10. Panzer-Division was formed in April 1939 in Prague. It took part in the campaign in the west and remained in France until Feb 1941 when it returned to Germany. It fought on the central sector of the Eastern front until May 1942 when it was transferred to Amiens, France, for refitting and remained in France (it was a reserve force during the allied landings at Dieppe) until Dec 1942 when it was sent to Tunisia. It was destroyed in Tunis 12 May 1943 and was formally disbanded in June.

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army  (3)
  Hanbauer, Heinrich, 18.07.1941 (088), Oberleutnant, Chef 2./Schtz.Rgt. 86
  Jörns, [first name not listed], 18.07.1941 (987), Hauptmann, Chef 1./Schtz.Rgt. 86
  Rätzel, Fritz, 20.08.1941 (214), Hauptmann, Chef 7./Schtz.Rgt. 86
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (45)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (7)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (19)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
  Werkstatt-Kompanie 3/90
    Date/Place of Downing: 14.12.1941 bei Bely
    Award Date: 16.05.1942 (88)

Order of battle

HQ

   Mapping Detachment (mot)

7. Panzer Regiment

   Staff Platoon

   Signals Platoon

   2 x Battalion

   Captured Tank Recovery Company

69. Panzergrenadier Regiment

   Staff Battery (mot)

   2 x Battalion

   Infantry Gun Company (mot)

86. Panzergrenadier Regiment

   Staff Battery (mot)

   2 x Battalion

   Infantry Gun Company (mot)

10. Motorcycle Battalion

   2 x Motorcycle Company

   Half-track Company

   Armored Car Company

   Heavy Company (mot)

90. Artillery Regiment (mot)

   Staff Battery (mot)

   4 x Battalion

   Battery (Sturmgeschütze)

   Battery (British 25pdrs)

   Observation Battery (mot)

   Light Supply Column (mot)

90. Panzerjäger Battalion

   Battery (self-propelled)

   Battery (mot)

   Flak Battery (self-propelled)

49. Pioneer Battalion

   Pioneer Company (half-track)

   2 x Pioneer Company

   Bridging Column (mot)

   Light Pioneer Supply Column (mot)

90. Signals Company

   Panzer Radio Company

   Panzer Telephone Company

   Light Signals Supply Column (mot)

14 / 104. Panzergrenadier Regiment

   Reconnaissance Platoon

   3 x Panzerjäger Platoon

Supply & Support Units

Notable members
Albrecht von Hagen (Active in the resistance against Hitler and executed after the failure of the July 20 Plot)

Dr. Karl Mauss (Holder of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds)

Erich Peter (Generaloberst and Deputy Minister for National Defense and Chief of the Border Police/Troops (15 Sep 1960-31 July 1979) of the German Democratic Republic; served as an Unteroffizier in the division from 1939-1943.)

Ferdinand Schaal (Active in the resistance against Hitler)

Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (Active in the resistance against Hitler and the one who placed the bomb that were to kill Hitler 20 July 1944, he was executed after the failure of the July 20 Plot, the Bundeswehr barracks Graf-Stauffenberg-Kaserne in Sigmaringen was named in his honour 1961)

A captured British Valentine Mk III in use by Panzer-Regiment 7

(Courtesy of Magnus)

Footnotes

1. Generalmajor Georg Gawantka died on 14 July, 1939
2. Wolfgang Fischer was killed 1 February 1943 near Mareth when his staff car drove into a poorly marked Italian minefield.

Published 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

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

Wolf Keilig - Die Generale des Heeres

Andris Kursietis - Die Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945

French Maclean - Quiet Flows the Rhine: German General Officer Casualties in World War II

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

George F. Nafziger - The Afrika Korps: An organizational history 1941-1943

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

Günther Wegmann - Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht, Teil VIII a: Panzertruppe, Band 1

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

Reference material on this unit

Kevin Fish - Panzer Regiment 8 in World War Ii: Poland-France-North Africa

J. Restayn & N. Moller- The Combat History of the 10. Panzer Division: In Action in the East, West and North Africa 1939-1943