The 90. Panzergrenadier-Division was formed on 6 July 1943 in Sardinia from Division Sardinien as a replacement for the destroyed 90. Leichte Afrika-Division. It was moved to Corsica before being transferred to northern Italy. It fought at Anzio, Rome, the Caesar and Gothic Lines and the Po River.
It was destroyed near Bologna, Italy, April 1945.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Carl-Hans Lungershausen (6 July 1943 - 20 Dec 1943)
Generalleutnant Ernst-Günther Baade (20 Dec 1943 - 9 Dec 1944)
General der Panzertruppen Gerhard Graf von Schwerin (9 Dec 1944 - 26 Dec 1944)
Generalmajor Heinrich Baron von Behr (27 Dec 1944 - ? Apr 1945)

Area of operations

Italy (July 1943 - Apr 1945)

Nicknames

Afrika-Division (Africa Division)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (4)
- Pibitz, Franz, 07.08.1944 (3661), Unteroffizier, Zugführer i. d. 9./Gren.Rgt. 361 (mot)
- Reichelt, Lothar, 17.03.1944 (2998), Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel, 6./Gren.Rgt. 361 (mot)
- Schücking, Reyner, 05.12.1944 (4727), Leutnant, Zugführer i. d. 10./Gren.Rgt. 200 (mot)
- Schultz, Harald, 17.11.1944 (4503), Oberleutnant, I./Art.Rgt. 190 (mot)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- Ibetsberger, Paul, 18.05.1944 [Date of Action] (530), Feldwebel, 5./Gren.Rgt. 361
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (23)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (3)
- Gebert, Dr. Willi, 22.09.1944, Oberstabsarzt, Stab/90. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Harz, Siegfried, 29.04.1945, Oberstabsintendant, Stab/90. Pz.Gren.Div.
- Stockburger, Artur, 31.01.1945, Major, Div.Kfz.Offz. Stab/90. Pz.Gren.Div.
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (15)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (23) (19 RK + 3 EL + 1 SW)

Order of battle (July 1943)

Staff
- 190. Mapping Detachment (mot)
- Staff / 90. Schützen Brigade (mot)
- Escort Company
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
155. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
- 2 x Battalion (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
200. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
- 2 x Battalion (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
361. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
- 2 x Battalion (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
Mixed Gebirgsjäger Company
190. Panzer Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Company
- 2 x Panzer Company
- Maintenance Platoon
- 3 x Company
242. Sturmgeschütz Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- 3 x Sturmgeschütz Battery
1 / 190. Panzerjäger Battalion
190. Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery
-- 3 x Battery
2 / 5. Luftwaffe Flak Regiment
- Staff
- 3 x Heavy Flak Battery
- 2 x Light Flak Battery
- Light Flak Column
190. Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- 3 x Company (mot)
Supply & Support Units

Notable members

Claus von Amsberg (married to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1966 when he became HRH Prince Claus of the Netherlands)
Joachim Sadrozinski (Active in the resistance against Hitler and executed after the failure of the July 20 Plot)

Insignia

The "Sardinienschild" represents a stylized Sardinia island crossed by a sword and was worn on the left side of the cap.

Photo © Jacques

It seems that another badge existed for that division; a "Springender Reiter".

In fiction

The novel "Mac Wingate #4: Mission Code Granite Island" by Bryan Swift depicts the namesake of the series and a band of Corsican maquisards being ambushed by a trio of PzKpfw III tanks of the 90. Panzergrenadier-Division on Corsica in September 1943.

Panzer IV in Sardinia in 1943

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

Panzer IV in Palau on Sardinia in 1943

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

Sources used

Jill Halcomb & Wilhelm P. B. R. Saris - Headgear of Hitler's Germany, Vol 1
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -