The 1. Panzer-Division, one of the pioneering armored formations of the Wehrmacht, was officially established on 15 October 1935 in Weimar from elements of the 3. Kavallerie-Division as part of Germany's rapid rearmament following the renunciation of the Treaty of Versailles, initially commanded by General der Kavallerie Maximilian von Weichs and equipped with a mix of light Panzer I and Panzer II tanks alongside early models of the Panzer III and IV. Comprising the 1. Panzer-Brigade with Panzer-Regiment 1 and later Panzer-Regiment 2, the 1. Schützen-Brigade including Schützen-Regiment 1 and Schützen-Regiment 113 (later redesignated as Panzergrenadier regiments), Kradschützen-Bataillon 1, Artillerie-Regiment 73, and supporting units such as Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 and Pionier-Bataillon 37, it embodied the combined-arms doctrine of Blitzkrieg with integrated tanks, motorized infantry, reconnaissance, and artillery. The division first saw action in the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939, then spearheaded the Invasion of Poland in September 1939 as part of Army Group South, advancing rapidly toward Warsaw. In the 1940 Western Campaign, it played a pivotal role in the breakthrough at Sedan under XIX. Armeekorps, raced to the English Channel, participated in the encirclement at Dunkirk, and pushed south to the Swiss border, capturing Belfort with relatively light casualties. Transferred east in 1941, it joined Panzer-Gruppe 4 in Operation Barbarossa, fighting fiercely toward Leningrad before redeploying to Army Group Center for the drive on Moscow, where it advanced to within 20 miles of the Soviet capital amid harsh winter conditions and heavy attrition. Throughout 1942-1943, it defended critical sectors like the Rzhev Salient, endured brutal attrition battles, and was refitted in France and Greece before returning to the Eastern Front with Panther tanks, distinguishing itself in mobile defensive operations around Kiev, Zhitomir, the Cherkassy pocket relief attempts, and the Kamenets-Podolsky encirclement. In its final campaigns, the 1. Panzer-Division fought in Hungary during the failed relief of Budapest, defensive actions around Lake Balaton, and the retreat into Austria and southern Bavaria, ultimately surrendering to American forces on 8 May 1945 near the demarcation line rather than to the Soviets, having earned a reputation as one of the Wehrmacht's most reliable and battle-hardened panzer formations across nearly the entire span of the European theater.
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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER
Oberstleutnant Dr.jur. Josef-Franz Eckinger (1904-1941) was a highly decorated Austrian-born German officer in the Heer during the Second World War who rose to prominence as a bold and resourceful battalion commander in the 1. Panzer-Division. Born in Steyr, he joined the Austrian Bundesheer as a Dragoner in 1924, advanced to Oberleutnant by 1933 while studying law, and was transferred into the Wehrmacht as Hauptmann in 1938, eventually becoming Chef of the 8. Kompanie in Schützen-Regiment 1. He participated in the Polenfeldzug and distinguished himself in the Westfeldzug of 1940 as Führer of the II./Schützen-Regiment 1, leading aggressive motorized assaults that contributed significantly to the rapid breakthroughs achieved by Guderian’s XIX. Armeekorps; for these actions he was promoted to Major on 1 January 1941 and awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 17 March 1941. Transferred to the Ostfront in June 1941, he assumed command of the I./Schützen-Regiment 113 (motorisiert) of the 1. Panzer-Division within XXXXI. Armeekorps of Panzer-Gruppe 4 on 1 September 1941, spearheading advances toward Leningrad and later toward Moscow in grueling defensive and offensive operations. His most celebrated feat occurred on 14 October 1941 near Kalinin, where, reinforced by artillery and elements of Panzer-Regiment 1, he executed a daring thrust that captured two intact Wolga bridges before Soviet forces could destroy them, securing a vital crossing for the continued German advance despite fierce resistance and difficult terrain. Tragically, just three days later on 17 October 1941, Major Eckinger fell in action at Mjednoje on the Wolga; he was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant and on 31 December 1941 became the 48th recipient of the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz, recognizing his repeated leadership in critical panzergrenadier assaults that exemplified the aggressive spirit of the early Blitzkrieg campaigns.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Panzer_Division_(Wehrmacht)
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