LVI Panzer Corps
Encyclopedia
LVI Panzer Corps was a tank corps in the German Army during World War II
.
This corps was activated in February 1941 for the German invasion of the Soviet Union
, which commenced on June 22, 1941. Erich von Manstein
led the corps in its advance from East Prussia
to Demyansk
, where, in September 1941, he was informed of his appointment as commander of the German Eleventh Army.
In 1942, as part of Army Group Center
's 3rd Panzer Army, the LVI Panzer Corps was used to fight Soviet partisans
on the Eastern Front
. The corps was active in the Spas-Demensk
and Kirov
area before withdrawing to Krichev
and across the Dnieper.
In the Spring of 1944, the LVI Panzer Corps fought at Zhlobin
and Kalinkovichi in Belarus
. From June 22 to August 19, during Operation Bagration, the Soviets destroyed Army Group Center
and swept the Germans from Belarus. The corps withdrew through the Pripet Marshes towards Brest-Litovsk. From 13 July to 29 July, as part of the 4th Panzer Army, the LVI Panzer Corps was involved in the unsuccessful German defense against the Soviet Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
. The corps continued to withdraw through Poland
and into Germany
as the Soviet advance continued.
In 1945, the LVI Panzer Corps became part of Army Group Vistula
's 9th Army. From 16 April to 19 April, at the Battle of Seelow Heights, the corps suffered heavy losses along with the rest of the 9th Army. The remnants of the LVI Panzer Corps ended the war defending the Nazi capital in the Battle of Berlin
.
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...
.
This corps was activated in February 1941 for the German invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, which commenced on June 22, 1941. 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...
led the corps in its advance from East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
to Demyansk
Demyansk
Demyansk is an urban locality and the administrative center of Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Yavon River. Population:...
, where, in September 1941, he was informed of his appointment as commander of the German Eleventh Army.
In 1942, as part of Army Group Center
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...
's 3rd Panzer Army, the LVI Panzer Corps was used to fight Soviet partisans
Soviet partisans
The Soviet partisans were members of a resistance movement which fought a guerrilla war against the Axis occupation of the Soviet Union during World War II....
on the Eastern Front
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...
. The corps was active in the Spas-Demensk
Spas-Demensk
Spas-Demensk is a town in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located on the Demena River west of Kaluga. Population: Spas-Demensk was first mentioned in 1494 as the settlement Demensk. It received its present name in 1855 and was granted town status in 1917.-External links:*...
and Kirov
Kirov, Kirov Oblast
Kirov , formerly known as Vyatka and Khlynov, is a city in northeastern European Russia, on the Vyatka River, and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast. Population: -History:...
area before withdrawing to Krichev
Krichev
Krychaw or Krichev is a city in the eastern Belarusian Mahilyow Voblast. Krychaw is the administrative center of the Krychaw Raion. It is located on the Sozh River .Krychaw was first mentioned in 1136.-External links:* 36...
and across the Dnieper.
In the Spring of 1944, the LVI Panzer Corps fought at Zhlobin
Zhlobin
Zhlobin is a city in the Homiel Voblast of Belarus, on the Dnieper river. As of 2005, the population is 75.866. The town was first mentioned in writing in 1492....
and Kalinkovichi in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. From June 22 to August 19, during Operation Bagration, the Soviets destroyed Army Group Center
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 swept the Germans from Belarus. The corps withdrew through the Pripet Marshes towards Brest-Litovsk. From 13 July to 29 July, as part of the 4th Panzer Army, the LVI Panzer Corps was involved in the unsuccessful German defense against the Soviet Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
The Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive or the L'vov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive Operation was a major Red Army operation to force the German troops from Ukraine and Eastern Poland...
. The corps continued to withdraw through 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...
and into Germany
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...
as the Soviet advance continued.
In 1945, the LVI Panzer Corps became part of 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...
's 9th Army. From 16 April to 19 April, at the Battle of Seelow Heights, the corps suffered heavy losses along with the rest of the 9th Army. The remnants of the LVI Panzer Corps ended the war defending the Nazi capital in 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....
.
Commanders
- Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Erich von MansteinErich von MansteinErich 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...
- From February 1941 to 13 September 1941. - General of the Tank Troops (General der Panzertruppen) Ferdinand SchaalFerdinand SchaalFerdinand Friedrich Schaal was a German career military officer and panzer commander in World War II. He commanded the 10th Panzer Division in the 1939 Invasion of Poland and directed the successful Siege of Calais in 1940...
- From 16 March 1942 to 1 August 1943 - Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Friedrich HoßbachFriedrich HoßbachFriedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Hoßbach was a German staff officer who in 1937 was the military adjutant to the Fuehrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- From 1 August 1943 to 14 November 1943 - Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Anton GraßerAnton GrasserAnton Grasser was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- From 14 November 1943 to 9 December 1943 - Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Friedrich HoßbachFriedrich HoßbachFriedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Hoßbach was a German staff officer who in 1937 was the military adjutant to the Fuehrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- From 9 December 1943 to 14 June 1944 - Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Johannes BlockJohannes BlockJohannes Block was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held commands at division and corps level. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- From 15 June 1944 to 26 January 1945 - General of the Cavalry (General der Kavallerie) Rudolf Koch-ErpachRudolf Koch-ErpachRudolf Koch-Erpach was an officer in the German Army during World War II.Koch-Erpach was born in Munich, and became a General of the Cavalry . In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland...
- From 26 January 1945 to 10 April 1945 - General of the Artillery (General der Artillerie) Helmuth WeidlingHelmuth WeidlingHelmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling was an officer in the German Army before and during World War II...
- From 10 April 1945 to 2 May 1945 - Briefly replaced by Major General of the Reserve (Generalmajor der Reserve) Werner MummertWerner MummertWerner Mummert was a German officer during both World War I and World War II. Mummert was born in Lüttewitz/Saxony. He first joined the German Army in August 1914 and became a Lieutenant of the Reserve , Sachs Karabiner Regiment in 1916...
from 25 April to 26 April
Area of operations
- Eastern Front, central sector - From March 1942 to July 1944
- Poland - From July 1944 to January 1945
- Eastern Germany and the city of BerlinBerlinBerlin 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...
- From January 1945 to May 1945