German XLVIII Panzer Corps
Encyclopedia
The XLVIII Panzer Corps (German
XLVIII. Panzerkorps alternatively XXXXVIII Panzer Corps), originally called the XLVIII Motorized Corps, was a corps
level formation of the German
Heer
which saw extensive action on both the eastern
and western front
s during World War II
.
, on 22 June 1941, it was officially redesignated as the XLVII Panzer Corps. However, the corps seems to have used both names until June-July 1942.
XLVIII Panzer Corps was attached to Field Marshal Ewald von Kleist
's Panzer Group 1, a part of Army Group South
. The corps was involved in the armored battles near Dubno
early in the campaign, and later saw action at Berdichev and Kirovograd.
From late 1941 to May 1942, the corps took part in defensive operations in the Kursk
area. Thereafter the corps joined the Fall Blau offensive towards Stalingrad under Army Group South. During the Battle of Stalingrad
the corps was trapped and its major units, 22nd Panzer Division and 1st Armoured Division (Romania), were annhilated. However, it was quickly reformed and used by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein
's Operation Winter Storm efforts to relieve General Friedrich Paulus
' trapped Sixth Army
still in Stalingrad.
In February 1943, the XLVIII Panzer Corps took part in the battles around Kharkov, and in June it was committed to the southern flank of the Battle of Kursk
as part of Hoth's
Fourth Panzer Army
.
After the failure of Operation Citadel the corps took part in the fighting withdrawal from the Ukraine. By February 1945, the corps found itself in Silesia
, and it ended the war defending the Elbe River, where it finally surrendered in May 1945.
XLVIII Panzer Corps
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
XLVIII. Panzerkorps alternatively XXXXVIII Panzer Corps), originally called the XLVIII Motorized Corps, was a 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...
level formation of the German
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...
Heer
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...
which saw extensive 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 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...
s 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...
.
History
The corps was originally formed on 15 December 1940 in Germany as the XLVIII Motorized Corps (XLVIII.Armeekorps (mot)). At the dawn of Operation BarbarossaOperation 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...
, on 22 June 1941, it was officially redesignated as the XLVII Panzer Corps. However, the corps seems to have used both names until June-July 1942.
XLVIII Panzer Corps was attached to Field Marshal Ewald von Kleist
Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist
Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist was a leading German field marshal during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
's Panzer Group 1, a part of 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...
. The corps was involved in the armored battles near Dubno
Battle of Brody (1941)
The Battle of Brody was a tank battle fought between the Panzer Group 1's IIIrd, XLVIII Army Corps and five Soviet Mechanized Corps of the Soviet 5th Army and 6th Army in the triangle formed by the towns Dubno, Lutsk and Brody in Ukraine between 23...
early in the campaign, and later saw action at Berdichev and Kirovograd.
From late 1941 to May 1942, the corps took part in defensive operations in 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...
area. Thereafter the corps joined the Fall Blau offensive towards Stalingrad under Army Group South. During 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...
the corps was trapped and its major units, 22nd Panzer Division and 1st Armoured Division (Romania), were annhilated. However, it was quickly reformed and used by Field Marshal 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...
's Operation Winter Storm efforts to relieve General Friedrich Paulus
Friedrich Paulus
Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus was an officer in the German military from 1910 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generalfeldmarschall during World War II, and is best known for having commanded the Sixth Army's assault on Stalingrad during Operation Blue in 1942...
' trapped Sixth Army
German Sixth Army
The 6th Army was a designation for German field armies which saw action in World War I and World War II. The 6th Army is best known for fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad, during which it became the first entire German field army to be completely destroyed...
still in Stalingrad.
In February 1943, the XLVIII Panzer Corps took part in the battles around Kharkov, and in June it was committed to the southern flank of the Battle of Kursk
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,...
as part of Hoth's
Hermann Hoth
Hermann "Papa" Hoth was an officer in the German military from 1903 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generaloberst during World War II. He fought in France, but is most noted for his later exploits as a panzer commander on the Eastern Front...
Fourth Panzer Army
German Fourth Panzer Army
The 4th Panzer Army was, before being designated a full army, the Panzer Group 4 , a German panzer army that saw action during World War II. Its units played a part in the invasion of France, and then on the Eastern Front.-Early history:The 4th Panzer Group's predecessor was the XVI Corps formed...
.
After the failure of Operation Citadel the corps took part in the fighting withdrawal from the Ukraine. By February 1945, the corps found itself in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, and it ended the war defending the Elbe River, where it finally surrendered in May 1945.
Commanders
- General der Panzertruppen Werner KempfWerner KempfGeneral Werner Kempf was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ....
(22 June 1941 - 19 Feb 1942)
- General der Panzertruppen Rudolf VeielRudolf VeielRudolf Veiel was a German General of the Panzertruppe during World War II.Veiel's first army service was noted as a Fahnenjunker in the Ulanen-Regiment 19 in April 1904. On 18 August 1905, he became a leutnant.At the beginning of World War I, Veiel was a commander of the Squadron in the...
(19 Feb 1942 - 1 Nov 1942)
- Generalleutnant Ferdinand HeimFerdinand HeimFerdinand Heim was a World War II German general.-War service:Heim served as a junior artillery officer in the XIII Corps during the whole of the First World War After 1918 he remained in the much smaller army as a career officer, reaching the rank of Oberst in June 1939, just before the start of...
(1 Nov 1942 - 19 Nov 1942)
- General der Panzertruppen Hans CramerHans CramerGeneral Hans Cramer was a Panzer General in the German army who was captured by the British during both world wars.Cramer joined Prussian cadet corps before World War I...
(19 Nov 1942 - 25 Nov 1942)
- General der Panzertruppen Heinrich EberbachHeinrich EberbachHeinrich Kurt Alfons Willy Eberbach was a German General der Panzertruppen in the German Army of World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(26 Nov 1942 - 30 Nov 1942)
- General der Panzertruppen Otto von Knobelsdorff (30 Nov 1942 - 6 May 1943)
- General der Infanterie Dietrich von CholtitzDietrich von CholtitzGeneral der Infanterie Dietrich von Choltitz was the German military governor of Paris during the closing days of the German occupation of that city during World War II...
(6 May 1943 - 30 Aug 1943)
- General der Panzertruppen Otto von KnobelsdorffOtto von KnobelsdorffHeinrich Otto Ernst von Knobelsdorff was a German general who commanded armored Panzer units and served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
(30 Aug 1943 - 30 Sep 1943)
- General der Infanterie Dietrich von CholtitzDietrich von CholtitzGeneral der Infanterie Dietrich von Choltitz was the German military governor of Paris during the closing days of the German occupation of that city during World War II...
(30 Sep 1943 - 21 Oct 1943)
- General der Panzertruppen Heinrich Eberbach (22 Oct 1943 - 14 Nov 1943)
- General der Panzertruppen Hermann BalckHermann BalckHermann Balck was a career German army officer who served in both World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of General der Panzertruppe. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds...
(15 Nov 1943 - 4 Aug 1944)
- General der Panzertruppen Walther NehringWalther NehringWalther Kurt Josef Nehring , was a German general of World War II, known for his involvement with the Afrika Korps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
(4 Aug 1944 - 19 Aug 1944)
- General der Panzertruppen Fritz-Hubert GräserFritz-Hubert GräserFritz-Hubert Gräser was a German officer. Having served in World War I, he was a general during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
(19 Aug 1944 - 20 Sep 1944)
- General der Panzertruppen Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim (20 Sep 1944 - 31 Mar 1945)
- Generalleutnant Wolf HagemannWolf HagemannWolf Hagemann 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 with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
(31 Mar 1945 - 8 May 1945)
General Staff Officers
- Oberstleutnant Friedrich von MellenthinFriedrich von MellenthinFriedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin was a Generalmajor in the German Army during World War II. A participant in most of the major campaigns of the war, he became well-known afterwards for his memoirs Panzer Battles, first published in 1956 and regularly reprinted since then.- Early life :Mellenthin...
, Chief of General Staff (Jan 1943 to Aug 1944)
- Major Eitel-Friedrich Binder, Ia-Operations (Feb 1943 to Aug 1943)
Assets
XLVIII Motorized Corps- As of June 1941 (Operation BarbarossaOperation BarbarossaOperation 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...
)- 17th Panzer DivisionGerman 17th Panzer DivisionThe 17th Panzer Division was a formation of the German Army in World War II. It was formed on November 1940 from 27th Infantry Division. It took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, and in the winter of 1941–42 participated in the abortive German attack...
- 18th Panzer Division.
- 25th Panzergrenadier Division
- 108th Artillery Command
- Corps staff and support units
- 17th Panzer Division
XLVIII Panzer Corps
- As of August 1942 (Fall Blau)
- 14th Panzer Division
- 24th Panzer Division
- 29th Motorized Infantry Division
- 108th Artillery Command
- Corps staff and support units
- As of December 1942 (reformed after loss in the Battle of StalingradBattle of StalingradThe 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...
)- 11th Panzer DivisionGerman 11th Panzer DivisionThe 11.Panzer Division was a German Panzer division which saw action on the Eastern and Western Fronts during the Second World War. The unit emblem of the 11'th Panzer was a ghost...
- 336th Infantry Division
- Staff of the 384th Infantry Division, with "Alarm" troops
- 7th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 108th Artillery Command
- Corps staff and support units
- 11th Panzer Division
- As of July 1943 (Operation Citadel)
- 3rd Panzer DivisionGerman 3rd Panzer DivisionThe German 3rd Panzer Division was established in 1935 under the command of Generalleutnant Ernst Feßmann. It later participated in the 1939 invasion of Poland , the 1940 invasion of France, and the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union...
- 11th Panzer DivisionGerman 11th Panzer DivisionThe 11.Panzer Division was a German Panzer division which saw action on the Eastern and Western Fronts during the Second World War. The unit emblem of the 11'th Panzer was a ghost...
- Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland
- 176th Infantry DivisionGerman 176th Infantry DivisionThe German 176th Infantry Division was a military unit that served during World War II.-Brief history:In 31 October 1944, the 176th Infantry Division was formed out of the 176th Division and was a “training and replacement” division. It had a strength of about 7,000 men, most of whom were in a poor...
- 132nd Artillery Command
- 144th Artillery Command
- Corps staff and support units
- 3rd Panzer Division
- As of December 1943
- 1st SS Panzer Division LSSAH
- Battle group of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
- 1st Panzer DivisionGerman 1st Panzer DivisionThe German 1st Panzer Division was an elite armoured division in the German Army during World War II. Its divisional insignia was a white oakleaf emblem.-History:...
- 8th Panzer Division
- 19th Panzer Division
- 108th Artillery Command
- Corps staff and support units
See also
- PanzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
, PanzergrenadierPanzergrenadieris 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:... - CorpsCorpsA 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...
, Military unit - HeerGerman ArmyThe 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...
, WehrmachtWehrmachtThe Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, List of German corps in WWII