Panzer III Historical Index

In January–February 1943, during the Third Battle of Kharkov, the division had available 20 Panzer IIIs, 9 Tiger I heavy tanks, and 26 Flammpanzer III flamethrower tank variants of the Panzer III.

The Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland was formed on 19 May 1943 in the Poltava area through the renaming and reorganization of the Infantry Division Grossdeutschland.

In the summer of 1943, the division took part in the Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel) as part of the southern pincer of the Fourth Panzer Army.

By 7 July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk, the division had only 80 of its 300 tanks still fit for combat.

In August 1943, the division fought in the Kharkov area during the Belgorod-Kharkov Operation, in the course of which the city was recaptured by the Red Army.

Following the loss of Kharkov, the division fought its way back until the end of September 1943 to the Dnieper and a bridgehead at Kremenchug.

Defensive battles in the Mishurin Rog - Borodayevka bridgehead lasted until 17 October 1943, after which the division had to retreat south.