LXIV Corps (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The LXIV Corps was a corps-level command of the German Army
on the Western Front
during World War II
.
Created on September 24, 1942, in Military Region (Wehrkreis) VIII as the LXIV Reserve Corps with the mission of supervising reserve divisions assigned to OB West
, the German high command in the west. Activated on August 5, 1944 and renamed the LXIV Corps.
LXIV Corps was headquartered in the vicinity of Dijon
from October 1942 until April 1944. During May and June 1944, the LXIV Corps Headquarters was located in northern France. In July 1944, the corps was sent to southwestern France near the Gironde Estuary. The following month, the LXIV corps had to retreat under difficult conditions to avoid being cut off by Allied units that had broken out of Normandy
and other Allied forces that had invaded southern France
.
By September 1944, LXIV Corps had established a line of defense in the Vosges Mountains
as part of the German Nineteenth Army. The corps, however, was in a weak state, with its two assigned divisions only able to muster some 4,250 effectives. By late November 1944, Allied advances had forced the Nineteenth Army into an area around Colmar
, nicknamed the Colmar Pocket
. A offensive by French First Army
and U.S. XXI Corps
troops during January - February, 1945 collapsed the Colmar Pocket, forcing the LXIV Corps to retreat across the Rhine River into Baden
.
In April 1945, with the Allies across the Rhine as well, French forces thrust forward on April 18 and seized Tübingen
, splitting the LXIV Corps into two parts. Attempts by the corps to reunite its elements failed in the face of Allied strength, and the commander of the corps at that time, General der Artillerie
Max Grimmeiss, was found sheltering at a hospital in Konstanz
and taken prisoner by the French army on April 26.
Remnants of the LXIV Corps fought alongside other equally tattered remnants of the Nineteenth Army in late April and early May until the unconditional surrender of Germany ended the war in Europe.
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...
on the Western Front
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...
.
Created on September 24, 1942, in Military Region (Wehrkreis) VIII as the LXIV Reserve Corps with the mission of supervising reserve divisions assigned to OB West
OB West
The German Army Command in the West The German Army Command in the West The German Army Command in the West (Oberbefehlshaber West (German: initials OB West) was the overall command of the Westheer, the German Armed Forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to...
, the German high command in the west. Activated on August 5, 1944 and renamed the LXIV Corps.
LXIV Corps was headquartered in the vicinity of Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
from October 1942 until April 1944. During May and June 1944, the LXIV Corps Headquarters was located in northern France. In July 1944, the corps was sent to southwestern France near the Gironde Estuary. The following month, the LXIV corps had to retreat under difficult conditions to avoid being cut off by Allied units that had broken out of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and other Allied forces that had invaded southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
.
By September 1944, LXIV Corps had established a line of defense in the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
as part of the German Nineteenth Army. The corps, however, was in a weak state, with its two assigned divisions only able to muster some 4,250 effectives. By late November 1944, Allied advances had forced the Nineteenth Army into an area around Colmar
Colmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
, nicknamed the Colmar Pocket
Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket ; in Alsace, France, was the site of an operation during the Second World War, between 20 January and 9 February 1945, where the French First Army and the U.S...
. A offensive by French First Army
French First Army
The First Army was a field army of France that fought during World War I and World War II. It was also active during the Cold War.-First World War:...
and U.S. XXI Corps
XXI Corps (United States)
Initially constituted on 2 December 1943 in the Army of the United States, the XXI Corps was activated on 6 December 1943 at Camp Polk, Louisiana. XXI Corps fought for 116 days in the European Theater of Operations, fighting from Alsace through southern Germany and into Austria. The corps was...
troops during January - February, 1945 collapsed the Colmar Pocket, forcing the LXIV Corps to retreat across the Rhine River into Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
.
In April 1945, with the Allies across the Rhine as well, French forces thrust forward on April 18 and seized Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, splitting the LXIV Corps into two parts. Attempts by the corps to reunite its elements failed in the face of Allied strength, and the commander of the corps at that time, General der Artillerie
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Max Grimmeiss, was found sheltering at a hospital in Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
and taken prisoner by the French army on April 26.
Remnants of the LXIV Corps fought alongside other equally tattered remnants of the Nineteenth Army in late April and early May until the unconditional surrender of Germany ended the war in Europe.
Commanding officers
- General der Pioniere Karl Sachs, formation – 1 September 1944
- General der Infanterie Otto LaschOtto LaschOtto Lasch was a German general in the Wehrmacht.Otto Lasch was born in Pleß as son of the high master forrester of the Prince of Pless in Silesia. Lasch after graduation took part in World War I in the Jäger-Battalion „Fürst Bismarck“ Nr. 2 in Kulm . After 1918 he joined the police and in 1935...
, 1 September 1944 – 1 November 1944 - General der Infanterie Helmut ThummHelmut ThummHelmut Thumm was a German general of infantry, serving during World War II. Born in Ravensburg, Thumm entered service in World War I on August 8, 1914, and earned his commission as a Leutnant on August 2, 1915 in the 125th Infantry Regiment.Thumm was promoted to Oberst in October 1941,...
, 1 November 1944 – 15 January 1945 - Generalleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm HauckFriedrich-Wilhelm HauckFriedrich-Wilhelm Hauck was a highly decorated General der Artillerie 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 15 January 1945 – 21 January 1945 - General der Artillerie Maximilian Grimmeiß 21 January 1945 – 15 April 1945
- Generalleutnant Helmut FriebeHelmut FriebeHelmut Friebe was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the LXIV. Armeekorps. 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...
, 15 April 1945 – April 1945 (deputy) - General der Artillerie Rudolf Freiherr von RomanRudolf Freiherr von RomanRudolf Ernst Philipp August Joachim Freiherr von Roman was a German general who commanded several corps during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, April 1945 – German surrender