The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, nickname: Götz von Berlichingen was a German Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier division which saw action on the Western Front during World War II.
History[]
Formation and Issues[]
The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division is formed in October 1943, at Poitiers, France. The members are mostly formed from German conscripts including some foreigners, the unit is anything but professional as they came from replacements since Germany suffering manpower in the war. Obersturmbannführer Otto Binge formed the division with Werner Ostendorff becoming the new commander.
By February 1944, the division lacks equipment and vehicles for its full strength.
Overlord[]
After the D-Day allied invasion, the Götz von Berlichingen was ordered to Normandy to take part in the efforts to reduce the Allied beachhead. On 11 June, the division first met the enemy in combat. The reconnaissance battalion engaged in combat with the paratroopers of the American 101st Airborne Division near the town of Carentan.
The Americans secured the town and were advancing south by the morning of 13 June.
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 37, supported by the assault guns of the division's Panzer battalion and Colonel Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte's 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, attacked the advancing paratroopers. In what the Americans dubbed the "Battle of Bloody Gulch", around the area designated "Hill 30", the Germans routed two paratroop companies before their attack was stopped by the arrival of Combat Command A of the American 2nd Armored Division.
Appearances[]
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
- Push into Carentan (First appearance, replaces 6th Fallschirmjagers.)
- Tom and Jerry
- No Better Spot to Die
- Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood
Gallery[]
