German Third Panzer Army
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Panzer Army was a German army that saw action during World War II
. It was formed from Panzergruppe 3, which had been formed on November 16, 1940.
The 3rd Panzer Army was a constituent part of Army Group Centre
and fought in the Battle of Moscow
in late 1941 (as Panzergruppe 3) and early 1942. Panzergruppe 3 was retitled the 3rd Panzer Army on January 1, 1942. During the Soviet counter-offensive, the 3rd Panzer Army fought its way out of an encirclement and later fought at Tekino, the Duna and Vitebsk. The 3rd Panzer Army later retreated through Lithuania
and Courland
, fighting in the Battle of Memel
in late 1944.
In February 1945 the 3rd Panzer Army was one of the armies that made up the new Army Group Vistula
. On March 10, 1945, General Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel was made the commander of the 3rd Panzer Army, which was assigned to defend the banks of the Oder River, north of the Seelow Heights
, thus hampering Soviet access to Western Pomerania and Berlin
. They then faced an overwhelming Soviet attack launched by General Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front
during the Battle of Berlin
. On April 25 the Soviets broke through 3rd Panzer Army's line around the bridgehead south of Stettin and crossed the Rando Swamp. Manteuffel was forced to retreat to Mecklenburg
where he surrendered his troops to the Western Allies
on May 3, 1945, thus avoiding capture by the Soviets.
Campaigns
Biographies
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 formed from Panzergruppe 3, which had been formed on November 16, 1940.
The 3rd Panzer Army was a constituent part of Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre was the name of two distinct German strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army formations assigned to the invasion of the Soviet Union...
and fought in the Battle of Moscow
Battle of Moscow
The Battle of Moscow is the name given by Soviet historians to two periods of strategically significant fighting on a sector of the Eastern Front during World War II. It took place between October 1941 and January 1942. The Soviet defensive effort frustrated Hitler's attack on Moscow, capital of...
in late 1941 (as Panzergruppe 3) and early 1942. Panzergruppe 3 was retitled the 3rd Panzer Army on January 1, 1942. During the Soviet counter-offensive, the 3rd Panzer Army fought its way out of an encirclement and later fought at Tekino, the Duna and Vitebsk. The 3rd Panzer Army later retreated through Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
, fighting in the Battle of Memel
Battle of Memel
The Battle of Memel or the Siege of Memel took place when the Soviets launched their Memel Offensive Operation in late 1944. The offensive led to a three-month siege against German forces in a small bridgehead in the town and its port....
in late 1944.
In February 1945 the 3rd Panzer Army was one of the armies that made up the new Army Group Vistula
Army Group Vistula
Army Group Vistula was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24, 1945. It was put together from elements of Army Group A , Army Group Centre , and a variety of new or ad-hoc formations...
. On March 10, 1945, General Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel was made the commander of the 3rd Panzer Army, which was assigned to defend the banks of the Oder River, north of the Seelow Heights
Seelow Heights
The Seelow Heights are situated around the town Seelow, about 90 kilometres east of Berlin and overlook the Oderbruch, the western flood plain of the River Oder which is a further 20 km to the east....
, thus hampering Soviet access to Western Pomerania and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. They then faced an overwhelming Soviet attack launched by General Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front
2nd Belorussian Front
The 2nd Belorussian Front was a military formation of Army group size of the Soviet Army during the Second World War...
during the Battle of Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
. On April 25 the Soviets broke through 3rd Panzer Army's line around the bridgehead south of Stettin and crossed the Rando Swamp. Manteuffel was forced to retreat to Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
where he surrendered his troops to the Western Allies
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
on May 3, 1945, thus avoiding capture by the Soviets.
Commanders
- Generaloberst Georg-Hans ReinhardtGeorg-Hans ReinhardtGeorg-Hans Reinhardt was a German general of World War II. He commanded Third Panzer Army from 1941 to 1944, and Army Group Centre in 1944 and 1945. His highest rank was Generaloberst . He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
(5 October 1941 - 15 August 1944) - Generaloberst Erhard RausErhard RausErhard Raus was a Austrian Colonel General during World War II. He commanded the 6th Panzer Division during the early years of the war on the Eastern Front before taking Army and Army Group commands....
(16 August 1944 - 10 March 1945) - GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel (11 March 1945 - 8 May 1945)
See also
Military units- List of German military units of World War II
- Army Group VistulaArmy Group VistulaArmy Group Vistula was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24, 1945. It was put together from elements of Army Group A , Army Group Centre , and a variety of new or ad-hoc formations...
- Panzer Corps FeldherrnhalleFeldherrnhalleThe Feldherrnhalle is a monumental loggia in Munich, Germany. It was built between 1841 and 1844 at the southern end of Munich's Ludwigstrasse next to the Palais Preysing and east of the Hofgarten. Previously the Gothic Schwabinger Tor occupied that place...
- 1st Infantry Division (Germany)
Campaigns
- Operation Bagration
- Evacuation of East PrussiaEvacuation of East PrussiaThe evacuation of East Prussia refers to the evacuation of the German civilian population and military personnel in East Prussia and the Klaipėda region between 20 January, and March 1945, as part of the evacuation of German civilians towards the end of World War II...
- Battle of BerlinBattle of BerlinThe Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
Biographies
- Gotthard HeinriciGotthard HeinriciGotthard Heinrici was a general in the German Army during World War II.-Personal life:Heinrici's was born in Gumbinnen , East Prussia, on Christmas Day, 1886, to Paul Heinrici, a local Lutheran minister of the Prussian Church, and his wife Gisela, née von Rauchhaupt, who was of recent Jewish descent...
- Ivan ChernyakhovskyIvan ChernyakhovskyIvan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky, also Cherniakhovsky, ; Oksanina, Uman, Russian Empire , - Mehlsack, today Pieniężno, Poland, 18 February 1945) was a Soviet General of the Army , twice Hero of the Soviet Union, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front, who died from wounds received outside...