German Orders of Battle – Kursk July 1943

German Orders of Battle at the time of the tank battle of Kursk and the Allied invasion of Sicily from July 7, 1943.

Panzer III under fire at Kursk
Panzer III under fire during the tank battle of Kursk, July 1943. Still 432 Panzer III with the long 5 cm gun were available with the units of Army Group South and Center at the start of the battle.

 German tank has knocked-out and rolled over a Russian AT gun
A German tank has knocked-out and rolled over a Russian AT gun during the Battle of Kursk.
The German Orders of Battle and distribution of the divisions of the German Wehrmacht and subordinates units of allies at the time of the tank battle of Kursk and the Allied invasion of Sicily in midsummer 1943.
The Orders of Battle include also shattered divisions (as described ‘remainder’) as well as divisions in preparation (especially in the south, west and south-east).

Fortress divisions are officially designated ‘not mobile’ divisions, designated for the defence of coastal sections in the west.

Luftwaffe field divisions were raised from surplus ground crews and anti-aircraft soldiers of the Air Force to reinforce the army, but they were of low fighting power because it’s soldiers and officers had little experience in ground warfare.

Security divisions were used for the guarding and defence of bridges, railway lines and other important objects against partisans.

Jaeger divisions were light and mobile units for difficult terrain and were especially active in the fight against partisans (an interesting side note to the war against the partisans, which falls in this period: with order from July 1943, captured partisans (called ‘bandits’) were now officially treated as prisoners of war (POW) and were used as workers in Germany and occupied territories, and not – as previously customary – executed).

Schematic layout of the German Wehrmacht from July 7, 1943

Army Group A:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
located on the Crimea and Kuban bridgehead (Caucasus) in RussiaReserves13 Panzer Division
Commander of the CrimeaReservesSlovak Fast Division
Romanian Mountain Corps4 Romanian Mountain Division (bulk)
2 Romanian Mountain Division
153 Training Division
13 Panzer Division (parts)
355 Infantry Division
381 Training Division (remainder)
Commander of the Strait of Kerch4 Romanian Mountain Division (elements)
5 Luftwaffen Field Division
17 ArmyV Corps (Romanian Cavalry Corps subordinated)9 Romanian Cavalry Division
19 Romanian Infantry Division (bulk)
6 Romanian Cavalry Division (remainder)
4 Mountain Division (remainder)
1 Romanian Mountain Division
73 Infantry Division (remainder)
9 Infantry Division
XXXXIV Corps97 Jaeger Division
79 Infantry Division
101 Jaeger Division
19 Romanian Infantry Division (parts)
3 Romanina Mountain Division (parts)
10 Romanian Infantry Division (bulk)
98 Infantry Division
125 Infantry Division (bulk)
XXXXIX Mountains Corps370 Infantry Division
50 Infantry Division
125 Infantry Division (parts)
3 Romanian Mountain Division (bulk)
10 Romanian Mountain Division (parts)
13 Panzer Division (parts)

Army Group South:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
located on southern RussiaReserves24 Romanian Infantry Division
6 ArmyReserves16 Panzer Grenadiers Division (bulk)
XXIX Corps16 Panzer Grenadiers Division (parts)
111 Infantry Division
15 Luftwaffen Field Division
17 Infantry Division
336 Infantry Division
XVII Corps294 Infantry Division
306 Infantry Division
302 Infantry Division
IV Corps304 Infantry Division
3 Mountain Division
335 Infantry Division
1 Panzer ArmyReserves: XXIV Panzer Corps23 Panzer Division
17 Panzer Division
5 SS Panzer Division Wiking
XXX Corps62 Infantry Division
38 Infantry Division
387 Infantry Division
XXXX Panzer Corps333 Infantry Division
46 Infantry Division
257 Infantry Division
LVII Panzer Corps15 Infantry Division
198 Infantry Division
328 Infantry Division
Army KempfXXXXII Corps161 Infantry Division
39 Infantry Division
282 Infantry Division
XI Corps320 Infantry Division
106 Infantry Division
III Panzer Corps7 Panzer Division
19 Panzer Division
6 Panzer Division
168 Infantry Division
4 Panzer ArmyII SS Panzer Corps3 SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
2 SS Panzer Division Das Reich
1 SS Panzer Division Adolf Hitler
167 Infantry Division (parts)
XXXXVIII Panzer Corps167 Infantry Division (bulk)
11 Panzer Division
Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland
3 Panzer Division
LII Corps332 Infantry Division
255 Infantry Division
57 Infantry Division
Commander of the Army Group South213 Security Division
454 Security Division
444 Security Division

Army Group Center:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
located in Central RussiaReserves5 Panzer Division
8 Panzer Division
236 Infantry Division (elements)
83 Infantry Division
390 Training Division
391 Training Division
12 Panzer Division
4 Panzer Division
10 Panzer Grenadier Division)
2 ArmyVII Corps68 Infantery Division
75 Infantry Division
26 Infantry Division
323 Infantry Division (remainder)
88 Infantry Division
XIII Corps327 Infantry Division
340 Infantry Division
377 Infantry Division (remainder)
82 Infantry Division
Commander of 2 Army1 Hungarian Security Division
9 ArmyXX Corps251 Infantry Division
45 Infantry Division
137 Infantry Division
72 Infantry Division
XXXXVI Panzer Corps102 Infantry Division
258 Infantry Division
7 Infantry Division
31 Infantry Division
XXXXVII Panzer Corps20 Panzer Division
2 Panzer Division
6 Infantry Division
9 Panzer Division
XXIII Corps78 Infantry Division
216 Infantry Division
383 Infantry Division
36 Infantry Division (parts)
2 Panzer ArmyReserves112 Infantry Division
707 Infantry Division
XXXV Corps299 Infantry Division
56 Infantry Division
262 Infantry Division
34 Infantry Division
LIII Corps208 Infantry Division
221 Security Division (parts)
25 Panzer Grenadiers Division
211 Infantry Division
293 Infantry Division
LV Corps134 Infantry Division
110 Infantry Division
296 Infantry Division
339 Infantry Division
4 ArmyReserves183 Infantry Division
253 Infantry Division
LVI Panzer Corps131 Infantry Division
14 Infantry Division
321 Infantry Division
XII Corps267 Infantry Division
260 Infantry Division
268 Infantry Division
IX Corps342 Infantry Division
252 Infantry Division
35 Infantry Division
XXXIX Panzer Corps337 Infantry Division
95 Infantery Division
129 Infantery Division
XXVII Corps246 Infantry Division
197 Infantry Division
256 Infantry Division
52 Infantry Division
3 Panzer ArmyReserves201 Security Division
VI Corps206 Infantry Division
330 Infantry Division
87 Infantry Division
II Luftwaffen (Air Force) Field Corps4 Luftwaffen Field Division
3 Luftwaffen Field Division
6 Luftwaffen Field Division
2 Luftwaffen Field Division
LIX Corps263 Infantry Division
291 Infantry Division
XXXXIII Corps20 Panzer Grenadier Division
205 Infantry Division
Commander of the Army Group CenterHungarian VIII Corps105 Hungarian Light Division
102 Hungarian Light Division
201 Hungarian Security Division
108 Hungarian Light Division
Commander of the Army Group Center286 Security Division
221 Security Division (bulk)
203 Security Division

Army Group North:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
iocated in northern RussiaReserves18 Panzer Grenadiers Division
223 Infantry Division
388 Training Division
16 ArmyII Corps331 Infantry Division
12 Infantry Division
218 Infantry Division
123 Infantry Division
93 Infantry Division
VIII Corps21 Luftwaffen Field Division
122 Infantry Division
32 Infantry Division
X Corps5 Jaeger Division
30 Infantry Division
8 Jaeger Division
126 Infantry Division
329 Infantry Division
18 ArmyReserves121 Infantry Division
28 Jaeger Division
XXXVIII Corps1 Luftwaffen Field Division
717 Infantry Division
Latvian SS Volunteers Brigade
I Corps13 Luftwaffen Field Division
227 Infantry Division
XXVIII Corps96 Infantry Division
61 Infantry Division
81 Infantry Division
12 Luftwaffen Field Division
225 Infantry Division
132 Infantry Division
XXVI Corps212 Infantry Division
1 Infantry Division
11 Infantry Division
69 Infantry Division
290 Infantry Division
23 Infantry Division
5 Mountain Division
LIV Corps21 Infantry Division
24 Infantry Division
254 Infantry Division
SS Police Division
58 Infantry Division
L Corps250 Spanish Infantry Division
170 Infantry Division
215 Infantry Division
III Luftwaffen (Air Force) Field Corps9 Luftwaffen Field Division
10 Luftwaffen Field Division
Commander of the Army Group North207 Security Division
281 Security Division
285 Security Division


subordinated to OKW (Headquarter of the Wehrmacht):

ArmyCorpsDivisions
located in Norway, Lapland and Finland
20 Mountains ArmyXVIII Mountains CorpsSS Mountain Division North
7 Mountain Division
Mountain Police Regiment 18
XXXVI Mountains Corps169 Infantry Division
163 Infantry Division
XIX Mountains Corps2. Mountain Division
6 Mountain Division
210 Infantry Division
+ 4 Infantry regiments
AOK (Army Headquarter) NorwayReserves25 Panzer Division
196 Infantry Division
274 Fortress Division (in preparation)
LXXI Corps230 Infantry Division
270 Infantery Division
199 Infantry Division
XXXIII Corps14 Luftwaffen Field Division
702 Infantry Division
181 Infantry Division
LXX Corps269 Infantry Division
280 Infantry Division
214 Infantry Division
710 Infantry Division
subordinated to OKWCommander of the German units in Denmark416 Infantry Division
71 Infantry Division (in preparation)
20 Luftwaffen Field Division (in preparation)

Army Group D, Commander of the West:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
in France, Belgium and NetherlandsReserves21 Panzer Division (in preparation)
26 Panzer Division
1 Paratroopers Division
2 Paratroopers Division
264 Fortress Division (in preparation)
325 Security Division
148 Reserve Infantry Division
189 Reserve Infantry Division
159 Reserve Infantery Division
157 Reserve Infantry Division
165 Reserve Infantry Division
182 Reserve Infantry Division
Army Commander NetherlandsReserves376 Infantry Division (in preparation)
LXXXVIII Corps347 Fortress Division
16 Luftwaffen Fortress Division
719 Fortress Division
15 Army (located around Calais)Reserves44 Infantry Division
65 Infantry Division
305 Infantry Division
24 Panzer Division (in preparation)
9 SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen (in preparation)
LXXXIX Corps19 Luftwaffen Fortress Division
712 Fortress Division
171 Reserve Infantry Division
LXXXII Corps18 Luftwaffen Fortress Division
156 Reserve Infantry Division
191 Reserve Infantry Division
LXXXI Corps348 Fortress Division
17 Luftwaffen Fortress Division
71 Fortress Division
7 Army (located in Normandy and Bretagne)Reserves76 Infantry Division
94 Infantry Division
113 Infantry Division
371 Infantry Division
389 Infantry Division (in preparatiion)
LXXXIV Corps716 Fortress Division
709 Fortress Division
319 Fortress Division
LXXXVII Corps346 Fortress Division
343 Fortress Division
XXV Corps384 Fortress Division
1 Army (in south west France)Reserves334 Infantry Division (in preparation)
14 Panzer Division (in preparation)
10 SS Panzer-Division Carl the Great (in preparation)
LXXX Corps158 Reserve Infantry Division
708 Fortress Division
LXXXVI Corps344 Fortress Division
Army Felber (southern France)ReservesPanzer Grenadier Division Feldherrnhalle (in preparation)
LXXXIII Corps326 Fortress Division
388 Fortress Division
356 Fortress Division
715 Infantry Division

Army Group E, Commander South East:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
located in Yugoslavia and GreeceReservesAssault Division Rhodos (in preparation)
Commander of the German units in Croatia100 Jaeger Division (in preparation)
114 Jaeger Division
118 Jaeger Division
7 SS Voluteers Mountain Division Prince Eugen
369 Croatian Infantry Division
373 Croatian Infantry Division
187 Reserve Infantry Division
Commander of Serbia297 Infantry Division (in preparation)
7 Bulgarian Infantry Division
9 Bulgarian Infantry Division
21 Bulgarian Infantry Division
Commander of Saloniki and Aegean1 Mountain Division
Commander of south Greece11 Luftwaffen Field Division
104 Jaeger Division
LXVIII Corps1 Panzer Division
117 Jaeger Division
Commander of the Fortress CreteFortress Brigade Crete
22 Infantry Division
Italian Infantry Division Sienna

Commander Theatre South:

ArmyCorpsDivisions
located on Sicily, Corsica, Sardina and Italy (officially subordinated to Italian Commando Supremo)XIV Panzer CorpsPanzer Division Herman Goering
16 Panzer Division
29 Panzer Grenadiers Division
SS Assault Brigade
15 Panzer Grenadier Division (in preparation)
90 Panzer Grenadier Division (in preparation)
3 Panzer Grenadier Division (in preparation)

Reserve Army and Commander of the army armament (divisions under preparation):
265 Fortress Infantry Division
266 Fortress Infantry Division
295 Infantry Division
and additional 11 Infantry, 1 Jaeger, 3 Panzer, 5 Panzer Grenadier divisions as new units under preparation.


Overview of fully established and operational divisions of the Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe, Reserve Army and allied units under operational control:

PzPzGrenInfJagMtSecAFAllied
Army Group A1-821-19
Army Group South12127-1311
Army Group Center8 3.560--445
Army Group North-1323136 1.5
Norway, Finland 1- 13 2/3- 4 2/3- 1 1/3 -
OB West1124--16-
OB Southeast1- 1.5 42-16
OB South1 2.5 ----1-
Denmark--1---1-
TOTAL259167 1/399 2/31122 1/3 22.5


Pz = panzer (armoured) division; PzGren =Panzer Grenadier (motorized infantry with armour); Inf = Infantry; Jag = Jaeger (light infantry), Mt = mountain division; Sec = security division; AF = Air Force (Luftwaffe) divisions (Air landing, Paratroopers, Luftwaffe Field); Allied = allied units


Tank inventory

Known quantities of tanks with Army Groups South and Center before the tank battle of Kursk (July 1943):

TypeInventory
Panzer III (E-J) with short 5cm gun L/42141
Panzer III (J-M) with long 5cm gun L/60432 (+49 on Sicily)
Panzer III N with short 7.5cm gun L/24 155
Panzer III (flame-thrower)41
Panzer IV (B-F1) with short 7.5cm gun L/2460 (Russian Front total)
Panzer IV (F2-H) with long 7.5cm gun 841
Assault gun StuG III (B-E) with short 7.5cm gun L/24 37

Inventory of armoured fighting vehicles on January 1, 1943:

TypeInventory
Panzer II997
Panzer 38(t)287
Panzer III 2,944
Panzer IV1,077
Tiger I65
Armoured Command Vehicles278
Assault gun StuG III 1,140
Stu.Haub III (10.5cm L/28)9
Marder e.g. (7.5 and 7.62cm AT) 1,124
TOTAL 7,927

See also: Germany Army Unit Organization 1942-45


References and literature

Krieg der Panzer (Piekalkiewicz)
Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht, Band 1-8 (Percy E. Schramm)
Kraftfahrzeuge und Panzer der Reichswehr, Wehrmacht und Bundeswehr (Werner Oswald)
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two (P.Chamberlain, H.L.Doyle)


Oval@3x 2

Don’t miss the newest posts on Sunday!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

for sharing:

1 thought on “German Orders of Battle – Kursk July 1943”

  1. Good sir, you wouldn’t happen to have the break down of the actual numbers and types of AFVs per panzer division? Would you?
    Thanks, Ed

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top