The 15. Panzergrenadier-Division was formed in July 1943 in Sicily from Division Sizilien. It surrendered to British forces at the end of the war.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Eberhard Rodt (1 July 1943 - ? Oct 1943)
Generalleutnant Ernst-Günther Baade (? Oct 1943 - 20 Nov 1943)
Generalleutnant Rudolf Sperl (20 Nov 1943 - 5 Sep 1944)
Oberst Karl-Theodor Simon (5 Sep 1944 - 9 Oct 1944)
Generalmajor Hans-Joachim Deckert (9 Oct 1944 - 28 Jan 1945)
Oberst Wolfgang Maucke (28 Jan 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

Italy (June 1943 - Aug 1944)
France (Aug 1944 - Nov 1944)
Germany (Nov 1944 - Dec 1944)
Ardennes (Dec 1944 - Jan 1945)
Netherlands (Jan 1945 - Feb 1945)
Northern Germany (Feb 1945 - May 1945)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (3)
- Holub, Gerhard, 27.07.1944 (3911), Hauptmann, Kdr. I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 104
- Maucke, Wolfgang, 17.09.1944 (3913), Oberst, Kdr. Pz.Gren.Rgt. 115
- Schmalenbach, Ernst, 27.10.1943 (2358), Leutnant, Einheitsfhr. Krankenwagen-Zug / Kommando Sizilien
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (50)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver  (3)
- Poth, Walter, 19.12.1944, Major, Pi.Btl. (mot) 33
- Schlicht, Otto, 31.01.1945, Hauptmann d.R., Ib 15. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Wiegand, Ludwig, 17.09.1944, Major, Nachr.Abt. 33
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (11)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (17)
Holders of the Knight's Cross to the War Merit Cross with Swords (1)
- Neubert, Georg, 28.04.1944, He.-Werkmeister d.R., 14./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 104

Order of battle

Staff
- Staff
- 999. Mapping Detachment (mot)
- 33. Military Police Troop (mot)
115. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- Heavy Company (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company
- Pioneer Company
104. Panzer Grenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Mortar Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- Heavy Company (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company
- Pioneer Company
115. Panzer Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Company
- 3 x Panzer Company
- Supply Company (mot)
- Panzer Maintenance Company
Panzerjäger Troop (mot)
- Staff
- Staff Company (mot)
- Signals Platoon (mot)
- Jagdpanzer Platoon
- 2 x Jagdpanzer Company
- Sturmgeschütz Platoon
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Heavy Flak Battery (mot)
- Panzerjäger Supply Company (mot)
31. Heavy Flak Battalion (mot)
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- 3 x Battery (mot)
31. Feldersatz Battalion
- 4 x Panzergrenadier Company
- Panzer Company
33. Reconnaissance Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Armored Car Platoon
- 3 x Company (mot)
- Heavy Company
-- Pioneer Platoon
-- Infantry Gun Platoon
-- Mortar Platoon
- Reconnaissance Supply Company
33. Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Battery (mot)
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery (mot)
-- 3 x Battery (mot)
33. Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- 3 x Company (mot)
- Light Pioneer Column
999. Signals Battalion
- Staff
- Telephone Company (mot)
- Radio Company (mot)
- Signals Column (mot)
Supply & Support Units

Notable members

Georg-Wilhelm Harazim (One of four people to be awarded the German Cross in Gold twice, once by the Heer and once by the Luftwaffe)
Hans Volkmer (One of four people to be awarded the German Cross in Gold twice, once by the Heer and once by the Luftwaffe, and the only one to recieve it for two different actions)

Fallschirmjäger riding on Sd.Kfz. 231 of 15. Panzergrenadier-Division in Italy in 1943

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Reinhold Pabel - Enemies are Human
Kurt Albert Rust - Der Weg der 15. Panzergrenadier-Division von Sizilien bis Wesermünde (2 vol)