Armored Brigade 21

Panzerbrigade 21 "Lipperland" - PzBrig 21 - X
Association badge
Lineup	1957
Country	Germany
Armed forces	armed forces
Armed forces	army
Subordinate troops	Headquarters and Telecommunications Company Panzer Brigade 21 "Lipperland" Jäger Battalion 1 Panzer Battalion 203 Panzer Grenadier Battalion 212 Reconnaissance Battalion 7 Panzer Engineer Battalion 1 Supply Battalion 7 Jäger Battalion 921 (na)
Strength	approx. 5500
Insinuation	1st Armored Division
Brigade headquarters	GFM-Rommel-Kaserne Augustdorf , North Rhine-Westphalia
Brigade headquarters	Ahlen (AufklBtl 7) Holzminden (PzPiBtl 1) Schwarzenborn (JgBtl 1, JgBtl 921 (na)) Unna - Königsborn (VersBtl 7)
motto	Ready to fight to make peace
march	The Great Elector's Riding March
equipment	Leopard 2 , IFV Puma
Awards	Flag ribbon of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Web presence	PzBrig 21
Brigade command
Brigade commander	Colonel Stephan Willer
Deputy BrigKdr	Colonel Jochen Geck

Former Commander, Brigadier General Ansgar Meyer (2019)

The Panzerbrigade 21 "Lipperland" ( PzBrig 21 ) is a Brigade of the army of the German Federal Armed Forces . Their staff and two battalions are stationed in the Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel-Kaserne in Augustdorf , further battalions in Unna - Königsborn , Schwarzenborn , Ahlen and Holzminden .

The approximately 5500  soldiers strong brigade is as panzerlehrbrigade 9 and the Panzergrenadierbrigade 41 of the first tank division in Oldenburg . It bears the nickname " Lipperland " as a reference to its location in the Lippe district . The brigade is the last major unit of the army whose staff is stationed in North Rhine-Westphalia .

assignment

The brigade presents itself to the public at the Augustdorf Soldiers Day

The order of the brigade is basically congruent with the order of the superordinate 1st Panzer Division . As part of the 1st Panzer Division, it regularly provides forces to fulfill the international obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany. This includes the provision of troops for the EU battlegroups , the NATO Response Force and the ORF battalion . The brigade is empowered to conduct high-intensity peace-enforcing operations against militarily organized opponents. Within the divisional framework, it can be reinforced by the division troops of the 1st Panzer Division. In addition to these high-intensity intervention missions, it takes part in peace-keeping and peace-stabilizing missions of medium and low intensity over long periods of time. These include above all EUFOR , KFOR and the now completed ISAF mission.

Association badge

The blazon of the association badge of the Panzer Brigade 21 worn on the left sleeve of the service suit reads: "In red with a yellow shield border a soaring silver (white) horse ."

The Badge follows the heraldic conventions for the Badge of the brigades of the Army of the Armed Forces before 1989. Therefore, the Badge of the brigade is similar to the Badge of the 7th Armored Division and their original subordinate brigades 19 and 20 - only the different colored Borde distinguished the Badge of these associations . While the division's association badge was surrounded by a silver cord with black braided thread, the subordinate brigades were given, in the order of their ordinal numbers, a simple white (for Panzergrenadierbrigade 19 ), a red (for Panzerbrigade 20 ) or, as with all “third” Brigades ”of a division, as in the case of Panzerbrigade 21, a yellow border. With the exception of the board, these association badges are similar to the coat of arms of the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippes , whose coat of arms goes back to the coat of arms of the Prussian province of Westphalia and is still a symbol of Westphalia today. The steed is therefore also known as the Westphalian horse and can still be found today in many coats of arms of the region and also in the coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia . Before 1990, Westphalia was home to most of the troops of the 7th “Westphalian” Panzer Division , although Lippe is not considered part of Westphalia, to which it is nevertheless culturally close. The association badge of the 1st Panzer Division depicts the Westphalia horse as a jumping Sachsenross in an alternative heraldic form.

The internal association badge of the staff is worn by members of the staff and the staff company as a tag on the breast pocket of the uniform . The blazon reads: “ Divided by silver (white) and red . Above is a five-petalled red rose with golden (yellow) sepals covered with a silver (white) piercing helmet. Below a soaring silver horse " In heraldry, the rose is called the Lippe rose . It goes back to the coat of arms of the Free State of Lippe and its predecessors, to which Augustdorf belonged before 1947. The rose was previously also found in the coat of arms of the staff of Luftlandebrigade 27 (whose location Lippstadt was once Lippisch) and today in many coats of arms of the region as well as in that of the Lippe district , which roughly covers the area of ​​the Free State of Lippe. The stech helmet is supposed to symbolize the defensive ability of the Panzer Brigade 21.

See also : List of Association Badges of the Bundeswehr

Motto

The motto of Panzer Brigade 21 is:

"Ready to fight to make peace"

The motto was ordered in December 2006. The motto is to do justice to the change in the orientation of the brigade as part of the intervention forces. The motto was selected in an ideas competition with around 80 entries. The suggestion “Ready to fight, to create peace” comes from Major Ludger Hose, deputy commander of the Armored Infantry Battalion 212 .

organization

guide

The brigade is subordinate to the 1st Panzer Division in Oldenburg . Its commander is usually a commander in the rank of Brigadier General . The deputy brigade commander usually holds the rank of colonel . In addition to his position as deputy brigade commander, he is also the commander of the brigade units . The subordinate battalions are usually led by officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel .

structure

• Headquarters and telecommunications company Panzerbrigade 21 “Lipperland”, Augustdorf
• Jägerbataillon 1 , Schwarzenborn
• Panzer Battalion 203, Augustdorf
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 , Augustdorf
• Reconnaissance Battalion 7, Ahlen
• Panzer Pioneer Battalion 1, Holzminden
• Supply Battalion 7, Unna
• Jägerbataillon 921 (not active), Schwarzenborn

history

Training area of ​​the brigade in Augustdorf

Army Structure I (1956–1959)

The later Panzer Brigade 21 was set up in Army Structure I on August 15, 1957 in Unna as Panzer Combat Group C3 and subordinated to the 3rd Panzer Division . The designation "C3" indicated that the Panzerkampfgruppe C3 was planned as the third combat group (in addition to the combat groups A3 and B3 set up in Hamburg ). Initially, the Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 and the Panzerartillery battalion 215 (both based in Augustdorf) were subordinate to the headquarters of the Panzer Battle Group . Of these two units, only the 212 Panzer Grenadier Battalion is still part of the brigade today. In March 1959, the Panzerkampfgruppe was subordinate to the following troops before it was reclassified to Army Structure II :

• Staff / headquarters company Panzerkampfgruppe C3, Unna
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 , Augustdorf
• Armored Artillery Battalion 215, Augustdorf

Army Structure II (1959–1970)

General Ulrich de Maizière, General Inspector of the German Armed Forces (1966–1972), visits Panzerbrigade 21 in Augustdorf

From 1959 the combat group was completely stationed in the Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel-Kaserne Augustdorf. On March 16, 1959, the combat group was renamed Panzerbrigade 21 and subordinated to the 7th Panzer Division in Unna, which was called the 7th Panzer Grenadier Division between 1959 and 1980 . According to its serial number, the brigade was the “third” brigade of the 7th Panzer Grenadier Division, alongside the 19 Armored Infantry Brigade and 20 Armored Brigade. However, the formation of Panzer Brigade 20, which only received its staff in 1964, could not be replenished until 1970 and was completely deactivated between 1970 and 1975, so that Panzer Brigade 21 and Panzer Grenadier Brigade 19 formed the core of the 7th Panzer Grenadier Division.

In the army structure II , the 21st Panzer Brigade was made up as opposed to 20 Armored Brigade with newly formed military units, which mainly in eastern Westphalia and neighboring Lower Saxony areas dislocated were. Panzerbrigade 21 was the east forward brigade of the 7th Panzer Grenadier Division, which was particularly predestined for the defense of the Rheinisch-Westfälisches industrial area . From 1959 onwards, the build-up of the brigade could be considered complete for the time being. In essence, the structure now adopted remained similar in the following decades. The following units belonged to the brigade in Army Structure II:

• Headquarters / headquarters company Panzerbrigade 21, Augustdorf
• Panzer reconnaissance company 210 in Hemer (set up in 1959, incorporated into the headquarters company as a brigade reconnaissance platoon in 1962)
• Panzerpionierkompanie 210 in Holzminden (established in 1959, moved to Höxter in 1961 )
• Anti-aircraft battery 210 in Fürstenau (installed in 1959)
• Panzerjägerkompanie 210 (established in Augustdorf in 1970)
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 in Augustdorf (set up in Augustdorf October 1958)
• Panzerbataillon 213 (set up as Panzerbataillon 1 in Dedelstorf in 1956 , subordinated to the brigade on March 16, 1959)
• the tank battalion 214 in Augustdorf (set up in 1959)
• Armored Artillery Battalion 215 in Augustdorf (established in 1958 as 1st Battalion Artillery Regiment 7 in Augustdorf)
• the supply battalion 216 in Lippstadt with one medical, repair and transport company each (4th / 216 relocated in 1962 from Lippstadt to Augustdorf)
• Field Replacement Battalion 217 (established in 1961)

Army Structure III (1970–1979)

For a short time in 1971/1972, the independent units (i.e. the independent companies / batteries with battalion number 210) of the brigade were combined in a disposition battalion 210 as part of a six-month troop trial. In 1978, the tank training company driving simulator chain 102, which was set up in the same year, was subordinated to the brigade. In this army structure, the reconnaissance component was again separated from the headquarters company as Panzer Reconnaissance Train 210. In addition, the repair company 210 and the supply company 210 were set up as brigade units in Augustdorf.

Army Structure IV (1980–1990)

In Army Structure IV, the brigade was expanded to include tank battalion 211, which was set up in Augustdorf in October 1980. The battalion's combat companies were commanded and trained in peacetime by tank battalions 213 and 214. In 1979 the Panzer Reconnaissance Platoon 210 was first reintegrated into the headquarters company and in 1982 was subordinated to the 7th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion as the 4th Company. In June 1988 the Panzer Brigade 21 was given the nickname " Lipperland ". Since June 22nd, 2006 there has been a sponsorship for the Lippe district .

The doctrine of flexible response and the associated defense concept of forward defense meant an increased level of readiness for the brigade, which covered the eastern sub-area in the stationing area of ​​the 7th Panzer Division. In the event of a defense , it should be able to take up the fight against the Warsaw Pact troops quickly and lead as far east as possible. Although the 7th Panzer Division had its stationing area more to the west than many other NATO divisions in the Federal Republic, there were only around 150 km between Augustdorf and the inner-German border . Strategically important lines of defense in the area where the brigade was stationed were the Weser and the heavily cut Weser Uplands, as well as the Mittelland Canal , the Wiehen and Weser Mountains with the important pass through the Porta Westfalica breakthrough and, further south, the elongated Teutoburg Forest , the last major terrain obstacle in front of the Westphalian Bight with the important industrial centers in the Ruhr area.

Army structure V (N) (1990–1997)

On September 30, 1992, the tank battalions 211 and 213 were decommissioned. In the same year, the brigade was assigned tank battalion 33 ( Neustadt am Rübenberge , district Luttmersen) and Panzergrenadierbataillon 32 ( Nienburg ). The tank reconnaissance company 210 was reorganized on November 16, 1992 as reconnaissance company 210 ( crisis reaction forces ) and reported operational readiness on April 1, 1993. In peacetime it was still subordinate to the division tank reconnaissance battalion 7. In addition, the combat troop battalions each received a field replacement company from the field replacement battalion 75, which was disbanded in 1993. Field replacement company 210 was also set up. The previously independent units supply company 210 and repair company 210 were assigned to supply battalion 7 and Subordinated to the repair battalion 71. In Army Structure V, Panzer Brigade 21 comprised the following units in addition to the units not classified in KRK and HVK:

• the crisis reaction forces (CRC):
  • Headquarters and headquarters company
  • Tank Battalion 33 in Neustadt am Rübenberge
  • Tank battalion 214 in Augustdorf
  • Panzer Reconnaissance Company 210
  • Panzerjägerkompanie 210 and
• the main defense forces (HVK):
  • Armored Engineer Company 210
  • Panzer Grenadier Battalion 212
  • Armored Artillery Battalion 215

In 1996 the Panzergrenadierbataillon 32 and the Panzerjägerkompanie 210 were disbanded. Panzer Battalion 33 moved to Panzergrenadierbrigade 1 in Hildesheim in 2002 .

After 1997

In 2002 the brigade u. a .:

• the Panzer Grenadier Battalion 192 in Ahlen
• the tank battalion 203 in Hemer
• the Panzer Grenadier Battalion 212 in Augustdorf
• the tank battalion 214 Augustdorf
• the armored artillery battalion 215 Augustdorf
• the Panzer Pioneer Battalion 1 in Holzminden and
• the logistics battalion 51 in Stadtallendorf .

In 2002 the previously subordinate tank battalion 214 was disbanded. Four years later, the repair battalion 7 from Unna was subordinated to the brigade. With the dissolution of the 7th Panzer Division based in Düsseldorf , the brigade switched to the 1st Panzer Division based in Hanover . In the same year, the Brigade was subordinated to the reconnaissance company 210 from Sontra and the Panzer Pioneer Battalion 1 from Holzminden switched to the Panzer Pioneer Brigade 100. At the end of 2006, the Panzer Grenadier Battalion 192 from Ahlen was disbanded. A year later the tank battalion 203 moved from Hemer to Augustdorf. On December 17, 2007, Panzerpionierkompanie 200 (until then Panzerbrigade 14 ) was subordinated to Panzerbrigade 21 after it had previously relocated to Augustdorf. Parts of logistics battalion 51 and repair battalion 7 merged in 2007/2008 to form logistics battalion 7th, Federal Archives

ARMY2011

Structure of Panzer Brigade 21 (until June 30, 2015)

In the course of the realignment of the Bundeswehr , Panzer Brigade 21 took over the structure HEER2011 :

• Headquarters / Telecommunication Company Panzerbrigade 21, Augustdorf (map)
  • Jägerbataillon 1, Schwarzenborn (map)

    Note: was created through the reclassification of Jägerregiment 1 , not identical to the former Jägerbataillon 1 ( Berlin ) . In anticipation of the new structure, Jägerregiment 1 was placed under the command in December 2012.

    • Training and support company 1, Schwarzenborn (map)
  • Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 , Augustdorf (map)
    • Training and support company 212, Augustdorf
  • Panzerbataillon 203, Augustdorf (map)
  • Reconnaissance Battalion 7, Ahlen (map)

    Note: has been reorganized. Not former Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 7 (Augustdorf) . Reconnaissance company 210 and parts of armored artillery battalion 215 (Augustdorf) were used for the establishment.

    • Recruiting company 3, Ahlen (map)

      Note: reorganization, not former recruit company 3 ( Idar-Oberstein )

  • Panzerpionierbataillon 1, Holzminden (map)
  • Supply Battalion 7 , Unna (map)

    Note: arose from reorganization / renaming of Logistikbataillon 7, 2nd company in Augustdorf, 3rd company in Unna, 4th company in Stadtallendorf

  • Jägerbataillon 921 (not active), Schwarzenborn (map)

    Couleur : Jäger Battalion 1 in the same location

The armored artillery battalion 215, the armored engineer company 200 and the reconnaissance company 210 were disbanded. On September 3, 2019, Prime Minister Armin Laschet awarded the brigade the flag of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Espionage cases

In the December 15, 1930 Bensheim -born former Lieutenant Colonel of the Air Force Norbert Moser worked as since 1956 Agent for the Ministry of State Security of the GDR . He was head of the air force connection commands in the Armored Brigade 21 and revealed, among other missiles - and bombs goals, schedules, service regulations and military exercises . For the betrayal he received 185,000  German marks as agent wages. Moser was from the German counter-intelligence unmasked, arrested in 1975 and on 16 December 1977 for treason according to § 94 of the Criminal Code of the Bavarian Supreme Court to eleven years imprisonment convicted.

Calls

• 1956, July, flood control in the Paderborn region
• 1959 Fighting forest fires in the Hörste , Pivitsheide and Hiddesen areas
• 1965 harvest use
• 1979 Disaster relief in the event of a snow disaster in Schleswig-Holstein
• 1981, August Flood control in the Lippe district
• 1989–1990 care for around 4,000 repatriates from Eastern Europe in the Staumühle camp
• 1993 UNOSOM II deployment abroad in Somalia .
• 1996 Pioneers in the Benkovac camp in Bosnia-Herzegovina . Construction of a bridge over the Bosna near Visoko
• 1997 Task force at the Oder flood in the Oderbruch , Brandenburg.
• 1997 Pre-order for the deployment of brigade parts within the framework of the 3rd GECONSFOR contingent in Bosnia-Herzegovina
• 1999 Parts of the brigade are relocated to the Rajlovac field camp ( Bosnia-Herzegovina ). Before the SFOR forces were relocated, plans were made for the deployment in Kosovo . Two tank companies of the brigade are subordinated to Armored Brigade 12 as parts of a reinforced mechanized battalion . The companies are relocated to Tetovo . After the ceasefire agreement between NATO and Yugoslavia they move to Prizren in Kosovo.
• 2000/2001 The brigade provides the 2nd KFOR contingent . Around 1,200 soldiers are deployed in the "Multinational Brigade South". The commander of tank brigade 21 "Lipperland", Brigadier General Langheld, leads this multinational brigade.
• 2003 The brigade provides the 7th KFOR contingent. Use of 10,000 soldiers in the comprehensive "Multinational Brigade South-West". The commander of tank brigade 21 “Lipperland”, Brigadier General Robert Bergmann, leads this multinational brigade.
• 2005/2006 The brigade provides soldiers for deployments in Sarajevo (2nd German deployment contingent EUFOR ), Prizren (12th German deployment contingent KFOR) and Kabul (9th German deployment contingent ISAF ). The Brigade Commander Brigadier General Manfred Hofmann was Chief of Staff at the EUFOR headquarters.
• In 2008 parts of Panzer Brigade 21 were assigned to the ISAF mission. The reinforced Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 provides a Quick Reaction Force , which is provided for the first time by the German army.
• 2013 flood operation in Saxony-Anhalt , focus on Magdeburg
• 2014 ISAF and KFOR
• 2017 Resolute Support in Afghanistan with 1200 soldiers
• 2019 In the first half of 2019, the 212 Panzer Grenadier Battalion provided the main forces of the Regional Command North Protection Battalion of the Resolute Support Mission in Kunduz and Mazar-e-Sharif , Afghanistan. In the second half of 2019, Panzerbataillon 203 provided around 65 soldiers for training support for the Bundeswehr in Iraq . The forces are deployed in Erbil and Taji .
• 2020 Reconnaissance Battalion 7 provides parts of the mixed reconnaissance company MINUSMA in Mali , Jäger Battalion 1 provides the main forces of the Protection Battalion Regional Command North of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan in the first half of 2020. The 230 soldiers come mainly from the staff as well as from the 1st, 2nd and 4th Company of the Jäger Battalion.
• 2020 In the second half of 2020, Panzerbataillon 203 provided support forces for the administrative assistance of the Bundeswehr on the occasion of the COVID-19 pandemic in Gütersloh .

Main weapon systems

The main weapon system of Panzer Brigade 21 is the Leopard 2 main battle tank in the A6M version. The 203 tank battalion has 44 main battle tanks. The Panzer Grenadier Battalion 212 is structured in the same way . This has 44 Marder armored personnel carriers in version 1A5. The supply of 44  Puma infantry fighting vehicles to replace the Marder began in January 2019 and is expected to be completed by 2020.

Commanders

Brigade commanders usually hold the rank of brigadier general . However, it is not uncommon for the commanders to take up their posts as colonels ( BBesO B 3 ) and only to be promoted to general after some time. The following commanders led the brigade (highest rank in this position ):

Surname	from	to	Remarks
Colonel Stephan Willer	July 10, 2020		previously Head of Division in the Personnel II 2 Department in the Federal Ministry of Defense
Brigadier General Ansgar Meyer	7th June 2018	July 10, 2020	currently Commander TAAC North of Resolute Support Mission Afghanistan
Brigadier General Heico Huebner	December 8, 2016	7th June 2018	currently office manager of the inspector general of the Bundeswehr General Eberhard Zorn
Brigadier General Kai Rohrschneider	March 14, 2014	December 8, 2016	currently Head of the Armed Forces Department in the Federal Ministry of Defense
Brigadier General Harald Gante	March 23, 2012	March 14, 2014	currently in command of the 10th Armored Division
Brigadier General Dirk Backen	March 2009	March 23, 2012	Follow-up use Defense Attaché , German Embassy Washington, DC
Brigadier General Jürgen Weigt	June 2006	February 2009	currently Deputy Inspector of the Armed Forces Base .
Brigadier General Manfred Hofmann	2004	June 2006	lastly Commander Multinational Corps North-East
Brigadier General Robert Bergmann	2002	2004	most recently commander of the Bundeswehr Commanding Academy
Brigadier General Wolf-Dieter Langheld	1999	2002	last commander JFC Brunssum
Brigadier General Dieter Löchel	1995	1999	most recently commissioner for education and training of the inspector general of the armed forces
Colonel Jörg Schweinsteiger	1992	1995	later defense and army attaché, German Embassy Paris
Brigadier General Günter Hannstein	1989	1992	last General of the Army Aviation
Colonel Dieter Schott	1985	1989	later as Brigadier General deputy division commander and commander of the division troops of the 5th Armored Division
Brigadier General Jörg Schönbohm	1983	1985	last inspector of the army , later Minister of the Interior of Brandenburg
Brigadier General Hartmut Behrendt	1981	1983	later commander of the 1st Panzer Division with the rank of major general
Colonel Roland Oppermann	1978	1981	later Defense Attaché German Embassy London ; as major general last commander military area command IV
Colonel Enno Walter	1976	1978	later head of the planning staff department in the command staff of the army and deputy commander of the 10th Panzer Division
Brigadier General Richard Freiherr von Rosen	1972	1976	most recently German representative at the Commander in Chief of the French Armed Forces in Germany
Brigadier General Wilhelm Renner	1966	1972	Great-grandson of Andreas von Renner
Brigadier General Rudolf Wätjen	1962	1966	later commander of the III combat force school
Colonel Karl Pfannkuche	1959	1962	-
Colonel Carl-Ernst Bothe	1958	1959	-

Former units

In the course of its history, the Panzer Brigade was subordinate to 21 different units, which are now decommissioned, subordinate to other units or known under new names. Some of the disbanded units are commemorated in the Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel-Kaserne in the Lippische Rose Military History Collection in Augustdorf. The formerly subordinate units include (selection):

	Unit	Location	Short chronicle
	Armored Engineer Battalion 1	Holzminden	Subordinated to 2002 (?), in 2006 transferred to Pioneer Brigade 100, now Pioneer Regiment 100, 1st Panzer Division , in future again subordinated to Panzer Brigade 21
	Repair Battalion 7	Unna	subordinated to 2006, with parts of logistics battalion 51 reclassified to logistics battalion 7 2007/2008
	Panzer Grenadier Battalion 32	Nienburg	subordinated to 1992, decommissioned in 1996, 1997 until the final dissolution in December 2003 only device unit
	Tank Battalion 33	Neustadt am Rübenberge	Transferred from Panzer Brigade 3 to Panzer Brigade 21 in 1992 ; 2002 change to Panzergrenadierbrigade 1 , since 2007 Panzerlehrbrigade 9
	Logistics Battalion 51	Stadtallendorf	Established in 2002, with parts of the maintenance battalion 7 2007/2008 reclassification to logistics battalion 7
	Repair Battalion 71	Unna	last not active supplementary troop unit , dissolution roll call on April 5, 2008, disbanded June 2008
	Resupply Battalion 71	Unna	last not active supplementary troop unit, dissolution roll call on April 5, 2008, disbanded June 2008
	Tank training company driving simulator chain 102		Established in 1978, disbanded in 2005
	Repair Battalion 130	Unna	last not active supplementary troop unit, dissolution roll call on April 5, 2008, dissolved on December 31, 2008
	Panzer Grenadier Battalion 192	Awls	Transferred from Panzergrenadierbrigade 19 to Panzerbrigade 21 in 2002 , disbanded in 2006.
	Armored Artillery Battalion 205	Augustdorf	(Eigtl. PzArtBtl 205 na GE [not active - device unit]). From its "inactive" position in September 2002 until it was disbanded, it was under the control of PzArtBtl 215. The armored artillery battalion 205 was disbanded as an inactive supplementary troop unit in June 2008 (dissolution band on April 5, 2008).
	Armored Engineer Company 210	Holzminden Höxter	From Army Structure 2 part of the brigade, set up in Holzminden in 1959, from 1961 in Höxter, disbanded on May 23, 2002, parts of the equipment and the soldiers were transferred to Panzer Pioneer Battalion 1 in Holzminden
	Panzerjägerkompanie 210	Augustdorf	Established in Augustdorf in 1970, dissolved in 1996
	Anti-aircraft battery 210	Fürstenau	Established in Fürstenau in 1959 (1966) incorporated into the 7th anti-aircraft battalion (Handorf, 7th Panzer Division, from 1978 7th anti-tank cannon regiment, Borken)
	Panzer Reconnaissance Company 210	Hemer Augustdorf Sontra Augustdorf	This unit was subject to the most extensive reclassifications and changes of subordination. Not all reconnaissance units with the number 210 can be seen in a traditional line. Established 1959 in Hemer, 1962 Brigadespähzug (part of the headquarters company), in Army Structure III again Panzerspähzug 210, from 1979 again Brigadespähzug (part of the headquarters company), 1982 as 4th / Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 7 change of position to the 7th Panzer Division. 1992/1993 again from 4./Pz AufklBtl 7 re-established as Panzer Reconnaissance Company 210, but in peace initially still subordinated to Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 7. From 2003 he changed his position to Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 5 and moved to Sontra. 2006 relocation to Panzerbrigade 21 and 2007 relocation to Augustdorf.
	Disposal Battalion 210		only in 1971/1972 for a 6-month troop attempt, disbanded
	Repair company 210	Augustdorf	Army structure III, transferred to the repair battalion 71 (division troops) in Army structure V
	Resupply Company 210	Augustdorf	outsourced from VersBtl 216 on October 1, 1972, transferred to Army Structure 5 on October 1, 1993 to Supply Battalion 7 (division troops).
	Field Replacement Company 210		set up in Army Structure V, not an active part of the supplementary troop, disbanding rape on April 5, 2008, disbanded June 2008
	Armored Battalion 211	Augustdorf	erected in October 1980 in Augustdorf, dissolved on September 30, 1992
	Tank Battalion 213	Dedelstorf	Set up in 1956 as Panzer Battalion 1 in Dedelstorf, from there on May 23, 1957, relocated to the Augustdorf site, renamed Panzerbataillon 213 on March 16, 1959 and subordinated to Panzer Brigade 21, disbanded on September 30, 1992
	Tank Battalion 214	Augustdorf	Established in Augustdorf in 1959, dissolved in 2002
	Supply Battalion 216	Lippstadt Augustdorf	set up in Army Structure II in Lippstadt, from 1962 Augustdorf, dissolved in 1972, before dissolution a. a. Outsourcing of supply company 210
	Field Replacement Battalion 217		established in 1961, dissolved
	Replacement Battalion 814	Augustdorf	set up in Army Structure V, non-active supplementary troop unit of all branches of service, dissolution roll call on April 5, 2008, disbanded June 2008
	Replacement Battalion 815	Augustdorf	set up in Army Structure V, non-active supplementary troop unit of all branches of service, dissolution roll call on April 5, 2008, disbanded June 2008
	8./Fernmeldebataillon 820		Spin-off from Telecommunications Battalion 820 with effect from January 1, 2004, dissolved September 30, 2006.
	Training Support Company 7	Awls	Established as a basic training company on October 1, 2017 and subject to AufklBtl 7. As of January 1, 2020, incorporated as the 5th company into PzBtl 203.

Armored Artillery Battalion 215

The Panzerartilleriebataillon 215 ( PzArtBtl 215 ) was a brigade artillery battalion of the Bundeswehr from 1958 to 2015. It was stationed as part of the Panzer Brigade 21 "Lipperland" in the Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel barracks in Augustdorf. The last commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Rommel (* 1972).

Mission and structure

The battalion supported the brigade with artillery fire and reconnaissance and coordinated joint fire at the brigade level in high-intensity operations against predominantly militarily organized opponents or in stabilization operations in the medium and low-intensity spectrum. As part of the intervention forces, it was qualified to lead an artillery task force . To this end, it was divided into four batteries :

• 1./PzArtBtl 215: supply and support battery
• 2./PzArtBtl 215: Shooting battery with eight self-propelled howitzers 2000
• 3./PzArtBtl 215: Shooting battery with eight self-propelled howitzers 2000
• 4./PzArtBtl 215: Shooting battery with eight self-propelled howitzers 2000

5./PzArtBtl 215, which, as an operational support battery, was mainly responsible for carrying out general basic training , was dissolved in 2012.

Internal association badge

Since January 1, 1978, the internal association badge showed two crossed, black cannon barrels as a symbol of the artillery as well as a red Lippe rose as a sign of solidarity with the land of Lippe . The colors "black, red, gold" were reminiscent of the federal colors. Before that there were some other coats of arms.

history

The later armored artillery battalion 215 was set up on October 1, 1958 from the personnel of the 5 artillery regiment (already set up in 1957) in the Augustdorf camp, which later became Field Marshal Rommel's barracks as 1st battalion / 7th artillery regiment. On March 16, 1959, this battalion was renamed Panzerartilleriebataillon 215 and subordinated to the brigade renamed from Panzergruppe C to Panzerbrigade 21 (PzBrig 21). In September 1959, apart from 15 soldiers, the 2nd battery had to be surrendered for the deployment of the 85th Panzer Artillery Battalion in Lüneburg . From October 1, 1959, conscripts were trained who had their first military training station in November of the same year . At the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the battalion was put into “full readiness”: the camp guards were doubled and there was a curfew . In 1965 the inspector of the army presented the troop flag to the association , which was donated by Heinrich Lübke , the then Federal President . In that year, the battalion also took over the tradition of the former field artillery regiment 58 and the artillery regiment 6, until this had to be ended in 2004 due to a new traditional decree of the Bundeswehr. In July and August 1974, the armored artillery battalion 215 exercises as the first artillery unit on the Canadian training area Shilo (at that time the artillery force comprised over 80 units). The PzArtBtl 215's last stay there was in 1997. In 1978, a training exercise was held for members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army . In 1979 the Augustdorf Soldiers' Day took place for the first time . In 1980 the 4th battery was installed. Before that, the battalion consisted only of the 1st (staff / supply) and two firing batteries. In 1987 the 4th battery was disbanded in the course of taking Army Structure IV , but was re-established in 1992. In 2003 it was dissolved again, and in 2006 it was re-established. In 1983 the PzArtBtl 215 celebrated the 25th anniversary of its existence, in 1987 a sponsorship with the 3rd Royal Horse Artillery in Paderborn was taken over. Due to renovation work, the entire battalion had to move to so-called field houses in 1989. In 1991 it was possible to return to the renovated old accommodation, before shortly afterwards a move to the buildings of the triggered Panzer Battalion 213 took place (everything within the GFM-Rommel barracks). Volker Wieker , General Inspector of the Bundeswehr from 2010 to 2018, led the battalion from 1993 to 1996 . In 1998 a sponsorship with the Heimatschutzbataillon 631 was entered into, but this was dissolved a short time later. On September 30, 2006 the 7th Panzer Division was disbanded, to which the PzArtBtl 215 had been subordinate since its existence. After that the PzArtlBtl 215 was part of the 1st Panzer Division in Hanover .

On December 10, 2006 there was a fatal shooting accident for the first time at the PzArtBtl 215, in which a gunner sergeant lost his life at the Oberlausitz military training area . A soldier from another unit was also killed and four other people were injured, some seriously. On September 3, 2008, the battalion was awarded the flag of North Rhine-Westphalia . With the introduction of the armed forces categories intervention forces, stabilization forces and support forces through the conception of the Bundeswehr in 2004, the PzArtBtl 215, like all remaining artillery forces, with the exception of artillery regiment 345 , was assigned to the intervention forces . This means that it should be able to perform high-intensity operations in particular.

Calls

The armored artillery battalion 215 has proven its worth as a whole or in parts in foreign missions of the Bundeswehr in the Balkans , as well as in natural disasters ( storm surge 1962 , Oder flood 1997 , Elbe flood 2002 and 2013 ). In 2008, large parts of the battalion were relocated to Afghanistan as ISAF units for four to six months , but did not perform any artillery tasks there. In 2011 the battalion moved as the leading association for the 24./25. Operation contingent ISAF to Afghanistan in the field camp Faizabad .

Large device

Self-propelled howitzer 2000

In the beginning, the battalion was equipped with six self-propelled howitzers 105 mm M7B2 and M52. The battalion was led as a testing and training battalion. By 1966 the PzH M52 were replaced by M7B2. These howitzers were replaced by the M109 self-propelled howitzer from April 20, 1966 . In 1977 the battalion received the M113 observation tanks. At the same time, the Hotchkiss tanks were handed in. In that year, the artillery computer Falke, since 1997 the artillery, data, situation and deployment computer network (ADLER) was introduced. A modified form of the self-propelled howitzer M109 (GE A2) was replaced by the self-propelled howitzer 2000 in 2006 . The last shot of an M109 of the entire Bundeswehr was fired by the PzArtBtl 215 in November 2005 at the Baumholder military training area (TrÜbPl) .

Most recently, the battalion had 24 self-propelled howitzers 2000 as well as nine Marder 1 A3 of the Joint Fire Support Teams , four Buffalo recovery armored vehicles , around two dozen M113s in various designs (platoon, fire control team, etc.), three ABRA artillery observation radars and numerous other wheeled vehicles.

Commanders

number	Rank	Surname	Commander of	Commander up	Remarks
1	Lieutenant colonel	Leggewie	10/01/1958	01/31/1960
2	Lieutenant colonel	Oldigs	02/01/1960	09/30/1962
3	Lieutenant colonel	Hildebrand	10/01/1962	09/30/1965
4th	Lieutenant colonel	best	01.00.1965	05/31/1968
5	Lieutenant colonel	Hansgeorg Model	06/01/1968	06/30/1970	later Brigadier General
6th	Lieutenant colonel	Wolfgang Malecha	07/01/1970	March 31, 1972	later lieutenant general and deputy Army inspector
7th	Lieutenant colonel	from Klocke	04/01/1972	March 31, 1973
8th	Lieutenant colonel	Dieter Schilken	04/01/1973	March 31, 1980	Commander with the longest standing time in the battalion
9	Lieutenant colonel	rich	04/01/1980	03/21/1982
10	Lieutenant colonel	Karl Schneider	March 22, 1982	March 31, 1987
11	Lieutenant colonel	Schmidt	04/01/1987	March 16, 1989
12	Lieutenant colonel	Künne	03/17/1989	09/19/1991
13	Lieutenant colonel	Mohler	09/20/1991	09/30/1993
14th	Lieutenant colonel	Volker Wieker	10/01/1993	02/14/1996	2010–2018 General Inspector of the Bundeswehr
15th	Lieutenant colonel	Joachim Pollok	02/15/1996	11/18/1999
16	Lieutenant colonel	Wilfried Conz	11/19/1999	09/23/2001
17th	Lieutenant colonel	Bernd Spiegel	09/24/2001	02/05/2004
18th	Lieutenant colonel	Josef Verschüer	02/06/2004	12/15/2005
19th	Lieutenant colonel	Axel Hermeling	12/16/2005	12/17/2007	currently commander of the army sergeant school
20th	Lieutenant colonel	Jörg Reichstein	12/17/2007	02/28/2010	ISAF operation (Kunduz) with parts of the battalion
21st	Lieutenant colonel	Michael Merzbach	03/01/2010	11/01/2011
22nd	Lieutenant colonel	Markus Lück	01/12/2011	December 16, 2012	ISAF operation (Faizabad) with parts of the battalion
23	Lieutenant colonel	Alexander Rommel	December 17, 2012	05/12/2014
23	Lieutenant colonel	Roman Paschek	05/12/2014	06/30/2015	only provisional

literature

• Site Elder Augustdorf (Ed.): Brochure Site Augustdorf . In the heart of the Lipperland. WEKA, Augustdorf 2000, p. 58 .
• Hans Georg Krause: 50 years of the armored artillery battalion 215 . 2009.

Web links

Commons : Panzerbrigade 21  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Frank Anton: Panzer Brigade 21 "Lipperland". BH 9-21. 1957-1998. Bundesarchiv ( Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv ), June 2007, accessed on August 8, 2020 . 
• Dangerous mission: Rapid reaction force for Afghanistan. (Video, duration: 3:10 min ) SPIEGEL TV , March 7, 2008, accessed June 2, 2011 . 
• German artillery. Artillery Company Augustdorf, accessed June 1, 2011 . 
• Panzerjägerkompanie 210 ( Memento from January 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
• Private web presence for Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. In: http://www.gfm-rommel-kaserne.org/ . Artillerie-Gesellschaft-Augustdorf eV, accessed on August 29, 2019 . 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Prime Minister hands over flag to Panzerbrigade 21 Lipperland. In: https://www.westfalen-blatt.de/ . Westfalenblatt , September 3, 2019, accessed on September 5, 2019 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b} Lippische Landes-Zeitung (ed.): A commanding officer speaks plain text. New year's reception: Panzerbrigade 21 changes its motto . January 26, 2007 ( digitized version from Kulturinitiative Detmold / hiergeblieben.de [accessed on June 2, 2011]).
3. ↑ Bundeswehr Foundation Lipperland - Lippe district helps Augustdorf soldiers. In: Augustdorfer Nachrichten. November 20, 2019, accessed April 24, 2020 . 
4. ↑ Two "warhorses of the fighting force". Change of command in Augustdorf barracks. In: Lippische Landes-Zeitung . Kulturinitiative Detmold e. V., February 24, 2009, accessed July 3, 2011 . 
5. ↑ ^{a b} Training goes to the tank battalion 203. In: Association of Reservists of the German Federal Armed Forces . February 14, 2020, accessed April 24, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Sören Peters: New reserve company in the tank battalion 203. In: Association of reservists of the German Federal Armed Forces . January 1, 2020, accessed April 24, 2020 . 
7. ↑ 6./PzBtl 203. In: Location database of the Bundeswehr . www.zmsbw.de, accessed on April 24, 2020 . 
8. ↑ Panzer Brigade 21 “Lipperland” in Augustdorf. In: https://www.deutschesheer.de/ . German Army, July 25, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 . 
9. ^ Online editorial office for the Army: History. Federal Ministry of Defense , head of the press and information staff , July 2, 2015, accessed on July 2, 2015 . 
10. ^ Frank Anton: Panzer Brigade 21 "Lipperland". BH 9-21. 1957-1998. Bundesarchiv ( Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv ), June 2007, accessed on August 8, 2020 . 
11. ^ Hendrik van Bergh: Cologne 4713. History and stories of the Cologne Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution . JW Naumann Verlag, Würzburg 1981, ISBN 3-88567-010-0 , p. 464 .
12. ^ Bernadette Droste: Handbook of the constitution protection law . Boorberg, Stuttgart a. a. 2007, ISBN 978-3-415-03773-1 , pp. 742 , Appendix 12 (entry 1975 "M., N.") .
13. ↑ NGO Online: Panzerbrigade 21 provides QRF unit for Afghanistan from summer
14. ^ Seda Hagemann and Marianne Schwarzer: Augustdorfer soldiers send Christmas greetings from Afghanistan. In: Lippische Zeitung. December 20, 2018, accessed July 10, 2020 . 
15. ^ Farewell roll call on Domplatz. May 28, 2019, accessed July 10, 2020 . 
16. ↑ Dirk-Ulrich Brüggemann: Augustdorf soldiers back from Iraq - but still on standby. In: Lippische Zeitung. January 14, 2020, accessed July 10, 2020 . 
17. ↑ Hunters are training for deployment abroad in Mali. In: https://www.bundeswehr.de/ . PIZ German Army, December 17, 2019, accessed on June 20, 2020 . 
18. ^ Sylke Grede: Mission in Afghanistan: soldiers from Schwarzenborn are relocated in January - risky mission. In: Hessische Nachrichten. December 31, 2019, accessed July 10, 2020 . 
19. ↑ Sylke Grede: The Afghanistan mission of the Schwarzenbörner soldiers ends with the Bundeswehr mission: journey home under the sign of Corona. In: Hessische Nachrichten. July 3, 2020, accessed July 10, 2020 . 
20. ↑ Bundeswehr provides administrative assistance in the Gütersloh district. In: https://www.bundeswehr.de/ . PIZ Armed Forces Base, June 22, 2020, accessed August 14, 2020 . 
21. ↑ Press release of PzBrig 21: Ceremonial introduction of the armored personnel carrier "Puma" at Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 in Augustdorf (PDF, presseportal.de)
22. ↑ 2019 Ceremonial introduction of the SPZ Puma at the Panzergrenadierbataillon 212 in Augustdorf (pictures and video, military-database.de)
23. ↑ AusbUstgKp 7. In: Site Database Bundeswehr . www.zmsbw.de, accessed on April 24, 2020 . 
24. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 Years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. P. 25
25. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. p. 31
26. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. S. 187
27. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. P. 197
28. ^ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. p. 220
29. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. p. 258
30. ↑ Loading errors led to a shooting accident in: Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung , December 12, 2006
31. ↑ Flag ribbons are considered a special award.
32. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 Years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. S. 161
33. ↑ Augustdorf soldiers assert themselves in the high-altitude field camp Fayzabad. lz.de, June 22, 2011, accessed April 6, 2019 . 
34. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 Years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. P. 30
35. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. p. 32
36. ↑ Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 Years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. P. 35
37. ↑ No. 1–20: Hans Georg Krause (2009): 50 years of Panzerartilleriebataillon 215. P. 71ff
38. ↑ Thorsten Engelhardt: A Lipper leads armored artillery battalion 215 until it is disbanded: Lieutenant Colonel Roman Paschek locks the doors. In: https://www.lz.de/ . Lippische Landeszeitung , November 23, 2014, accessed on August 29, 2019 . 

Coordinates: 51 ° 55 '  N , 8 ° 46'  E