7th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr) 7th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr) The 7th Panzer Division or Westphalian Panzer Division ( or "Westfälische Panzerdivision") was a major formation in the German Army ("Heer") within the German Armed Forces or "Bundeswehr" whose headquarters was for many years in Lippstadt und Unna and, finally in Düsseldorf. Until its dissolution in 2006 it was seen as the "backbone of the Army" or the "spearhead of the German Army". The majority of new weapon systems were introduced by this formation. Many Inspectors of the Army ("Inspekteur des Heeres") were once divisional commanders of the 7th Armoured Division. Its last commander was Wolf-Joachim
7th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht) sea, leaving what was left of its heavy equipment behind each time. After fighting defensively across Prussia and northern Germany, the surviving men escaped into the forest and surrendered to the British army northwest of Berlin in May 1945. Following the completion of the invasion of Poland, the limited effectiveness of the light divisions caused the German High Command to order the reorganization of the four light divisions into full panzer divisions. In October 1939, the 2nd Light Division became the 7th Panzer Division, one of Germany's ten armoured divisions. It consisted of 218 tanks in three battalions, with two