German III Corps
Encyclopedia
III Corps was a corps
level formation of the German
Army
during World War II
.
It was reformed by the postwar West German Bundeswehr
but disbanded again on 31 March 1994.
, the 1939 invasion of Poland
as a part of Heeresgruppe Nord
.
It then took part in Fall Gelb as a part of Heeresgruppe A
, participating in the assault through the Ardennes
. In March 1941, the corps was upgraded to a motorised corps status and redesignated III Armeekorps (mot).
Operation Barbarossa
saw III Armeekorps (mot) attached to Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt
's Heeresgruppe Süd
. The corps fought during the campaigns throughout the Ukraine and took part in the battles of Kiev
, Rostov
, Kharkov
and the Uman
Salient. In June 1942, the corps was again upgraded and redesignated.
, the formation tasked with capturing the Caucasus
as a part of Fall Blau. After the disaster at Stalingrad
, III Panzerkorps took part in the battles around Kharkov as part of Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein
's Heeresgruppe Don
.
The Corps was attached to Generaloberst Hermann Hoth
's 4.Panzerarmee
in Operation Citadel, and was heavily involved in the fighting withdrawal from Belgorod
to the Dniepr.
At the beginning of 1944, the corps was involved in the relief of the forces trapped in the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
. In March, the corps, along with the rest of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube
's 1.Panzerarmee was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
, and was heavily involved in the breakout and escape.
Due to heavy losses, from November 1944 to January 1945, the corps was redesignated as Gruppe Breith (after its commander, General der Panzertruppen Hermann Breith
).
The end of the year found III Panzerkorps involved in Operation Konrad
, the failed attempts to lift the siege of Budapest
. The corps then took part in Operation Spring Awakening in Hungary
. After the failure of the operation, the corps again effected a fighting withdrawal through Austria, surrendering to the Americans on 8 May 1945.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
level formation of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
It was reformed by the postwar West German Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
but disbanded again on 31 March 1994.
III Armeekorps History
The III Corps was formed in October 1934 as III. Armeekorps. The corps took part in Fall WeissFall Weiss
Fall Weiss translates as Case White following the German military's naming convention.Fall Weiss may refer to two military operations:* Fall Weiss , the German strategic plan for a war with Poland...
, the 1939 invasion of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
as a part of Heeresgruppe Nord
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
.
It then took part in Fall Gelb as a part of Heeresgruppe A
Army Group A
Army Group A was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.-Western Front, 1940:During the German invasion of the Low Countries and France Army Group A was under the command of General Gerd von Rundstedt, and was responsible for the break-out through the Ardennes...
, participating in the assault through the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
. In March 1941, the corps was upgraded to a motorised corps status and redesignated III Armeekorps (mot).
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
saw III Armeekorps (mot) attached to Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt
Gerd von Rundstedt
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt was a Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war....
's Heeresgruppe Süd
Army Group South
Army Group South was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.- Poland campaign :Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South...
. The corps fought during the campaigns throughout the Ukraine and took part in the battles of Kiev
Battle of Kiev (1941)
The Battle of Kiev was the German name for the operation that resulted in a very large encirclement of Soviet troops in the vicinity of Kiev during World War II. It is considered the largest encirclement of troops in history. The operation ran from 23 August – 26 September 1941 as part of Operation...
, Rostov
Battle of Rostov (1941)
The article is about the German Army Group South Sea of Azov Offensive Operation commanded by General Gerd von Rundstedt, the Soviet Rostov Defensive Operation by the Southern Front commanded by General-Colonel Yakov Cherevichenko, and the Rostov Offensive Operation executed by the...
, Kharkov
Second Battle of Kharkov
The Second Battle of Kharkov, so named by Wilhelm Keitel, was an Axis counter-offensive against the Red Army Izium bridgehead offensive conducted from 12 May to 28 May 1942, on the Eastern Front during World War II. Its objective was to eliminate the Izium bridgehead over Seversky Donets, or the...
and the Uman
Battle of Uman
The Battle of Uman was the German and allied encirclement of the 6th and 12th The Battle of Uman (15 July–8 August 1941) was the German and allied encirclement of the 6th (General Lieutenant I.N. Muzyrchenko) and 12th The Battle of Uman (15 July–8 August 1941) was the German and allied...
Salient. In June 1942, the corps was again upgraded and redesignated.
III Panzerkorps History
III Panzerkorps was formed in June 1942 from III. Armeekorps. The Panzerkorps was now attached to Heeresgruppe AArmy Group A
Army Group A was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.-Western Front, 1940:During the German invasion of the Low Countries and France Army Group A was under the command of General Gerd von Rundstedt, and was responsible for the break-out through the Ardennes...
, the formation tasked with capturing the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
as a part of Fall Blau. After the disaster at Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, III Panzerkorps took part in the battles around Kharkov as part of Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein was a field marshal in World War II. He became one of the most prominent commanders of Germany's World War II armed forces...
's Heeresgruppe Don
Army Group Don
Army Group Don was a short-lived German army group during World War II.Army Group Don was created from the headquarters of the Eleventh Army in the southern sector of the Eastern Front on 22 November 1942. The army group only lasted until February 1943 when it was combined with Army Group B and...
.
The Corps was attached to Generaloberst Hermann Hoth
Hermann Hoth
Hermann "Papa" Hoth was an officer in the German military from 1903 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generaloberst during World War II. He fought in France, but is most noted for his later exploits as a panzer commander on the Eastern Front...
's 4.Panzerarmee
German Fourth Panzer Army
The 4th Panzer Army was, before being designated a full army, the Panzer Group 4 , a German panzer army that saw action during World War II. Its units played a part in the invasion of France, and then on the Eastern Front.-Early history:The 4th Panzer Group's predecessor was the XVI Corps formed...
in Operation Citadel, and was heavily involved in the fighting withdrawal from Belgorod
Belgorod
-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
to the Dniepr.
At the beginning of 1944, the corps was involved in the relief of the forces trapped in the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
The Korsun–Shevchenkovsky Offensive led to the Battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket which took place from 24 January to 16 February 1944. The offensive was part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive...
. In March, the corps, along with the rest of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube
Hans-Valentin Hube
Hans-Valentin Hube was a German general who served in the German Army during the First and Second World Wars. He was one of 27 people to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds...
's 1.Panzerarmee was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
The Battle of the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket, also known as Hube's Pocket, was a Wehrmacht attempt on the Eastern Front of World War II to evade encirclement by the Red Army....
, and was heavily involved in the breakout and escape.
Due to heavy losses, from November 1944 to January 1945, the corps was redesignated as Gruppe Breith (after its commander, General der Panzertruppen Hermann Breith
Hermann Breith
Hermann Albert Breith was a German general of the Panzertruppe, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme...
).
The end of the year found III Panzerkorps involved in Operation Konrad
Operation Konrad
Operation Konrad was the German-Hungarian effort to relieve the encircled garrison of Budapest during the Battle of Budapest in January 1945. The operation was divided into three parts:...
, the failed attempts to lift the siege of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. The corps then took part in Operation Spring Awakening in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. After the failure of the operation, the corps again effected a fighting withdrawal through Austria, surrendering to the Americans on 8 May 1945.
Commanders
- Generaloberst Curt HaaseCurt HaaseCurt Haase served in World War I and was a Colonel General in the German Wehrmacht during World War II.- Early Career :...
(1 Sep 1939 - 13 Nov 1940) - General der Infanterie Kurt von Greiff (13 Nov 1940 - 15 Jan 1941)
- Generaloberst Eberhard von MackensenEberhard von MackensenFriedrich August Eberhard von Mackensen was a German general who served in World War II, and one of 882 German recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(15 Jan 1941 - 31 Mar 1942) - General der Panzertruppen Leo Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg (31 Mar 1942 - 20 July 1942)
- Generaloberst Eberhard von MackensenEberhard von MackensenFriedrich August Eberhard von Mackensen was a German general who served in World War II, and one of 882 German recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(20 July 1942 - 2 Jan 1943) - General der Panzertruppen Hermann BreithHermann BreithHermann Albert Breith was a German general of the Panzertruppe, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme...
(2 Jan 1943 - 20 Oct 1943) - General der Artillerie Heinz ZieglerHeinz ZieglerHeinz Ziegler was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(20 Oct 1943 - 25 Nov 1943) - General der Infanterie Friedrich SchulzFriedrich SchulzKarl Friedrich "Fritz" Wilhelm Schulz was a German general of infantry, serving during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
(25 Nov 1943 - 9 Jan 1944) - General der Panzertruppen Hermann BreithHermann BreithHermann Albert Breith was a German general of the Panzertruppe, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme...
(9 Jan 1944 - 31 May 1944) - General der Panzertruppen Dietrich von SauckenDietrich von SauckenFriedrich Wilhelm Eduard Kasimir Dietrich von Saucken was a general in the German army, the Wehrmacht Heer, during World War II...
(31 May 1944 - 29 June 1944) - General der Panzertruppen Hermann BreithHermann BreithHermann Albert Breith was a German general of the Panzertruppe, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme...
(29 June 1944 - 8 May 1945)
III.Armeekorps, May 1940 - Fall Gelb
- Stab der Korps
- Arko 3
- Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 43
- Korps-Nachschubtruppen 403
- Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 403
- 3.Infanterie DivisionGerman 3rd Infantry DivisionThe German 3rd Infantry Division was established under the cover name Wehrgauleitung Frankfurt in 1934 by expanding the 3rd Division of the Reichswehr. It was redesignated Kommandant von Frankfurt shortly afterward, and took on its bona fide name when the formation of the Wehrmacht was announced in...
- 23.Infanterie DivisionGerman 23rd Infantry Division-23rd Infantry Division:The German 23rd Infantry Division was a military unit operational during World War II. It was organized along standard lines for a German infantry division. It was non-motorised and relied on horse drawn wagons for its mobility...
- 52.Infanterie Division52nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 52nd Infantry Division served in southern Poland, close to Katowice and were primarily a division for training with a lot of young cadets.The officials were especially selected for training young boys...
III.Armeekorps (mot), September 1941 - Operation Barbarossa
- Stab der Korps
- Arko 3
- Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 43
- Korps-Nachschubtruppen 403
- Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 403
- 14.Panzer Division
- 60.Infanterie Division (mot)
- 13.Panzer Division
- SS-Division Wiking
- 198.Infanterie Division
III.Panzerkorps, July 1943 - Operation Citadel
- Corps Troops (Stab der Korps)
- Artillery Commander 3 (Arko 3)
- 43rd Panzer Signal Battalion
- Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 43
- Korps-Nachschubtruppen 403
- Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 403
- Corps attached units
- 228.Sturmgeschütz-Brigade
- 393.Sturmgeschütz-Brigade
- 905.Sturmgeschütz-Brigade
- 503.schwere-Panzer-Abteilung
- 6.Panzer-Division under Major General Walther von HünersdorffWalther von HünersdorffWalther von Hünersdorff was a German Generalleutnant serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- 11.Panzer-Regiment (with 86 tanks)
- 4.Panzergrenadier-Regiment
- 114.Panzergrenadier-Regiment
- 76.Panzerartillerie-Regiment
- 7.Panzer-DivisionGerman 7th Panzer DivisionThe 7th Panzer Division was a German elite armored formation which participated in the Battle of France. General Erwin Rommel commanded the division, which was nicknamed the "Ghost Division" because of its speed and independent movement, which even the German High Command had difficulty following...
under Lieutenant General Hans Freiherr von FunckHans Freiherr von FunckGeneral Hans Emil Richard Freiherr von Funck was a highly decorated Panzer General in the German army during World War II.-Biography:...
- 25.Panzer-Regiment (with 87 tanks)
- 6.Panzergrenadier-Regiment
- 7.Panzergrenadier-Regiment
- 78.Panzerartillerie-Regiment
- 19.Panzer-Division under Lieutenant General Gustav SchmidtGustav SchmidtGustav Schmidt is a West German sprint canoer who competed in the 1950s. He won three medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds and a silver ....
- 27.Panzer-Regiment (with 70 tanks)
- 73.Panzergrenadier-Regiment
- 74.Panzergrenadier-Regiment
- 19.Panzerartillerie-Regiment
- 168.Infanterie-Division under Major General Walter Chales de Beaulieu
- 417.Infanterie-Regiment
- 429.Infanterie-Regiment
- 442.Infanterie-Regiment
- 248.Artillerie-Regiment
III Panzerkorps, March 1944 - Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket
- Stab der Korps
- Arko 3
- Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 43
- Korps-Nachschubtruppen 403
- Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 403
- 1.Panzer DivisionGerman 1st Panzer DivisionThe German 1st Panzer Division was an elite armoured division in the German Army during World War II. Its divisional insignia was a white oakleaf emblem.-History:...
- 16.Panzer Division
- 17.Panzer DivisionGerman 17th Panzer DivisionThe 17th Panzer Division was a formation of the German Army in World War II. It was formed on November 1940 from 27th Infantry Division. It took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, and in the winter of 1941–42 participated in the abortive German attack...
- 1.SS Panzer Division Leibstandate SS Adolf Hitler
- schwere Panzer Abteilung 509German 509th Heavy Panzer DetachmentThe 509th Heavy Tank Battalion was a German heavy panzer abteilung equipped with Tiger I and later Tiger II Königstiger tanks. The 509th saw action on the Eastern Front during the Second World War...
III Panzerkorps, March 1945 - Operation Spring Awakening
- Stab der Korps
- Arko 3
- Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 43
- Korps-Nachschubtruppen 403
- Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 403
- schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 509German 509th Heavy Panzer DetachmentThe 509th Heavy Tank Battalion was a German heavy panzer abteilung equipped with Tiger I and later Tiger II Königstiger tanks. The 509th saw action on the Eastern Front during the Second World War...
- 3.Panzer DivisionGerman 3rd Panzer DivisionThe German 3rd Panzer Division was established in 1935 under the command of Generalleutnant Ernst Feßmann. It later participated in the 1939 invasion of Poland , the 1940 invasion of France, and the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union...
- 1.Panzer DivisionGerman 1st Panzer DivisionThe German 1st Panzer Division was an elite armoured division in the German Army during World War II. Its divisional insignia was a white oakleaf emblem.-History:...
- 23.Panzer Division
See also
- PanzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
, Panzer DivisionPanzer DivisionA panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II.... - CorpsCorpsA corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
, Military unit - WehrmachtWehrmachtThe Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, List of German military units of World War II