The 18. Panzergrenadier-Division was formed from 18. Infanterie-Division (mot) and fought on the Eastern front June - September 1944. It was cited for distinguished action in the central Dnieper fighting. It was almost destroyed in the Soviet summer offensive in June and in July the surviving elements fought with Panzer-Brigade 105. It was reformed in September and the surviving parts of the division fought in East Prussia and in the battle of Berlin.

Commanders

General der Infanterie Werner Erdmannsdorff (23 June 1943 - 9 Aug 1943)
Generalleutnant Karl Zutavern (9 Aug 1943 - 14 Apr 1944)
General der Artillerie Curt Jahn (14 Apr 1944 - 24 May 1944)
Generalleutnant Karl Zutavern (24 May 1944 - 10 Sep 1944)
Generalleutnant Dr. Hans Bölsen (10 Sep 1944 - 1 Jan 1945)
Generalmajor Josef Rauch (1 Jan 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

Eastern front, northern sector (June 1943 - Oct 1943)
Eastern front, central sector (Oct 1943 - Sep 1944)
East Prussia & Berlin (Sep 1944 - May 1945)

Nicknames

Schlesische Division (Silesian Division)

Holders of high awards

(18. Infanterie-Division (mot) / 18. Panzergrenadier-Division)
Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (2)
- Grünewald, Herbert, 08.12.1944, Leutnant d.R., Stab/18. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Finke, Heinz, 00.02.1945, Hauptmann, Btl.Kdr. I./Gren.Rgt. 51 (mot)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (9)
- Bartkowiak, Hans, 07.09.1943 (2043), Leutnant, Zugführer i. d. Stabs.Kp./Gren.Rgt. 30 (mot)
- Benack, Gerhard, 03.07.1941 (25), Oberleutnant, Chef 1./Kradsch.Btl. 38
- Buchner, [first name not listed], 10.09.1941 (299), Oberleutnant, Chef 5./Inf.Rgt. 30
- Chrobek, Bruno, 30.07.1941 (110), Oberstleutnant, Kdr. III./Inf.Rgt. 51
- Etzold, Felix, 25./27.03.1944 (3035), Leutnant, Zugführer i. d. 5./Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 118
- Grundmann, Helmut, 07.09.1943 (2064), Oberleutnant, Kp.Fhr. 4./Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 118
- Hiller, Paul, 07.03.1944 (2959), Oberfeldwebel, Zugführer i. d. 10./Gren.Rgt. 30 (mot)
- Kuhnert, Alfred, 03.07.1941 (024), Major, Kdr. Kradsch.Btl. 38
- Ryba, Johann, 27.09.1943 (2151), Unteroffizier, Gruppenführer i. d. 1./Gren.Rgt. 51 (mot)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (2)
- Holländer, [first name not listed], 01.02.1944 (468), Stabsgefreiter, 1./Art.Rgt. (mot) 18 / 18. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Kuhz, Fritz, 01.05.1944 (497), Obergefreiter, 1.(Pz.Sp.)/Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 118 / 18. Pz.Gren.Div.
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (92)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (31)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (27, including one unofficial/unconfirmed)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (6)
- II./Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 51
-- Date/Place of Downing: 08.09.1941 bei Krasnaja
-- Award Date: 29.11.1941 (32)
- 9./Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 51
-- Date/Place of Downing: 08.09.1941 bei Merjatino
-- Award Date: 29.11.1941 (33)
- Stabskompanie/Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 51
-- Date/Place of Downing: 08.09.1941 bei Irssa
-- Award Date: 16.05.1942 (67)
- 15. (s)/Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 30
-- Date/Place of Downing: 20.09.1941 bei Tigoda
-- Award Date: 16.05.1942 (68)
- I./Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 30
-- Date/Place of Downing: 14.02.1942 bei Dubowitzy
-- Award Date: 16.05.1942 (106)
- 10./Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 30
-- Date/Place of Downing: 01.06.1942 bei Kobylkino
-- Award Date: 28.11.1942 (261)

Order of battle

Staff
- Staff
- 18. Mapping Detachment (mot)
30. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
- Regimental Band
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- Machine Gun Company (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
51. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
- Regimental Band
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- Machine Gun Company (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
118. Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
- Staff
- Light Armored Car Company
- 3 x Motorcycle Company
- Heavy Company (mot)
-- Pioneer Platoon
-- 2 x Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Light Infantry Gun Section
- Light Reconnaissance Column
118. Panzerjäger Battalion
- 3 x Panzerjäger Company (self-propelled)
118. Panzer Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- Flak Platoon
- 3 x Sturmgeschütz Battery
- Panzer Maintenance Platoon
18. Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Battery (mot)
- Regimental Band
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery (mot)
-- 4 x Battery (mot)
18. Pioneer Battalion
- 3 x Company (mot)
- Light Puoneer Column (mot)
18. Signals Troops
- Telephone Company (mot)
- Radio Company (mot)
- Signals Column (mot)
Supply & Support Units

Sources used

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

Reference material on this unit

Joachim Engelmann - Die 18. Infanterie und Panzergrenadier Division 1934-1945 (Bildband)
Reinhard Frank - Unsere Division in Sieg und Untergang: Erlebnisberichte von Angehörigen der 18. ID (mot.) und Pz.Gren.Div.
Viktor Scheffel - Die 18. Infanterie Division. Aufbau und Werden einer schlesischen Infanterie Division in 5 Friedensjahren (1934-1939)