The 13th Panzer Division was created in 1934 or 1935 under the cover name Infanterieführer IV; it was unveiled as the 13th Infantry Division when the creation of the Wehrmacht was announced. It was upgraded to the 13th Motorized Infantry Division in 1937, and participated in the campaigns against Poland (1939) and western Europe (1940) under that name. In 1940, it was reorganized as 13th Panzer Division.