XXVII Corps (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The XXVII Corps was an infantry corps
in the German Army. It fought in several notable actions during World War II
.
The corps was originally raised in August 1939 in Wehrkreis VII.
Infantry Divisions
During September 1939 the XXVII Corps was used to screen the Dutch-German border.
The Corps participated in Nazi Germany's Invasion of France
as part of Army Group C
. In May, it crossed the southern Netherlands
and Belgium
towards Roubaix
, where it helped in surrounding the French 1st Army. Later in the campaign, it attacked from the east bank of the Rhine towards Colmar
. It then remained on occupation duties in eastern France until the following year.
and 162nd Infantry Divisions; Gruppe
Landgraf (parts of 6th and 7th Panzer Divisions)
The XXVII Corps did not take part in the initial stages of Operation Barbarossa
, but was transferred to the Ninth Army, Army Group Centre
, for Operation Typhoon, the attack on Moscow
. On the Army's north flank, it advanced towards Kalinin
, but by December had been forced to retreat into the Rzhev salient
.
, 87th
, 95th
, 129th, 251st and 256th
Infantry Divisions; heavy artillery and assault gun
detachments
The Corps suffered heavy losses during 1942 in the series of defensive battles around Rzhev. Its organisation changed several times during this period, but included up to eight infantry divisions at various points. Along with the remainder of Army Group Centre, it was ordered to evacuate the Rzhev salient the following year in Operation Büffel
.
, 197th, 246th and 256th Infantry Divisions
In the autumn of 1943 the Corps, now assigned to Fourth Army, took part in the defence against the Soviet offensive Operation Suvorov around Smolensk
. By the next year, it had been pushed back to positions east of Orsha
.
During 1944, the Corps was positioned in the sector of the strategically important Minsk
- Moscow
road near Orsha, having been specially reinforced for the purpose. In late June the Soviets commenced their summer offensive, Operation Bagration; the XXVII Corps was attacked by forces of the 3rd Belorussian Front
and took heavy casualties. Bypassed by a breakthrough of Soviet forces to the north, the Corps found itself encircled in the forests east of Minsk
, and despite a breakout attempt on 5 July spearheaded by the 25th Panzergrenadier Division, was almost entirely destroyed. The corps commander, General Paul Völckers, was captured, as were the commanders of the 78th and 260th Divisions, Traut and Klammt.
The Corps, and its staff, was hurriedly reconstructed in July / August from replacement units and deployed on the East Prussian border.
. During the course of the offensive it was encircled on the Baltic
coast at Danzig, and again destroyed / disbanded. The staff was evacuated and transferred to the reconstructed Third Panzer Army; the remnants of the Corps eventually surrendered to troops of the US Army on 4 May, north of Ludwigslust
.
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...
in the German Army. It fought in several notable actions 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...
.
The corps was originally raised in August 1939 in Wehrkreis VII.
1939
Organisation (September 1939): 16th, 69th, 211th and 216th216th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 216th Infantry Division was created on 26 August 1939 by reorganizing several Border Defense and Army Reserve units from Lower Saxony, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Hannover...
Infantry Divisions
During September 1939 the XXVII Corps was used to screen the Dutch-German border.
1940
Organisation (June 1940): 211th, 213th, 218th and 239th Infantry DivisionsThe Corps participated in Nazi Germany's Invasion of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
as part of Army Group C
Army Group C
Army Group C was an army group of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War.-Career:Army Group C was set up from Heeresgruppenkommando 2 in Frankfurt on 26 August 1939...
. In May, it crossed the southern 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...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
towards Roubaix
Roubaix
Roubaix is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing.The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Lille, Tourcoing, Antwerp, Ostend and Paris.-Culture:...
, where it helped in surrounding the French 1st Army. Later in the campaign, it attacked from the east bank of the Rhine towards 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....
. It then remained on occupation duties in eastern France until the following year.
1941
Organisation (November 1941): 86th, 129th129th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 129th Infantry Division was an Infantry Division of the German Army during World War II.-History:...
and 162nd Infantry Divisions; Gruppe
Kampfgruppe
In 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...
Landgraf (parts of 6th and 7th Panzer Divisions)
The XXVII Corps did not take part in the initial stages of Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, but was transferred to the Ninth Army, 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...
, for Operation Typhoon, the attack on Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. On the Army's north flank, it advanced towards Kalinin
Kalinin
Kalinin , or Kalinina , is a Russian surname, derived from the word kalina , and may refer to:People with the surname...
, but by December had been forced to retreat into the Rzhev salient
Battles of Rzhev
Rzhev Battles is a general term for a series of World War II offensives launched during January 8, 1942—March 31, 1943 by the Soviet Red Army in the general directions of Rzhev, Sychevka and Vyazma against a German salient in the vicinity of Moscow, known as the "Rzhev meat grinder" for...
.
1942
Organisation (early November 1942): 6th, 72nd72nd Infantry Division (Germany)
The 72nd Infantry Division was created on 19 September 1939 in Trier from Grenz-Division Trier, which was a border security unit. It was destroyed on the Eastern front 25 March 1944 and reformed June 1944.-Commanding officers:...
, 87th
87th Infantry Division (Germany)
The German 87th Infantry Division was created on 26 August 1939 in Altenburg. The division went into captivity in the Courland pocket.-Commanding officers:*Generalleutnant Bogislav von Studnitz, 26 August 1939...
, 95th
95th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 95th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 19 September 1939 in Wildflecken and Hammelburg.-Commanding officers:...
, 129th, 251st and 256th
256th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 256. Infanterie-Division was a German Infantry division in World War II. They formed on August 1939 as part of the 4. Welle . The division was destroyed at Vitebsk in June 1944...
Infantry Divisions; heavy artillery and assault gun
Assault gun
An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
detachments
The Corps suffered heavy losses during 1942 in the series of defensive battles around Rzhev. Its organisation changed several times during this period, but included up to eight infantry divisions at various points. Along with the remainder of Army Group Centre, it was ordered to evacuate the Rzhev salient the following year in Operation Büffel
Operation Büffel
During World War II the name Büffel Bewegung was given to a series of local retreats conducted by the German Army on the Russian Front during the period 1–22 March 1943. This movement eliminated the Rzhev Salient and shortened the front by 230 kilometers, releasing twenty-one divisions for use...
.
1943
Organisation (July 1943): 52nd52nd Infantry Division (Germany)
The 52nd Infantry Division served in southern Poland, close to Katowice and were primarily a division for training with a lot of young cadets.The officials were especially selected for training young boys...
, 197th, 246th and 256th Infantry Divisions
In the autumn of 1943 the Corps, now assigned to Fourth Army, took part in the defence against the Soviet offensive Operation Suvorov around Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. By the next year, it had been pushed back to positions east of Orsha
Orsha
Orsha is a city in Belarus in Vitebsk voblast on the fork of the Dnieper and Arshytsa rivers.-Facts:*Location: *Population: 125,000 *Phone code: +375 216*Postal codes: 211030, 211381–211394, 211396–211398-History:...
.
1944
Organisation (June 1944): 25th Panzergrenadier Division, 78th Sturm Division, 260th Infantry DivisionDuring 1944, the Corps was positioned in the sector of the strategically important Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
- Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
road near Orsha, having been specially reinforced for the purpose. In late June the Soviets commenced their summer offensive, Operation Bagration; the XXVII Corps was attacked by forces of the 3rd Belorussian Front
3rd Belorussian Front
The 3rd Belorussian Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War...
and took heavy casualties. Bypassed by a breakthrough of Soviet forces to the north, the Corps found itself encircled in the forests east of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, and despite a breakout attempt on 5 July spearheaded by the 25th Panzergrenadier Division, was almost entirely destroyed. The corps commander, General Paul Völckers, was captured, as were the commanders of the 78th and 260th Divisions, Traut and Klammt.
The Corps, and its staff, was hurriedly reconstructed in July / August from replacement units and deployed on the East Prussian border.
1945
The rebuilt XXVII Corps was transferred to Second Army, facing the Soviet East Prussian OffensiveEast Prussian Offensive
The East Prussian Offensive was a strategic offensive by the Red Army against the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front . It lasted from 13 January to 25 April 1945, though some German units did not surrender until 9 May...
. During the course of the offensive it was encircled on the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
coast at Danzig, and again destroyed / disbanded. The staff was evacuated and transferred to the reconstructed Third Panzer Army; the remnants of the Corps eventually surrendered to troops of the US Army on 4 May, north of Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 40 km south of Schwerin. It was the capital of the former district of Ludwigslust, and is part of the district Ludwigslust-Parchim since September 2011.-History:...
.
Commanders
- August 1939 General Karl Ritter von Prager
- November 1939 General Alfred Wäger
- 23 December 1941 Lieutenant-General Eccard Freiherr von GablenzEccard Freiherr von GablenzEccard Freiherr von Gablenz was a German general who commanded several divisions 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...
- 13 January 1942 General Joachim WitthöftJoachim WitthöftJoachim Witthöft was a highly decorated General der Infanterie 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...
- 1 July 1942 Colonel-General Walter WeißWalter WeißGeneral Walter-Otto Weiß was a Wehrmacht High Command officer in World War II. He became Commander in Chief of Army Group North on the Eastern Front in 1945. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- 10 February 1943 Lieutenant-General Karl BurdachKarl BurdachKarl Burdach was a highly decorated Generalleutnant 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...
- 8 June 1943 General Paul VölckersPaul VölckersPaul Gustav Völckers was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XXVII 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...
- 27 July 1944 General Helmuth PrießHelmuth PrießHelmuth Prieß was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XXVII. 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...
- October 1944 General Maximilian FelzmannMaximilian FelzmannMaximilian Felzmann was a General der Artillerie 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...
- April 1945 General Walter HörnleinWalter HörnleinWalter "Papa" Hörnlein was a General der Infanterie 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...