178th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)

The 178th Panzer Division (178. Panzerdivision or Nr. 178 Panzerdivision) was a former panzer division of the Wehrmacht. The division participated little, but was part of the later stages of World War II.

History
The 179th Panzer Division was originally formed on 15 December 1940 as Division Nr. 178. It initially controlled only motorized units attached to the 148th Replacement Division and 158th Replacement Division based in Lorraine and Alsace regions in France respectively.

On 20 April 1942 the division was redesignated as the, in english, 178th Motorized Repalcement Division. On 5 April 1943 the division was reorganised as a panzer replacement and training division. As part of the changes the division was assigned to the Home Army.

Finally due to the larger amounts of casualties, the division was deactivated and its members were attached to Panzer Division Tatra.

Organisation
The division's organisation was as follows:
 * Divisional Staff
 * 55th Panzer Reconnaissance Replacement and Training Battalion
 * 15th Panzer Replacement and Training Battalion
 * 85th Panzergrenadier Training Regiment
 * 128th Motorized Grenadier Training Regiment
 * 8th Panzerjäger Replacement and Training Battalion

Commanders
Commanders of the divison included:
 * 1940—1942 Generalleutnant Curt Bernard
 * 1942—1944 Generalleutnant Frederich-Wilhelm von Leoper
 * 1944—1944 Generalleutnant Karl Friedrich von der Meden
 * 1944—1945 Generalmajor Hans-Ulrich Back
 * 1945—End Generalleutnant Karl Friedrich von der Meden