Korpsabteilung
Encyclopedia
A Korpsabteilung was a division
size infantry
formation established by the German
Wehrmacht
during World War II
.
on the Eastern Front
. At the same time, it had to conduct a build-up of military strength in France
, prior to the expected invasion
, and to reinforce the Italian
theatre, where the Allies
had crossed the Straits of Messina and landed at on the Italian mainland at Salerno
, and Termoli
in September 1943. The Ersatzheer could therefore no longer generate the replacements to bring up to strength formations that had been depleted in battle in the east.
In order to preserve the cadres and lineage of the divisions that had suffered heavy losses, to economise on supply and support effort, and probably to give an image of greater strength than really existed, the OKH decided to form Korpsabteilungen on the establishment of infantry divisions, i.e. containing three infantry regiments with two battalion
s each, an artillery
regiment, and divisional troops (reconnaissance, anti-tank, pioneer, medical, and supply battalions). The staff of the Korpsabteilung was created from one of the divisions that were used to create them, while each of the infantry regiments represented one division. They were called Divisionsgruppe (Division Group), and each of the battalions in one of the Divisionsabteilung was called a Regimentsgruppe (Regimental Group). Unlike German infantry divisions, Korpsabteilungen were not numbered but identified by a letter.
Korpsabteilungen were created in three waves, the first and largest one with five Korpsabteilungen (A to F) on 2 November 1943 in Army group
s Süd
and Mitte
and A
, a second with Korpsabteilung F in March 1944 at Heeresgruppe A, and the third with Korpsabteilungen G and H at the end of July, early August 1944, after the devastating losses suffered by the Wehrmacht in Operation Bagration.
When it became clear in autumn 1944 that the individual divisions out of which the Korpsabteilungen were built would never be rebuilt due to a lack of manpower, the Korpsabteilungen were renamed as Infanteriedivisionen, and most of them were given the numerical designation of the division that provided the command staff at the time of the formation of the Korpsabteilung.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
size infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
formation established by 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...
Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The 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:...
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
During autumn and summer 1943 the Wehrmacht suffered heavy losses in men and materiel at the hands of the Red ArmyRed 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...
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...
. At the same time, it had to conduct a build-up of military strength in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, prior to the expected invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
, and to reinforce the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
theatre, where the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
had crossed the Straits of Messina and landed at on the Italian mainland at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
, and Termoli
Termoli
Termoli is a town and comune on the Adriatic coast of Italy, in the province of Campobasso, region of Molise. It has a population of around 32,000, having expanded quickly after World War II, and it is a local resort town known for its beaches and old fortifications...
in September 1943. The Ersatzheer could therefore no longer generate the replacements to bring up to strength formations that had been depleted in battle in the east.
In order to preserve the cadres and lineage of the divisions that had suffered heavy losses, to economise on supply and support effort, and probably to give an image of greater strength than really existed, the OKH decided to form Korpsabteilungen on the establishment of infantry divisions, i.e. containing three infantry regiments with two battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s each, an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
regiment, and divisional troops (reconnaissance, anti-tank, pioneer, medical, and supply battalions). The staff of the Korpsabteilung was created from one of the divisions that were used to create them, while each of the infantry regiments represented one division. They were called Divisionsgruppe (Division Group), and each of the battalions in one of the Divisionsabteilung was called a Regimentsgruppe (Regimental Group). Unlike German infantry divisions, Korpsabteilungen were not numbered but identified by a letter.
Korpsabteilungen were created in three waves, the first and largest one with five Korpsabteilungen (A to F) on 2 November 1943 in Army group
Army group
An army group is a military organization consisting of several field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area...
s Süd
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...
and Mitte
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 A
Army Group A
Army Group A was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.-Western Front, 1940:During the German invasion of the Low Countries and France Army Group A was under the command of General Gerd von Rundstedt, and was responsible for the break-out through the Ardennes...
, a second with Korpsabteilung F in March 1944 at Heeresgruppe A, and the third with Korpsabteilungen G and H at the end of July, early August 1944, after the devastating losses suffered by the Wehrmacht in Operation Bagration.
When it became clear in autumn 1944 that the individual divisions out of which the Korpsabteilungen were built would never be rebuilt due to a lack of manpower, the Korpsabteilungen were renamed as Infanteriedivisionen, and most of them were given the numerical designation of the division that provided the command staff at the time of the formation of the Korpsabteilung.
Formed by Heeresgruppe Süd on 2 November 1943
- Korpsabteilung A (Command Staff from 161. Infanteriedivision, Divisionsgruppen 161., 293., 355.) renamed 161. Infanteriedivision 27. July 1944
- Korpsabteilung B (Command Staff from 112. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 112., 255., 332.) destroyed in the Korsun Pocket in March 1944, remnants into 88. and 57. Infanteriedivision
- Korpsabteilung C (Command Staff from 183. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 183., 217., 339.) largely destroyed in the Brody Pocket in July 1944, rebuilt as 183. Infanteriedivision
Formed by Heeresgruppe Mitte on 2 November 1943
- Korpsabteilung D (Command Staff from 56. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 56., 262.) largely destroyed in Operation Bagration in June 1944, rebuilt in July 1944, renamed as 56. Infanteriedivision in September 1944
- Korpsabteilung E (Command Staff from 251. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 86., 137., 251.) renamed 251. Infantry Division 16 October 1944
Formed by Heeresgruppe A on 13 March 1944
- Korpsabteilung F (Command Staff from 62. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 38., 62., 123.) renamed 62. Infantry Division 20. July 1944
Formed by Heeresgruppe Mitte in July/August 1944
- Korpsabteilung G (Command Staff from 299. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 260., 299., 337.), renamed as 299. Infanteriedivision on 1 September 1944
- Korpsabteilung H (Command Staff from 197. Infantry Division, Divisionsgruppen 95., 197., 256.) renamed 95. Infantry Division 10 September 1944