holders of the Knight's Cross (4)
- Jedermann, Otto 14.05.1944 Hauptmann Kdr I./Pz.Gren.Rgt 146
- Schneider, Erich 10.02.1944 Hauptmann Führer II./Pz.Rgt 9
- Stachelhaus, Hermann 04.05.1944 Oberleutnant Kompanieführer im I./Pz.Gren.Rgt 146
- Wittenstein, Heinz-Willi 14.02.1945 Hauptmann Kdr II./Pz.Gren.Rgt 146
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- II./Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 146
-- Date/Place of Downing: 22.01.1944 bei Salywanschtschina
-- Award Date: 01.05.1944 (473)

Order of battle (May 1942)

Schützen-Regiment 146 (formerly Schützen-Regiment Oslo, from Schützen-Verband Oslo, Schützen-Bataillon Oslo, Watch-Bataillon z.b.V. Oslo)
verst. Panzer-Abteilung 214
- Panzerjäger-Kompanie 514
Batterie 10-cm Kanonen (mot) 91

Order of battle (1943)

Panzer-Regiment 9
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 146
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 147
Kradschützen-Bataillon 87
Feldersatz-Bataillon 87
Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 91
Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 279
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 87
Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 87
Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 87
Panzer-Versorgungstruppen 87

Footnotes

1. Generalleutnant Adolf von Schell goes on sick leave.
2. Generalleutnant Georg Jauer commanded the 20. Panzergrenadier-Division at the same time.

Sources used

Microfilm Publication A-3356, German Officer Personnel files, NARA
RKT & DKiGT karteikarten, BA/MA
Dermot Bradley, Karl-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp - Die Generale des Heeres 1921-1945
François de Lannoy & Josef Charita - Panzertruppen: German armored troops 1935-1945
Wolf Keilig - Die Generale des Heeres
Andris Kursietis - Die Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945
Kurt Mehner - Die Deutsche Wehrmacht 1939-1945: Führung und Truppe
Samuel W. Mitcham Jr - The Panzer Legions: A guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of WWII and Their Commanders
Peter Schmitz, Klaus-Jürgen Thies, Günter Wegmann & Christian Zweng - Die deutschen Divisionen 1939-1945 (4 Vol)
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945
Günther Wegmann - Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht, Teil VIII a: Panzertruppe, Band 1
Günter Wegmann & Christian Zweng - Formationsgeschichte u. Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Streitkräfte, 1815-1990, Teile IV, Abt. 1:  Die Dienststellen, Kommandobehörden u. Truppenteile des Heeres, Oct.35-May.45

Reference material on this unit

Rolf Stoves - 22. Panzer-Division, 25. Panzer- Division. 27. Panzer-Division und die 233. Reserve-Panzer-Division