The first 101st Panzer Brigade was formed on 5 July 1941 in France with captured tanks.

[1] On 21 September 1941, it was used to form the staff of the 23rd Panzer Division.

[2] Colonel Botho Elster was briefly in command of the brigade in 1941 before being transferred to OB West.

[4] The 101st, along with the SS Panzer Brigade Gross, participated in Operation Doppelkopf to restore connection between Army Group North and Army Group Center.

[5] In October 1944, the brigade was reformed near Bobruisk, then it was merged with the remains of the destroyed 20th Panzer Division.