Panzer Division Kempf

German Panzer Division Jüterbog
ActiveAugust – October 1939
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypePanzer
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeDivision
EngagementsPolish Campaign
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Werner Kempf

The Panzer Division "Kempf" (German: Panzer-Division "Kempf"), also East Prussia Panzer Formation (de: Panzerverband Ostpreußen) was an ad hoc combined arms formation consisting of regular German Army personnel and SS. It was created for operations out of East Prussia during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. The formation was generally called Panzer Division "Kempf" after General der Panzertruppe Werner Kempf assumed command, though it was only about half the strength of the other Panzer Divisions of the time.

The division participated in the Battle of Mława. The SS components of the division committed war crimes against Polish Jews (Massacre in Krasnosielc (in Polish)) on September 6, 1939, and against the Polish soldiers, civilians, including Polish Jews in the Massacre in Zakroczym on September 28, 1939.[1][2]

  1. ^ Kazimierz Szczerbatko: Zakroczym. Zakroczym: Urząd Gminy w Zakroczymiu, 1999. ISBN 83-912469-0-6.
  2. ^ Kazimierz Szczerbatko: Za życie oddane w ofierze. Zakroczym: Urząd Gminy w Zakroczymiu, 2002. ISBN 83-912469-5-7.