7th Tank Division

7. Panzerdivision

Military Unit: 19941

Activated 18.8.56 in Dresden, East Germany, from the Mechanisierten Volkspolizeibereitschaft Dresden.

Organisation 1970:

• 14th Tank Regiment (Spremberg, East Germany)
• 15th Tank Regiment (Cottbus, East Germany)
• 16th Tank Regiment (Grossenhain, East Germany)
• 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Marienberg, East Germany)
• 7th Artillery Regiment (Frankenberg, East Germany)
• 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Döbeln, East Germany)
• 7th Missile Battalion (Zeithain, East Germany) - activated 1963
• 7th Reconnaissance Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Engineer Battalion (Pirna, East Germany)
• 7th Communications Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Transport Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Chemical Defence Battalion (Pirna, East Germany)
• 7th Medical Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)

In 1971 the 7th Repair Battalion was activated from the 7th Artillery Repair Shop, the 7th Vehicle Repair Shop and the 7th Tank Reoair Shop.

In 1973 the 7th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion was activated.

In 1974 the 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was renamed 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 14th Tank Regiment (Spremberg, East Germany)
• 15th Tank Regiment (Cottbus, East Germany)
• 16th Tank Regiment (Grossenhain, East Germany)
• 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Marienberg, East Germany)
• 7th Artillery Regiment (Frankenberg, East Germany)
• 7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Döbeln, East Germany) - 1982 to Zeithein
• 7th Missile Battalion (Zeithain, East Germany)
• 7th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Frankenberg, East Germany)
• 7th Reconnaissance Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Engineer Battalion (Pirna, East Germany)
• 7th Communications Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Transport Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Repair Battalion (Spremberg, East Germany)
• 7th Chemical Defence Battalion (Pirna, East Germany)
• 7th Medical Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)

In 1981 the 7th Transport Battalion was renamed 7th Material Support Battalion, absorbing the 7th Divisional Store and the 7th Field Bakery Company.

Organisation 1988:

• 14th Tank Regiment (Spremberg, East Germany)
• 15th Tank Regiment (Cottbus, East Germany)
• 16th Tank Regiment (Grossenhain, East Germany)
• 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Marienberg, East Germany)
• 7th Artillery Regiment (Frankenberg, East Germany)
• 7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Zeithain, East Germany)
• 7th Missile Battalion (Zeithain, East Germany)
• 7th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Frankenberg, East Germany)
• 7th Reconnaissance Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Engineer Battalion (Pirna, East Germany)
• 7th Communications Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Material Support Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)
• 7th Repair Battalion (Spremberg, East Germany)
• 7th Chemical Defence Battalion (Pirna, East Germany)
• 7th Medical Battalion (Dresden, East Germany)

3.10.90 absorbed by the Bundeswehr.

Divisional coordinates:

• Dresden barracks (Egon Dreger Kaserne) [US designation: Dresden Army Barracks 021]: 51 04 36N, 13 46 09E (Divisional HQ, 7th Reconnaissance Battalion and 7th Communications Battalion)
• Dresden barracks (Kurt Schlosser Kaserne) [US designation: Dresden Army Barracks 023]: 51 04 58N, 13 45 50E (7th Material Support Battalion)
• Dresden barracks [US designation: Dresden Army Barracks 028]: 51 04 46N, 13 45 26E (7th Medical Battalion)
• Spremberg barracks (Karol Swierozewski Kaserne) [US designation: Spremberg Army Barracks 061]: 51 34 50N, 14 23 53E (14th Tank Regiment and 7th Repair Battalion)
• Cottbus barracks (Paul Hornick Kaserne) [US designation: Cottbus Army Barracks 083]: 51 44 17N, 14 19 50E (15th Tank Regiment)
• Grossenhain barracks [US designation: Grossenhain Army Barracks 023]: 51 17 54N, 13 32 19E (16th Tank Regiment)
• Marienberg barracks (Walter Empacher Kaserne) [US designation: Marienberg Army Barracks 071]: 50 39 15N, 13 09 20E (7th Motorised Infantry Regiment)
• Frankenberg barracks (Hermann Fischer Kaserne) [US designation: Frankenberg Army Barracks 061]: 50 54 31N, 13 03 02E (7th Artillery Regiment)
• Frankenberg barracks [US designation: Frankenberg Army Barracks 063]: 50 54 18N, 13 01 44E (7th Missile Battalion)
• Zeithain barracks [US designation: Zeithain Army Barracks 002]: 51 21 48N, 13 19 16E (7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment after 1982 and 7th Missile Battalion)
• Döbeln barracks (Paul Rockstroh Kaserne) [US designation: Doebeln Army Barracks 081]: 51 07 12N, 13 06 38E (7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment until 1982)
• Pirna barracks (Arthur Thiermann Kaserne) [US designation: Pirna Army Barracks 041]: 50 56 31N, 13 56 45E (7th Engineer Battalion and 7th Chemical Defence Battalion)

Equipment:

• 12.85: 8700 men, 290 T-54/55, 32 T-72, 131 BMP-1, 10 BMP-2, 42 122mm 2s1, 18 152mm 2s3
• 1990: 63 T-72, 262 T-55, 150 BMP-1/2, 41 BTR-60/70, 126 artillery and MRL, 15 MT-55, 4 Frog-7

Subordination:

• Militärbezirk III, 1956 - 1990

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I) - manning was almost 100%.