The 25. Panzergrenadier-Division was formed from 25. Infanterie-Division (mot) and fought in the central sector of the Eastern front June 1943 - July 1944. It was destroyed in the encirclement east of Minsk in July with the surviving elements joining Panzer-Brigade 107.

It was reformed in October 1944 at Truppenübungsplatz Grafenwöhr and strengthened with the dissolved Panzer-Brigade 107 in November. It fought in France October - January and in eastern Germany January - May 1945. Most of the survivors of this division managed to surrender to western Allies.

Commanders

General der Infanterie Anton Graßer (23 June 1943 - 5 Nov 1943)
Generalleutnant Dr. Fritz Benicke (5 Nov 1943 - 4 Mar 1944)
Generalleutnant Paul Schürmann (4 Mar 1944 - ? July 1944)
Generalleutnant Paul Schürmann (? Oct 1944 - 10 Feb 1945)
Generalleutnant Arnold Burmeister (10 Feb 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

Eastern front, central sector (June 1943 - July 1944)
France (Oct 1944 - Jan 1945)
Eastern Germany (Jan 1945 - May 1945)

Nicknames

Stuttgarter Haus-Division (Stuttgart House Division)

Holders of high awards

(25. Infanterie-Division (mot) / 25. Panzergrenadier-Division)
Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (1)
- Weis, Hermann, 00.00.1945, Oberleutnant, Pz.Aufkl.Abt 125
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (6)
- Falter, Karl, 17.10.1943 (2293), Unteroffizier, Gruppenführer i. d. 10./Gren.Rgt. 35 (mot)
- Gerecht, Otto, 15.08.1943 (1952), Major, Kdr. Pi.Btl. 25 (mot)
- Koller, Josef, 28.03.1943 (1654), Major, Kdr. I./Gren.Rgt. 119
- Lehmann, Georg, 18.08.1943 (1966), Obergefreiter, 5./Gren.Rgt. 119 (mot)
- Ruoß, Siegfried, 18.08.1943 (1962), Hauptmann, Chef 1./Pi.Btl. 25 (mot)
- Schmitter, [first name not listed], 16.02.1942 (742), Feldwebel, Zugführer i. d. 1./Inf.Rgt. 119
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- Fichtner, [first name not listed], 01.11.1943 (427), Obergefreiter, Stab/Gren.Rgt. (mot) 35 / 25. Pz.Gren.Div.
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (110)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (44)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (29) (26 RK + 3 EL)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- 3. (mot)/Pionier-Bataillon 25
-- Date/Place of Downing: 16.12.1941 bei Schtschelkonowka
-- Award Date: 16.05.1942 (79)

Order of battle (September 1943)

Staff
- Staff
- 25. Mapping Detachment (mot)
35. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Regimental Band
- Staff Company
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- Machine Gun Company (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company
119. Panzergrenadier Regiment
- Staff
- Regimental Band
- Staff Company
-- Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- Machine Gun Company (mot)
- Infantry Gun Company
125. Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
- Staff
- Light Armored Car Company
- 3 x Motorcycle Company
- Heavy Company (mot)
-- Pioneer Platoon
-- 2 x Panzerjäger Platoon
-- Light Infantry Gun Section
125. Panzerjäger Battalion
- 3 x Panzerjäger Company (self-propelled)
- Flak Company (self-propelled)
8. Panzer Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- Flak Platoon
- 3 x Sturmgeschütz Battery
- Panzer Maintenance Platoon
25. Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- Regimental Band
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery (mot)
-- 3 x Battery (mot)
25. Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- 3 x Company (mot)
- Light Pioneer Column (mot)
25. Signals Battalion
- Staff
- Telephone Company (mot)
- Radio Company (mot)
- Signals Column (mot)
Supply & Support Units

Notable members

Horst Giese (usually credited with 19+ destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown)

Panzer of Panzer-Abteilung 5 passing anti-tank obstacles of the Westwall near Weissenburg during Unternehmen Nordwind in January 1945

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

Memorial to the fallen of Infanterie-Regiment/Grenadier-Regiment 119 at the Theodor-Heuss-Kaserne in Stuttgart

(Courtesy of Milgesch)

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945
Reference material on this unit
Erwin Bodhm - Geschichte der 25. Division
Wilhelm Schrode - Geschichte der 25. Division: Die Wiederaufstellung der 25. Pz.Gren.Div.