The new Nazi regime was clearly not inclined to waste time. In the wake of the Czechoslovakian adventure, on 1 April 1939 the 10th Panzer Division (also known as 4th Panzer Brigade), commanded by General-Major Rudolf Schaal, began forming in Prague. In August/September 1939 an improvised Panzer Division Kempf (also known as Panzerverband Ostpreussen/Kempf) was raised. It was commanded by Werner Kempf. This division was made up of 7th Panzer Regiment along with various other units including SS Regiment ‘Deutschland’.
In August 1939 there was a highly significant development. The production of tanks was clearly not keeping pace with the demands of the rapidly expanding Panzerwaffe, and the only solution was to reduce the number of tanks in a Panzer Division.
The strength of the Panzer Regiments within the Panzer Divisions was therefore revised. Each of the two Abteilungs was now composed of two light companies (equipped with the PzKpfw I and II) and one medium company (equipped with the PzKpfw III and IV) along with other units. Each Abteilung now had 71 to 74 tanks including 5 command tanks, and a regiment now boasted only 150 to 156 tanks including 12 command tanks. This meant a reduction in the strength of a Panzer Division from 570 machines to about 300. This was to prove an ominous portent for the future.
Each Panzer Division still had its own infantry, reconnaissance, artillery, transport, communication, medical, technical and general services component but the balance had already begun to shift. At that time 1st, 2nd and 3rd Panzer Divisions were identical in size and organisation, the 4th Panzer Division still lacked some infantry and anti-tank units, and the 5th Panzer Division had additional infantry and motorcycle units, making it the largest Panzer Division, while the 10th Panzer Division was not yet fully organised.
In 1939 Germany’s rearmament was clearly far from complete, but if Hitler delayed his plans any longer Germany’s enemies might then be too strong for her. To be successful he needed easy, quick and decisive victories; a great deal would therefore rest on the new Panzer formations. On 17 August 1939 all of the Panzer units were put on alert and prepared to move out. On 25th August, they began moving towards the eastern border of the Reich. On 1st September 1939 the Second World War began.
This photograph demonstrates the building of Sturmgeschütze and Panzer Mark IIIs side by side in the Alkett works in early 1941.