German Sixth SS Panzer Army
Encyclopedia
The 6th Panzer Army was a unit of Wehrmacht Heer, formed in the Autumn of 1944. The 6th Panzer Army is best noted for its leading role in the Battle of the Bulge
(16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945). On 2 April 1945, it was transferred to the Waffen-SS
. The 6th Panzer Army then became known as 6th SS Panzer Army (6.SS-Panzerarmee).
Although it didn't receive the SS designation until after the Battle of the Bulge, the SS designation came into general use in military history literature after the Second World War for the formation as assembled prior to that campaign. After the Ardennes Offensive, the 6th SS Panzer Army was transferred to Hungary, where it fought against the advancing Soviet Army. In March 1945, after the fall of Budapest, the 6th SS Panzer Army launched one of the final German offensives of the war, Operation Frühlingserwachen
around Lake Balaton
. This was an attempt to protect the last sources of petroleum controlled by the Germans. In April 1945, the 6th SS Panzer Army defended
Vienna
against the advancing Soviets. When the war ended on 8 May 1945, the 6th SS Panzer Army was in Austria between Vienna and Linz.
LXVII Armee Korps
LXVI Armee Korps
Korps Felber
Also included the I SS Panzer Corps (SS-Gruf.Hermann Priess) and II SS Panzer Corps (SS-Ogruf.Wilhelm Bittrich)
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
(16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945). On 2 April 1945, it was transferred to the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
. The 6th Panzer Army then became known as 6th SS Panzer Army (6.SS-Panzerarmee).
Although it didn't receive the SS designation until after the Battle of the Bulge, the SS designation came into general use in military history literature after the Second World War for the formation as assembled prior to that campaign. After the Ardennes Offensive, the 6th SS Panzer Army was transferred to Hungary, where it fought against the advancing Soviet Army. In March 1945, after the fall of Budapest, the 6th SS Panzer Army launched one of the final German offensives of the war, Operation Frühlingserwachen
Operation Frühlingserwachen
Operation Frühlingserwachen was the last major German offensive launched during World War II. The offensive was launched in Hungary on the Eastern Front...
around Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked , Lake Balaton is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea"...
. This was an attempt to protect the last sources of petroleum controlled by the Germans. In April 1945, the 6th SS Panzer Army defended
Vienna Offensive
The Vienna Offensive was launched by the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front in order to capture Vienna, Austria. The offensive lasted from 2–13 April 1945...
Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
against the advancing Soviets. When the war ended on 8 May 1945, the 6th SS Panzer Army was in Austria between Vienna and Linz.
Commander
- SS-OberstgruppenführerOberstgruppenführerOberst-Gruppenführer was the highest commissioned SS rank with the exception of Reichsführer-SS, which was a special rank held by Heinrich Himmler...
Josef Dietrich - 26 October 1944 to 8 May 1945 - Dietrich was captured by the Americans on 12 May 1945
Order of battle - Ardennes Offensive
Direct command of 6.SS Panzerarmee- Panzer Brigade 150Panzer Brigade 150Panzer Brigade 150 or SS Panzer Brigade 150 was a formation of the German Army during World War II that was formed to take part in the Ardennes offensive, it was unusual in that it was formed from all parts of the German Armed Forces, the 2.500 men in the brigade were formed from; 1.000 from the...
- Kdr:SS-Ostubaf. Otto SkorzenyOtto SkorzenyOtto Skorzeny was an SS-Obersturmbannführer in the German Waffen-SS during World War II. After fighting on the Eastern Front, he was chosen as the field commander to carry out the rescue mission that freed the deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from captivity... - Volks-Artillerie-KorpsVolksartilleriekorpsA Volksartilleriekorps was a brigade-sized massed artillery formation employed by the German Army in World War II from late 1944 until the end of the war. A Volksartilleriekorps was typically composed of five or six battalions of differing kinds of howitzers and guns, including antitank and...
388/402/405 - Volks-Werfer-Brigade 4/9/17
- 2 Flak Division - Oberst Fritz Laicher
- 246th Volksgrenadier Division246th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 246th Infantry Division was a Third Wave division of the Wehrmacht formed in Trier and initially stationed on the Saar Line, later in South-western France from August 1941 until January 1942....
(Army reserve, December 19, 1944) Generalmajor Peter KörtePeter KörtePeter Körte was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
LXVII Armee Korps
- Kdr:General der Infanterie Otto HitzfeldOtto HitzfeldOtto Hitzfeld was a German Officer during both World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 9 May 1945...
- 272nd Volksgrenadier Division272nd Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 272nd Volksgrenadier Division , was a German Army volksgrenadier division formed following the defeats of the Normandy Campaign in 1944...
- Generalleutnant Eugen KönigEugen KönigEugen König was a Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful... - 326th Volksgrenadier Division326th Infantry Division (Germany)The 326th Infantry Division was formed on November 9, 1942 to serve as an occupation force in France. On May 5, 1943 the division was transformed into a static division. The 326th Infantry Division was destroyed during the Battle of Normandy. A new 326th Volksgrenadier Division The 326th Infantry...
- Generalmajor Dr.Erwin Kaschner - 2 Flak-sturm-Regiment
LXVI Armee Korps
- Kdr:General der Artillerie Walter LuchtWalter LuchtWalter Lucht was a German general who held commands at division, corps and army levels during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme...
- 12th Volksgrenadier Division - Generalleutnant Gerhard EngelGerhard EngelGerhard Michael Engel was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- 62nd Volksgrenadier Division62nd Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 62nd Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the Heer during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
- Generalmajor Fritz Warnecke - 560th Volksgrenadier Division - Generalmajor Rudolf Bader
Korps Felber
- Kdr:General der Infanterie Hans FelberHans FelberHans Felber was a German infantry general and staff officer.Felber started his military career as Fahnenjunker on March 17, 1908. On August 17, 1909 he was elevated to Lieutenant of the 117th Infantry Regiment. On April 1, 1932 Felber became a Lieutenant Colonel. On July 1, 1935 he found himself...
- 18 Volks-Grenadier Division18th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 18th Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
(1.1.45 attached) - Generalmajor Günther Hoffmann-SchönbornGünther Hoffmann-SchönbornGünther Hoffmann-Schönborn was an Officer in the German Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II... - 62nd Volksgrenadier Division (1.1.45 attached)- Kdr:Generalmajor Fritz Warnecke
Also included the I SS Panzer Corps (SS-Gruf.Hermann Priess) and II SS Panzer Corps (SS-Ogruf.Wilhelm Bittrich)
Order of battle (31 Mar 1945)
- KampfgruppeKampfgruppeIn military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
356th Infantry Division - I. SS-Panzerkorps
- 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf + KampfgruppeKampfgruppeIn military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
Hungarian 2nd Armored Division - 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend12th SS Panzer Division HitlerjugendThe 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern...
- 232nd Panzer Division
- II. SS-Panzerkorps
- 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
- Hungarian 1st Mountain Brigade
- 6th Panzer Division + Hungarian 1st Cavalry Division (remnants)