VI SS Army Corps
Encyclopedia
VI SS Army Corps or VI. SS-Freiwilligen-Armeekorps (Lettisches) (German) was a unit of the Waffen SS during World War II
. It was formed in October 1943, to command the Latvian Waffen SS divisions. It fought in the northern sector of the Eastern Front
as part of the 18th Army. They were part of the Army Group North
until early 1945, when it was subordinated to Army Group Kurland. In October 1944, they were encircled by the Red Army
offensives and spent the remainder of the war in the Courland Pocket
, until they surrendered to the Red Army at end of the war.
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...
. It was formed in October 1943, to command the Latvian Waffen SS divisions. It fought in the northern sector of 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...
as part of the 18th Army. They were part of the Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
until early 1945, when it was subordinated to Army Group Kurland. In October 1944, they were encircled by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
offensives and spent the remainder of the war in the Courland Pocket
Courland Pocket
The Courland Pocket referred to the Red Army's blockade or encirclement of Axis forces on the Courland peninsula during the closing months of World War II...
, until they surrendered to the Red Army at end of the war.
Commanders
- ObergruppenführerObergruppenführerObergruppenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1932 as a rank of the SA and until 1942 it was the highest SS rank inferior only to Reichsführer-SS...
Karl Pfeffer-WildenbruchKarl Pfeffer-WildenbruchKarl Pfeffer Wildenbruch was a staff officer of the German General Staff during World War I and a Obergruppenführer General der Waffen-SS und der Polizei, during World War II, he commanded the 4th SS Polizei Division and the VI SS Army Corps and the IX SS Mountain Corps, he was awarded the...
,(8 Oct 1943 - 11 June 1944) - Obergruppenführer Friedrich JeckelnFriedrich JeckelnFriedrich Jeckeln was an SS-Obergruppenführer who served as an SS and Police Leader in the occupied Soviet Union during World War II...
, (11 June 1944 - 21 July 1944) - GruppenführerGruppenführerGruppenführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party, first created in 1925 as a senior rank of the SA.-SS rank:...
Karl Fischer von TreuenfeldKarl Fischer von TreuenfeldKarl Fischer von Treuenfeld was a Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen SS during World War II and the commander of the VI SS Army Corps....
, (21 July 1944 - 25 July 1944) - Obergruppenführer Walther KrügerWalter Krüger (SS officer)Walter Krüger was an SS Obergruppenführer. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, (25 July 1944 - 8 May 1945)
Area of operations
- Eastern front, northern sector - October 1943 - September 1944)
- Latvia - September 1944 - May 1945)
Order of battle
- Corps troops
- SS Signals Battalion 106
- SS NebelwerferNebelwerferThe Nebelwerfer was a World War II German series of weapons originally designed to deliver chemical weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's so-called Chemical Troops ...
Battalion 506 - Schwere SS Artillery Ranging Battery 506
- SS Flak Battalion 106 / 506
- Pionier Company VI.SS Corps
- Lehr Battalion VI.SS Corps
- SS Transport Company 106
- SS FeldgendarmerieFeldgendarmerieThe Feldgendarmerie were the uniformed military police units of the armies of the German Empire from the mid 19th Century until the conclusion of World War II.- Early history :...
Company 106
- 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)The 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was formed in the Waffen SS's drive for manpower in the wake of Operation Barbarossa; Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941...
- 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian)19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian)The 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was an Infantry Division of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was the second Latvian division formed in January 1944, after its sister unit, the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS...