1. Panzer-Division was formed in Weimar 1935 from elements of 3. Kavallerie-Division. It took part in the occupation of the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia in October 1938 under the command of XVI Armeekorps. It fought in Poland and later in the West, going through Luxembourg and the Ardennes before breaking through the Maginot line and entering France attached to Panzergruppe Kleist .

Following the campaign in France it supplied Panzer Regiment 2 to the forming 16. Panzer-Division and received Schützen Regiment to replace the loss. It later fought on the northern sector of the Eastern Front attached to Panzergruppe 4, before being transferred to the central sector and Panzergruppe 3.

It was transferred to France Jan 1943 for refitting and was sent to Greece in July where it remained until Nov when it was sent to the Ukraine. It took part in the counteroffensive at Kiev attached to 4. Panzer-Armee and later took part in defensive actions near Berdichev. Following the massive Soviet offensive June 1944 it took part in the German counteroffsive attached to XLVIII Panzerkorps, but following the failure to hold the southern flank it was forced to retreat back to the Vistula.

It remained there until Oct when it was transferred to Hungary taking part in the German offensive there until ending the war in eastern Austria where it surrendered to the US Army.

See also Operations of Encircled Forces: German Experiences in Russia

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (4)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army  (11)
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (108)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (8)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (30)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (36)
Holders of the Knight's Cross to the War Merit Cross (1)
  Kunstmann, Karl, 19.04.1945, Hauptmann, Chef Inst.Kp./Pz.Rgt 1

Holders of other notable badges & decorations
Holders of the Anti-Partisan Badge in Bronze (1)
  Bohlken, Erwin, 22.02.1944, Feldwebel, Pz.Rgt. 1

Order of battle (1 Sep 1939)

HQ

   81. Mapping Detachment (mot)

   81. Motorcycle Messenger Platoon

1. Schützen Brigade

   1. Schützen Regiment

      2 x Battalion

   1. Motorcycle Battalion

      3 x Motorcycle Company

      Motorcycle Heavy Machine Gun Company

      Heavy Company (mot)

1. Panzer Brigade

   1. Panzer Regiment

      Armored Signals Platoon

      Staff Light Tank Platoon

      Maintenance Company (mot)

      2 x Panzer Battalion

   2. Panzer Regiment

      Armored Signals Platoon

      Staff Light Tank Platoon

      Maintenance Company (mot)

      2 x Panzer Battalion

4. Reconnaissance Battalion

   Signals Platoon (mot)

   2 x Armored Car Platoon

   Motorcycle Company

   Heavy Company (mot)

37. Panzerabwehr Battalion

   Signals Platoon (mot)

   3 x Battery (mot)

73. Artillery Regiment

   Signals Platoon (mot)

   Weather Detachment (mot)

   2 x Battalion (mot)

37. Panzer Signals Battalion

   Panzer Signals Company (mot)

   Panzer Radio Company (mot)

   Panzer Signals Supply Column

37. Pioneer Battalion

   3 x Pioneer Company (mot)

   Brüko K (mot)

   Light Pioneer Supply Column (mot)

Support & Supply Units

Order of battle (Summer 1943)

HQ

   Divisional Staff

   81. Mapping Detachment (mot)

   Divisional Escort Company

1. Panzer Regiment

   Regimental Staff

   Regimental Band

   Regimental Signals Platoon

   2 x Panzer Battalion

1. Panzergrenadier Regiment

   Regimental Staff Company (mot)

   2 x Battalion

   9. Self-Propelled Flak Company

   10. Self-Propelled Infantry Gun Company

113. Panzer Grenadier Regiment

   Regimental Staff Company (mot)

   2 x Battalion

   9. Self-Propelled Flak Company

   10. Self-Propelled Infantry Gun Company

37. Panzerjäger Battalion

   3 x Self-propelled Company

1. Reconnaissance Battalion

   2 x Armored Car Company

   Amored Car Company (half-track)

   2 x Reconnaissance Company (half-track)

   Heavy Reconnaissance Company (half-track)

   Light Reconnaissance Supply Column

37. Panzer Artillery Regiment

   Regimental Staff

   Battalion (self-propelled)

   3 x Battalion (mot)

   73. Oberservation Battery (mot)

299. Army Flak Battalion

   Staff & Staff Battery (mot)

   2 x Heavy Flak Battery (mot)

   Medium Flak Battery (mot)

   Light Flak Supply Column (mot)

37. Panzer Pioneer Battalion

   Staff

   Pioneer Company (half-track)

   2 x Pioneer Company (mot)

   Brüko B Bridging Column

   Brüko K Bridging Column

   Light Pioneer Supply Column (mot)

37. Panzer Signals Battalion

   Panzer Telephone Company

   Panzer Radio Company

   Light Signals Supply Column (mot)

81. Feldersatz Battalion

   4 x Company

Supply & Support Units

Notable members
Prince Franz of Bavaria (Oberleutnant, later transferred to the Luftwaffe, nicknamed "The Panzer Prince")

Hans Strippel (usually credited with 70 destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown)

Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz ("Der Panzergraf" ("The Armour Count"), Holder of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds)

Insignia
Personnel of this unit wore a semi-official badge on the left side of the field and service cap which took the form of a single oak leaf, the divisional emblem.

Panzer III of 1. Panzer-Division

(Courtesy of Joe Imwalle)

Troops from 1. Panzer-Division on the Eastern Front in June/July 1941

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Sources used

Microfilm Publication A-3356, German Officer Personnel files, NARA

RKT & DKiGT karteikarten, BA/MA

Dermot Bradley, Karl-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp - Die Generale des Heeres 1921-1945

Wolf Keilig - Die Generale des Heeres

Andris Kursietis - Die Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945

François de Lannoy & Josef Charita - Panzertruppen: German armored troops 1935-1945

Kurt Mehner - Die Deutsche Wehrmacht 1939-1945: Führung und Truppe

Samuel W. Mitcham Jr - The Panzer Legions: A guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of WWII and Their Commanders

Peter Schmitz, Klaus-Jürgen Thies, Günter Wegmann & Christian Zweng - Die deutschen Divisionen 1939-1945 (4 Vol)

Günter Wegmann & Christian Zweng - Formationsgeschichte u. Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Streitkräfte, 1815-1990, Teile IV, Abt. 1:  Die Dienststellen, Kommandobehörden u. Truppenteile des Heeres, Oct.35-May.45

Gordon Williamson - World War II German Battle Insignia

Reference material on this unit

Horst Riebenstahl - The 1st Panzer Division 1935-1945

Rolf Stoves - 1. Panzerdivision 1935-1945: Chronik Einer der drei Stamm-Divisionen der Deutschen Panzerwaffe