The 3. Panzergrenadier-Division was formed from rememnants of the destroyed 3. Infanterie-Division (mot). It was sent to Italy in June 1943 and fought the Allies at Salerno, Cassino, Anzio and during the retreat to Rome before it was sent to France. It fought southeast of Paris before retreating to Saar. It refitted in Germany November - December 1944 before fighting in the Ardennes.
The division was destroyed in the Ruhr pocket April 1945.

Known war crimes

Soldiers of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 29 took part in the killing of seven civilians in Caiazzo, Italy, in October 1943 for reporting the locations of German positions to US forces. (1)

On 29 August 1944 a total of 86 civilians were killed in the French villages Robert-Espagne, Beurey-sur-Saulx, Couvonges and Mognéville by soldiers from the division. (2)

Commanders

General der Panzertruppen Fritz-Hubert Gräser (1 Mar 1943 - ? Mar 1944)
Generalmajor Hans Hecker (? Mar 1944 - 1 June 1944)
Generalleutnant Hans-Günther von Rost (1 June 1944 - 25 June 1944)
Generalleutnant Walter Denkert (25 June 1944 - ? Apr 1945)

Area of operations

France (Mar 1943 - June 1943)
Italy (June 1943 - Aug 1944)
France (Aug 1944 - Nov 1944)
Western Germany (Nov 1944 - Dec 1944)
Ardennes, Germany & Ruhr pocket (Dec 1944 - Apr 1945)

Nicknames

Kreuz mit 2 Balken (Cross with two beams)

Holders of high awards

(3. Infanterie-Division (mot) / 3. Panzergrenadier-Division)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (7)
- Gräser, Fritz-Hubert, 30.07.1941 (184), Oberst, Kdr. Inf.Rgt. 29
- d'Heureuse, Werner, 15.05.1944 (3317), Hauptmann, Battr.Chef 3./Art.Rgt. 3
- Pengel, Günther, 05.11.1944 (4386), Major, Kdr. II./Art.Rgt. 3 (mot)
- Pietsch, [first name not listed], 28.11.1941 (533), Leutnant, Kp.Fhr. 10./Inf.Rgt. 8 (mot)
- Plettenberg Graf von, Konrad, 27.01.1944 (2821), Hauptmann, Kdr. II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 8
- Schulz, [first name not listed], 10.11.1941 (499), Unteroffizier, 10./Inf.Rgt. 8 (mot)
- Wegener, Werner, 17.09.1944 (3934), Major, Kdr. Pi.Btl. 3 (mot)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (2)
- Bahls, Artur, 16.08.1943 (327), Unteroffizier, Fla-Zug/Stabskp./Pz.Abt. 103
- Hoffmann, Herbert, 16.08.1943 (326), Oberfeldwebel, Stabskp./Pz.Abt. 103
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (126)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (4)
- Fedtke, Dr. Heinz, 19.12.1944, Oberstabsarzt, 3. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Lehmann, Erwin, 14.10.1944, Oberstabsintendant, 3. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Poppmeier, Georg, 05.09.1944, Heeres-Oberwerkmeister, Pz.Abt. 103
- Starost, Willy, 29.04.1945, Feldwebel d.R., Vers.Kp. (Bergestaffel) Pz.Abt. 103
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (28)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (31) (28 RK + 3 EL)
Holders of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords (1)
- Schlegel, Hans, 04.06.1944, Leutnant (Ing.), Inspekteur Pz.Abt. 103
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- 2./Artillerie-Regiment (mot) 3
-- Date/Place of Downing: 31.10.1941 bei Serpuchoff
-- Award Date: 16.05.1942 (60)

Order of battle (September 1943)

Staff
- Staff
- 3. Mapping Detachment (mot)
- 22. Sound Ranging Troop
8. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Regimental Band
- Staff Company
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 4 x Company (mot)
- Heavy Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
29. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Regimental Band
- Staff Company
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 4 x Company (mot)
- Heavy Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
103. Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
- Staff
- Heavy Platoon
- Light Armored Car Company
- 3 x Reconnaissance Company (half-track)
- Heavy Company (half-track)
-- Pioneer Platoon
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Light Intrantry Gun Section
-- 2 x Platoon
- Light Reconnaissance Supply Column
103. Panzer Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- 3 x Sturmgeschütz Battery
- Panzer Maintenance Platoon
3. Flak Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery (mot)
- 2 x Heavy Flak Battery (mot)
- Light Flak Battery (mot)
- Supply Column (mot)
3. Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery (self-propelled)
-- 3 x Battery (self-propelled)
- 2 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery (mot)
-- 3 x Battery (mot)
3. Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- 3 x Company (mot)
- Brüko K Bridging Column (mot)
- Light Pioneer Column (mot)
3. Signals Battalion
- Staff
- Telephone Company (mot)
- Radio Company (mot)
- Signals Column (mot)
Supply & Support Units

Notable members

Hans-Günther von Rost (Active in the resistance against Hitler)

Insignia

Personnel of this unit wore a semi-official badge on the left side of the field and service cap which took the form of the divisional emblem, a tilted metal “cross of Lorraine” with two diagonal crossbars on the vertical.

Footnotes

1. "Justiz und NS-Verbrechen" by C.F. Rüter & D.W. de Mildt.
2. "Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44" by Peter Lieb and "Across the Face of France: Liberation and Recovery, 1944-63" by James A. Huston.

Sources used

James A. Huston - Across the Face of France: Liberation and Recovery, 1944-63
Peter Lieb - Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44
C.F. Rüter & D.W. de Mildt - Justiz und NS-Verbrechen
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945
Gordon Williamson - World War II German Battle Insignia

Reference material on this unit

Gerhard Dieckhoff & M. Holzmann - 3. Infanterie-Division
Gerhard Dieckhoff - 3. Infanterie Division (mot.), 3. Panzergrenadier Division 1939-1945
Gerhard Dieckhoff & M. Holzmann - Infanterie gestern und heute: 3. Infanterie Division (mot.) Bildband