The Panzer Division "Kempf" (german: Panzer-Division "Kempf"), also ''East Prussia Panzer Formation'' (de: ''Panzerverband Ostpreußen'') was an ''ad hoc''

combined arms Combined arms is an approach to warfare that seeks to integrate different combat arms of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects (for example by using infantry and armour in an urban environment in which each supports the other) ...

formation consisting of regular German Army personnel and SS. It was created for operations out of East Prussia during the

Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week aft ...

in 1939. The formation was generally called ''Panzer Division "Kempf"'' after

General der Panzertruppe General der Panzertruppe () was a General of the branch OF8 rank of the German Army, introduced in 1935. A ''General der Panzertruppe'' was a Lieutenant General, above Major General (Generalleutnant), commanding a Panzer corps. Rank and ran ...

Werner Kempf Werner Kempf (9 March 1886 – 6 January 1964) was a general in the German Army rising to corps-level command during World War II. Kempf is best known for commanding the Army Detachment Kempf during the Battle of Kursk. Career Kempf joined the ...

assumed command, though it was only about half the strength of the other Panzer Divisions of the time. The division participated in the

Battle of Mława The Battle of Mława, otherwise known as the Defence of the Mława position, took place to the north of the town of Mława in northern Poland between 1 and 3 September 1939. It was one of the opening battles of the Invasion of Poland and World Wa ...

. The SS components of the division committed war crimes against Polish Jews ( Massacre in Krasnosielc ) on September 6, 1939, and against the Polish soldiers, civilians, including Polish Jews in the

Massacre in Zakroczym The Massacre in Zakroczym, Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 ...

on September 28, 1939.Kazimierz Szczerbatko: Za życie oddane w ofierze. Zakroczym: Urząd Gminy w Zakroczymiu, 2002. .

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Military units and formations of the Waffen-SS German panzer divisions Military units and formations established in 1939 Ad hoc units and formations Military units and formations disestablished in 1939 {{Germany-WWII-stub

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