On 12 August 1944 Sturmpanzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 218 was raised at Bielefeld by order of the OKH [German Army High Command]. Personnel came from Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 11 – Bielefeld - and Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 18 – Kamenz. Already the next day 10 Sturmpanzer IV’s were allocated to the unit which came directly from the Army depot in Bielefeld. The same day the company started to board a train heading for the Eastern Front.

On 16 August 1944 another OKH order arrived, demanding that a second Sturmpanzer company be raised by 6 PM on 19 August 1944 at Bielefeld. The company was named Sturmpanzer-Kompanie z.b.V. 2./ 218; later documents also show 2./ Sturmpanzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 218 and 2./ Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 218 z.b.V. as the units name. This company too would receive 10 Sturmpanzer IV from the Army depot at Bielefeld, other soft skin vehicles should have come from the Army District VI but most of the vehicles were provided by Pz.Ers.- und Ausb.Abt. 11. Again it was intended to use personnel from Pz.Ers.- und Ausb.Abt. 11 and 18 in order to form the company, but in the end all personnel came from Pz.Ers.- und Ausb.Abt. 11 which was also responsible for providing the company commander, 1st Lieutenant Friedemann. Nevertheless Pz.Ers.- und Ausb.Abt. 18 was designated to become the replacement unit. [continued]