The 130th division (also called Panzer-Lehr-Division), but more commonly known as "Panzer Lehr", and is occasionally referred to as the 130. Panzerlehrdivision or 130 Panzer-Lehr (since a number of its constituent units were numbered 130, and in most other Panzer divisions those units were numbered to match the division's number).
One of the most élite units in the entire German army.
It was formed in Potsdam Germany October 1943 from various units of the German Army training and demonstration units, otherwise known as Lehr units (Lehr = Demonstration). Most of the division’s original cadre was drawn from Panzertruppenschule I and Panzertruppenschule II, the Panzerwaffe’s major training units. These training and demonstration units were some of the most experienced and highly trained troops in the Panzerwaffe, with almost all having seen some combat and many having received decorations for bravery. As a result of this, Panzer Lehr was considered an élite unit from the time of its formation. the 130.Panzer-Lehr-Division would live up to its crack unit status during its one year of combat service, by providing additional armoured strength for resisting the anticipated Allied invasion of western Europe.
Due to its élite status it was lavishly equipped in comparison to the ordinary Panzer divisions, though on several occasions it fought almost to destruction.
It was transferred to Nancy-Verdun France Feb 1944 and to Hungary in Apr 44 for further training, where it absorbed Infanterie-Lehr-Regiment 901. It returned to France in may 1944,as a part of the German Seventh Army’s armoured reserve. for use in the planned counter-offensive against the Allies when their anticipated invasion of Europe in France finally came.
Panzer Lehr was probably the best equipped formation in the Panzerwaffe. Its panzer regiment was filled with the latest Panther and Panzer IV models available. Moreover, all four of the infantry battalions were fully mechanised (as opposed to a single one of the four in ordinary panzer divisions), as were the division's artillery and reconnaissance formations – the armoured reconnaissance battalion having a company of the new Sd.Kfz 234/2 Puma armoured cars. The division's panzer regiment also had the 316. Funklenk-Panzerkompanie (316th Remote Control Panzer company) attached while in Normandy; this company was equipped with 8 Tigers, 5 of them the new Tiger II ausf B’s.1 The division's panzer regiment had a total complement of 237 tanks.
When the full fury of the massive Allied landings against Normandy, France finally hit in June, 1944, 130.Panzer-Lehr was one of the strongest units in the West. Panzer-Lehr fought the Allies in fierce battles for Caen and St. Lo, until it was so depleted that it had only a mere fraction of the armour it had stated with. Shattered, Panzer-Lehr then withdrew across France along with the rest of the retreating German forces in the West, until it was pulled out of the lines and reformed in the Saar and then in Paderborn.
The Division was sent back to the Saar to fight against the advancing Americans, after which it was used during the massive German offensive "The Battle of the Bulge" in December 1944, (as part of Manteuffel's 5th Panzer army), where it took part in the siege of Bastogne.
When the Ardennes offensive failed, Panzer-Lehr saw action in Battles for the Maas Line in the Netherlands, and then in Battles to try to smash the American bridgehead at Remagen.
Depleted, shaken and smashed, the 130.Panzer-Lehr-Division entered into the Ruhr Pocket in April, 1945, a mere shadow of the unit that had so fiercely meet the Allies in front of Caen in June and July, 1944. Panzer Lehr surrendered to the Americans when the Ruhr pocket finally fell