Origins
The unit was originally created as 5th Light Division or 5th Light Afrika Division in Africa in early 1941, from an ad hoc collection of smaller units rushed to support the collapsing Italian forces in Cyrenaica, Libya.
It comprised elements of the 3rd Panzer Division, the unit initially earmarked for North Africa in the summer of 1940.
The first unit incorporated was the 39th Panzerjager (anti-tank) Battalion. This was a motorised unit with halftracks and trucks to tow heavy equipment, including 9 3.7 cm PaK 36 and 2 5 cm PaK 38 guns. The armoured element, 5th Panzer Regiment, was moved from the 3rd Panzer Division. Its strength included 20 PzKpfw IV, 75 PzKpfw III, 45 PzKpfw II and 25 PzKpfw I Ausf B tanks which included a number of Befehlspanzer (command vehicles). Even with these seemingly impressive numbers the unit was understrength. The infantry forces were the 200th Schutzen (Rifle) Regiment, and the sole artillery unit was a single battalion of 75th Artillery Regiment. The Divisional staff, also from 3rd Panzer Division included Chief of Staff; Major Hauser and intelligence officer; Hauptmann Von Kluge.
The formation was officially named on 18 February 1941, and its first divisional commander was Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross winner Generalmajor Johannes Streich, who had commanded the 15th Panzer regiment during the successful French Campaign in 1940. By this time most of the units had arrived in Tripoli, but the last tank elements did not deploy until 12 March 1941, missing the first battles of Rommel's Cyrenaica offensive.
The 5th Light did not have a full establishment of tanks immediately following its deployment. Having only 150 tanks of all types of which 130 were actually combat worthy, and the rest being an assortment of command and unarmed observer vehicles.
Despite the slow build-up, largely due to most Wehrmacht reinforcements being directed to the Eastern Front to support Operation Barbarossa, by September 1941 the 5th Light Division achieved Panzer Division strength. It was then renamed the 21st Panzer Division.
Throughout its war in the Desert, the Afrika Korps's (DAK) units were nearly always understrength, made up of any men and equipment that were available.
Read more about this topic: 21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)
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