II SS Panzer Corps
Encyclopedia
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German
Waffen-SS
armoured corps
which saw action on both the Eastern
and Western Fronts
during World War II
.
in July 1942 in Bergen
, Netherlands
as "SS-Panzer-Generalkommando". The corps served as a skeletal formation, overseeing the reorganization and restructure of Waffen SS combat divisions in the area of Toulon
, France
. In early February 1943, the corps was ordered to join Generalfeldmarschall Manstein's
Army Group South
in Ukraine
where it was to become known very simply as the "SS Panzer Corps". SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser
, the ex-commander of the Das Reich Division, was placed in charge of the corps, and was tasked with defending the strategic city of Kharkov. After defending the city for as long as possible, Hausser disobeyed Adolf Hitler
's orders and told his troops to abandon the city to avoid encirclement. In the remaining weeks of February, the SS Panzer Corps was almost entirely responsible for the destruction of Mobile Group Popov, the major Soviet attacking force. The destruction of Mobile Group Popov halted the Soviet offensive which followed the Battle of Stalingrad
and stabilized Manstein's front. After regrouping, the SS Panzer Corps became the Schwerpunkt of Manstein's counter-offensive
and distinguished itself in the fighting to recapture the city and surrounding area, advancing as far as Belgorod
.
was created during that same month. In July 1943, the corps took part in the failed Operation Citadel
, spearheading Generaloberst Hoth's 4th Panzer Army attack on the southern pincer aimed at reducing the Kursk
salient
. The corps three SS panzergrenadier
divisions were involved in mammoth tank battles around Prokhorovka
, pushing deeper into the salient than any other unit. After the operation was canceled, the corps was ordered to the Italian front
. The coup which deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
caused much confusion, and only one division, the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler ended up being transferred, along with the corps personnel. The remaining combat divisions remained on the Eastern front. The Leibstandarte took part in operations to disarm Italian troops. After the completion of this, it was involved in anti-partisan
operations in northern Italy. In November, 1943, the Leibstandarte returned to Russia, with the corps remaining in Northern Italy.
In January 1944, the corps was ordered to France to refit, before being sent back into action on the Eastern Front. It took part in the efforts to relieve Generaloberst Hube's
encircled 1st Panzer-Army
, the corps two combat divisions, the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
and 10th SS Panzer-Division Frundsberg
, providing the spearhead for the operation and being first to effect a linkup with Hube's forces.
. It was involved in heavy fighting against Field Marshal Montgomery's British 21st Army Group
in the area around Caen
. During this period, SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich
, veteran commander of the Hohenstaufen, was placed in command of the corps.
After the launch of Operation Totalize and the forming of the Falaise pocket
, the corps managed to escape encirclement and took part in operations to hold open the escape route for other divisions trapped in the kessel.
The corps executed a fighting withdrawal across France, engaging in several fierce rearguard actions. In early September, the corps was pulled out of the line to rest and refit near Arnhem
in the Netherlands. On 17 September 1944, the allies launched Operation Market Garden
, an airborne offensive aimed at capturing the Rhine bridge at Arnhem. The corps was put into action and was involved in heavy fighting against the British 1st Airborne Division
in Arnhem and also against the US 82nd Airborne Division
and British XXX Corps in Nijmegen. The corps played a decisive role in the defeat of the Allied offensive.
, which was preparing for the Wacht am Rhein offensive in the Ardennes
. Only minor corps units involved in the initial assault. The corps was committed to major action near St. Vith on 21 December 1944. After the northern assault stalled, the corps was transferred south to take part in the attack on Bastogne
. The corps' combat divisions suffered heavy losses in the battles against the US 101st Airborne Division
. After the failure of the offensive, the corps returned to the defensive, seeing action against US forces in the Eifel
region.
In February 1945, the corps was ordered to Hungary
to take part in an offensive to recapture Budapest
and the Hungarian oilfields. After a brief period of rest and reforming in Germany, the corps arrived near Stuhlweißenburg
near Lake Balaton
. After the remainder of Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzer-Armee had assembled, the corps took part in Operation Frühlingserwachen
, launched on 6 March 1945. In terrible conditions and against fierce Soviet resistance, the corps managed to advance only a few kilometers. After the failure of the offensive, the corps was involved in defensive battles alongside the I.SS
and IV.SS-Panzerkorps
, executing a fighting withdrawal towards Vienna
. After the Soviets captured the city, the corps broke up and individual units attempted to break out to the American forces to the west. The survivors of the combat divisions, along with the majority of the corps personnel, managed to surrender to the Americans on 8 May 1945.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
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...
armoured corps
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...
which saw action on both the Eastern
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
and Western Fronts
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
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...
.
Formation - Kharkov
The II SS Panzer Corps was formed from 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich and 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
The 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", also known as SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9 Hohenstaufen or 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was a German Waffen-SS Armoured division which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The...
in July 1942 in Bergen
Bergen (disambiguation)
- Australia :*Bergen, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney**Bergen train station, a station of the city of Sydney- Canada :*Bergen, Alberta*Bergen, New Brunswick*Bergen, Newfoundland and Labrador*Bergen, Nova Scotia**Bergen-Halifax-Dartmouth*Bergen, Ontario...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
as "SS-Panzer-Generalkommando". The corps served as a skeletal formation, overseeing the reorganization and restructure of Waffen SS combat divisions in the area of Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In early February 1943, the corps was ordered to join Generalfeldmarschall Manstein's
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...
Army Group South
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...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
where it was to become known very simply as the "SS Panzer Corps". SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser
Paul Hausser
Paul "Papa" Hausser was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of lieutenant-general in the inter-war Reichswehr. After retirement from the regular Army he became the "father" of the Waffen-SS and one of its most eminent leaders...
, the ex-commander of the Das Reich Division, was placed in charge of the corps, and was tasked with defending the strategic city of Kharkov. After defending the city for as long as possible, Hausser disobeyed Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's orders and told his troops to abandon the city to avoid encirclement. In the remaining weeks of February, the SS Panzer Corps was almost entirely responsible for the destruction of Mobile Group Popov, the major Soviet attacking force. The destruction of Mobile Group Popov halted the Soviet offensive which followed the Battle of 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...
and stabilized Manstein's front. After regrouping, the SS Panzer Corps became the Schwerpunkt of Manstein's counter-offensive
Third Battle of Kharkov
The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of offensive operations on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov , between 19 February and 15 March 1943...
and distinguished itself in the fighting to recapture the city and surrounding area, advancing as far as 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:...
.
Kursk - Italy
The corps was renamed as II SS Panzer Corps in June 1943, after the I SS Panzer CorpsI SS Panzer Corps
The I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or I SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.-Formation and training:...
was created during that same month. In July 1943, the corps took part in the failed Operation Citadel
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
, spearheading Generaloberst Hoth's 4th Panzer Army attack on the southern pincer aimed at reducing the Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
salient
Salients, re-entrants and pockets
A salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...
. The corps three SS panzergrenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
divisions were involved in mammoth tank battles around Prokhorovka
Prokhorovka
Prokhorovka is an urban locality and the administrative center of Prokhorovsky District of Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Psyol River southwest of the city of Kursk. Population:...
, pushing deeper into the salient than any other unit. After the operation was canceled, the corps was ordered to the Italian front
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. The coup which deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
caused much confusion, and only one division, the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler ended up being transferred, along with the corps personnel. The remaining combat divisions remained on the Eastern front. The Leibstandarte took part in operations to disarm Italian troops. After the completion of this, it was involved in anti-partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
operations in northern Italy. In November, 1943, the Leibstandarte returned to Russia, with the corps remaining in Northern Italy.
In January 1944, the corps was ordered to France to refit, before being sent back into action on the Eastern Front. It took part in the efforts to relieve Generaloberst Hube's
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...
encircled 1st Panzer-Army
German First Panzer Army
The 1st Panzer Army was a German tank army that was a large armoured formation within the Wehrmacht Heer field forces during World War II.-Formation:...
, the corps two combat divisions, the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
The 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", also known as SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9 Hohenstaufen or 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was a German Waffen-SS Armoured division which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The...
and 10th SS Panzer-Division Frundsberg
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
The 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg or 10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg was a German Waffen SS panzer division. The division was formed at the beginning of 1943 as a reserve for the expected Allied invasion of France. However, their first campaign was in the Ukraine in April 1944...
, providing the spearhead for the operation and being first to effect a linkup with Hube's forces.
Normandy - Arnhem
In June 1944, the corps was ordered west to take part in the defence of NormandyOperation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. It was involved in heavy fighting against Field Marshal Montgomery's British 21st Army Group
British 21st Army Group
The 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation consisting primarily of British and Canadian forces. The Army Group was an important Allied force in the European Theatre of World War II. It was established in London during July 1943 under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied...
in the area around Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
. During this period, SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich
Wilhelm Bittrich
Wilhelm Bittrich was an SS-Obergruppenführer and Waffen-SS General during World War II.-Overview:...
, veteran commander of the Hohenstaufen, was placed in command of the corps.
After the launch of Operation Totalize and the forming of the Falaise pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
, the corps managed to escape encirclement and took part in operations to hold open the escape route for other divisions trapped in the kessel.
The corps executed a fighting withdrawal across France, engaging in several fierce rearguard actions. In early September, the corps was pulled out of the line to rest and refit near Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
in the Netherlands. On 17 September 1944, the allies launched Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, an airborne offensive aimed at capturing the Rhine bridge at Arnhem. The corps was put into action and was involved in heavy fighting against the British 1st Airborne Division
British 1st Airborne Division
The 1st Airborne Division was a division of the British airborne forces during the Second World War. The division was formed in 1941, after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanded an airborne force...
in Arnhem and also against the US 82nd Airborne Division
U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps....
and British XXX Corps in Nijmegen. The corps played a decisive role in the defeat of the Allied offensive.
Ardennes - Hungary
After refitting in October and November, the corps was placed in reserve for SS-Oberstgruppenführer Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzer-ArmeeGerman Sixth SS Panzer Army
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 . On 2 April 1945, it was transferred to the Waffen-SS...
, which was preparing for the Wacht am Rhein offensive in 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...
. Only minor corps units involved in the initial assault. The corps was committed to major action near St. Vith on 21 December 1944. After the northern assault stalled, the corps was transferred south to take part in the attack on Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
. The corps' combat divisions suffered heavy losses in the battles against the US 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. After the failure of the offensive, the corps returned to the defensive, seeing action against US forces in the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
region.
In February 1945, the corps was ordered to 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...
to take part in an offensive to recapture 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...
and the Hungarian oilfields. After a brief period of rest and reforming in Germany, the corps arrived near Stuhlweißenburg
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
near 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"...
. After the remainder of Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzer-Armee had assembled, the corps took part in 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...
, launched on 6 March 1945. In terrible conditions and against fierce Soviet resistance, the corps managed to advance only a few kilometers. After the failure of the offensive, the corps was involved in defensive battles alongside the I.SS
I SS Panzer Corps
The I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or I SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.-Formation and training:...
and IV.SS-Panzerkorps
IV SS Panzer Corps
The IV.SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans during World War II.The Panzerkorps was formed in August, 1943 in Poitiers, France...
, executing a fighting withdrawal towards 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...
. After the Soviets captured the city, the corps broke up and individual units attempted to break out to the American forces to the west. The survivors of the combat divisions, along with the majority of the corps personnel, managed to surrender to the Americans on 8 May 1945.
Commanders
- SS-Obergruppenführer Paul HausserPaul HausserPaul "Papa" Hausser was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of lieutenant-general in the inter-war Reichswehr. After retirement from the regular Army he became the "father" of the Waffen-SS and one of its most eminent leaders...
(1 June 1942 - 28 June 1944) - SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm BittrichWilhelm BittrichWilhelm Bittrich was an SS-Obergruppenführer and Waffen-SS General during World War II.-Overview:...
(10 July 1944 - 9 May 1945)
July 1943 - Operation Citadel
- Stab der Korps
- SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 102
- SS-Werfer-Abteilung 102
- SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 102
- SS-Nachschubtruppen 102
- 1.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- 2.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich
- 3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf
- Elements of 167.Infanterie-Division
September 1944 - Operation Market Garden
- Stab der Korps
- SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 102
- SS-Werfer-Abteilung 102
- SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 102
- SS-Nachschubtruppen 102
- 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen9th SS Panzer Division HohenstaufenThe 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", also known as SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9 Hohenstaufen or 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was a German Waffen-SS Armoured division which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The...
- 10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg10th SS Panzer Division FrundsbergThe 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg or 10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg was a German Waffen SS panzer division. The division was formed at the beginning of 1943 as a reserve for the expected Allied invasion of France. However, their first campaign was in the Ukraine in April 1944...
March 1945 - Operation Frühlingserwachen
- Stab der Korps
- SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 102
- Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502102 SS Heavy Panzer BattalionThe SS Heavy-Panzer Battalion 102 was a heavy-tank battalion of the Waffen SS during World War II, which fought as part of the II SS Panzer Corps during the Battle of Normandy...
- SS-Werfer-Abteilung 102
- SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 102
- SS-Nachschubtruppen 102
- 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen9th SS Panzer Division HohenstaufenThe 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", also known as SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9 Hohenstaufen or 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was a German Waffen-SS Armoured division which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The...
- 2.SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich
- (44.) Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und DeutschmeisterGerman 44th Infantry DivisionThe 44th Infantry Division was formed on April 1, 1938 in Vienna, and was destroyed with the 6th Army at Stalingrad in January 1943. Like all the divisions lost in the Stalingrad disaster, it was reformed using other formations and usually a cadre of specialists who had been evacuated by air before...
- 23.Panzer-Division