An organization appeared that was very similar to the future organization of armored divisions. A two-battalion organization was created in the regiments, so the number of combat divisions and artillery squadrons was less than in an infantry division (nine infantry divisions, four artillery squadrons, a reconnaissance division, an anti-tank division - only fifteen), and in an armored division - four armored battalions (three infantry divisions, two on trucks and one on motorcycles), two artillery squadrons, a reconnaissance and an anti-tank division - eleven in total. Following the consultations, the brigades were expanded to include armored and motorized infantry brigades.
Meanwhile, on November 1, 1934, with the arrival of LaS tanks (PzKpfw I Ausf A), including more than a hundred chassis without superstructures, as well as combat vehicles with a turret with two 7.92mm machine guns, a school company in Zossen and a Training company of the newly created tank school in Ohrdruf (a city in Thuringia, 30 km southwest of Erfurt) was expanded to full tank regiments - Kampfwagen-Regiment 1 and Kampfwagen-Regiment 2 (respectively). Each regiment had two tanks, and each battalion had four tank companies. It was assumed that eventually three companies in the division would have light tanks - until they were replaced by target medium tanks, and the fourth company would include support vehicles, that is, the first tanks armed with 75 mm L/24 caliber short-barreled guns and anti-tank vehicles with (as originally intended) guns of 50 mm caliber. As for the latest vehicles, the lack of a 50-mm cannon in a timely manner forced the temporary use of 37-mm anti-tank guns, which were then the standard anti-tank weapons of the German army. None of these vehicles even existed as prototypes yet, so initially the fourth companies were equipped with mock-ups of tanks. The Panzer III and Panzer IV medium tanks were the second generation of German armored vehicles before the outbreak of World War II.
On March 16, 1935, the German government introduced compulsory conscription, and therefore the Reichswehr changed its name to the Wehrmacht - Defense Forces. This paved the way for a clear return to armaments. As early as August 1935, experimental exercises were conducted using an improvised armored division, "assembled" from various units to verify the correctness of the organizational concept. The experimental division was commanded by Major General Oswald Lutz. 12,953 officers and soldiers, 4,025 wheeled vehicles and an additional 481 tracked vehicles (not counting tractor-artillery tanks) took part in the exercises. The organizational assumptions were generally confirmed, although it was decided that a company of sappers was not enough for such a large unit - it was decided to transform it into a battalion. Of course, Guderian had few tanks, so he insisted on further expanding the armored brigade to two three-battalion or three two-battalion regiments, or better to three three-battalion regiments. He was to become the main striking force of the division, and the rest of the units were to perform auxiliary and combat functions. iOS installation links are listed under melbet download .
