90th PZ GREN DIV

[bilko]

Gents,

I'm looking for info,stats,pictures and any other stuff related to the 90th PZ GREN DIV that was reformed from the 90th lt Div after surrender in Afrika...

Thanks in advance,

Dave.

[Feldjager]

Formed in Sardinia, 6.VII.43 from the remnants of 90. Leichte Infantrie Division which was decimated in Tunisia. On 23.X.43, whilst in Toscana, the Division was reorganised to reflect a 1943 type Panzergrenadier Division. It saw action at Anzio, Rome, the Caesar and Gothic Lines and the Po River. It was all but destroyed near Bologna, April 1945.

On formation, it was comprised of:
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 155
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 200
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361
Panzerjäger-Kompanie 1./190
Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 242
Panzer-Abteilung 190
Artillerie-Regiment 190
Divisional support units 190

After the October reform, it became:
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 200
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 190
Panzer-Abteilung 190
Artillerie-Regiment 190
Divisional support units 190



I have a lot of references in books to 90. Pz. Gr. Div. engaging 46 Brigade around Faenza and receiving very heavy casualties. It's worth getting hold of 'The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945; Italy Volume II : From Cassino to Trieste' by Robin Kay (published by Historical Publications Branch, 1967).

They were one of the few Divisions to use a traditions badge (seen here):




Dave

[bilko]

Thanks for that info Dave,Would the AFRIKA cuff title be worn by any that had serviced
in the 90th lt?.Is there any pictures of the unit [may-sept 44] avaliable on line?,I need some to base an impression on.

Thanks,

Dave.

[Feldjager]

The 'Afrika' cuff title was a campaign award and would have been given to those who met the criteria (To be eligible, a soldier had to have served in North Africa for at least six months - if the individual was wounded in action, however, the six-month time requirement could be mitigated). So yes, some of those who saw action with the 90 Lt Inf Div could have been awarded it.

I've not been able to find any specific photos on line for that time period (there probably are some in the Bundesarchiv though). Apart from the traditions badge, a Pz Gr from the 90. Pz Gr Div would have looked like any other Pz Gr from that period of the war.

Dave

[bilko]

I've come across a couple of pictures not of the 90th but 29th PZ GREN in a mag i've just got,I'll scan soon as poss..

pictures added,How common on the italian front was the use of italian camo with the Heer?..

Dave.