4th Panzergrenadier Division (Bundeswehr)
The 4th Panzer Grenadier Division was one of the Army of the Bundeswehr with the seat of the last rod in Regensburg Division. The units of the Division were stationed mainly in the east of Bavaria in the districts of Upper Palatinate, Lower Bavaria and Upper Franconia. In the Army structure new army for new tasks (1996-2000), the division merged with the 1st Airborne Division to command Airmobile Forces / 4th Division and heard thus de facto on to exist as a separate division. The successor organization was the nucleus of the later Special Operations Division.
Badge
The Badge corresponds to the coat of arms of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate, in the Division associated organizations and units were deployed in the center of gravity. Heraldic coat of arms is cleaved by an ascending and be swept red top, in two diagonally crossed silver key; front in black on the left inverted, red reinforced and red crowned golden lion, behind the Bavarian lozenges.
The golden lion and the white- blue diamonds refer to the Wittelsbach rule in the Upper Palatinate region since the Middle Ages. The Palatinate Lion and the Bavarian lozenges can be found since the 16th century in the seal image of the Upper Palatinate countryside. The diagonally crossed silver key on a red field stand for the former imperial city of Regensburg. The key attribute of Saint Peter, originally referred to the patron of the Regensburg Cathedral. The tincture white and red corresponds to both the colors of the empire (for the City of Regensburg ) and the former Bishopric of Regensburg.
In Regensburg, the staff of the 4th Panzer Grenadier Division and more directly to the Division command subordinate units stationed. The Badge Division (led by staff, Headquarters Company and the units of the divisional troops ) was edged with a silver cord with Woven black thread.
The Badge has "survived" after the actual end of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division as a coat of arms of the 12 Armoured Brigade. Building on the history of this brigade as the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Panzer Grenadier Division, the Brigade Badge is however a yellow border.
History
The division was first established in 1956 under the name 4th Infantry Division from Federal troops of the Federal Border Southern Command in Munich. The division was initially placed under the II Corps in Ulm. As early as 15 September, the division headquarters was moved to Regensburg. Initially subordinate to the Division, the staff and headquarters company, the battle group A 4 ( Amberg ), the battle group B 4 ( Coburg, later Ellwangen ), the Signal Battalion 4 (Regensburg), the Grenadier Battalion 4 ( Deggendorf ), the Infantry Battalion 14 (Hof / Stadtsteinach ), the infantry Battalion 24 ( Coburg, later Ellwangen ), the infantry Battalion 34 ( Coburg, later game patches ), the tank Battalion 4 (pasture, later: Amberg ), the pioneer battalion 4 ( Rosenheim), the Air Defence battalion 4 ( Amberg ), the Artillery Regiment 4 ( pastures ), the Light box repair company 4 ( Amberg ), the Quartermaster company 4 ( Murnau ), the Military Police company 4 (Regensburg), the music corps VI ( Munich). In 1958, the battle group C4 was placed separately. Since 1958 the association was incorporated into the structures of NATO. 1959, the 4th Infantry Division was renamed the 4th Panzer Grenadier Division. In 1959 the battle groups were reclassified into brigades. It emerged the Panzergrenadier Brigade 10 in pastures that Panzergrenadier Brigade 11 in arc (formerly Battle Group B 4 ), the armored brigade 12 ( Amberg ) (formerly Battle Group A4) and the Armoured Brigade 30th Panzer Brigade 30 moved in 1959 to the newly formed 10th Panzer Grenadier Division. In 1970 the division was renamed and reclassified into 4 Hunter Division. Imputed armored infantry brigades were also reclassified to hunters brigades. In the Army Structure 4 ( 1980 ), the division was again renamed and reclassified 4th Panzer Grenadier Division. You then focused on the following organizations and entities:
- Panzergrenadier Brigade 10 ( willow )
- Panzergrenadier Brigade 11 (arc)
- 12 Armoured Brigade ( Amberg )
- Artillery Regiment 4 (Regensburg) Field Artillery Battalion 41
- Rocket Artillery Battalion 42 ( Hemau )
- Observation Battalion 43 ( Amberg )
- Accompanying battery 4 ( Hemau )
1994 merged the 4th Panzer Grenadier Division with the 1st Airborne Division to command Airmobile Forces / 4th Division, the reasons of tradition remembered in the name of the 4th Division. De facto heard the Division on order to exist. 2001, this succession association was dissolved and reclassified into the Special Operations Division.