XXXXI Panzer Corps (Germany)
Encyclopedia
XXXXI Panzer Corps was a tank
corps
in the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) during World War II
.
). Reorganised as a Panzer Corps, it was known as the XLI Panzer Corps and was commanded by General Georg-Hans Reinhardt
. In the May 1940 Battle of France
, the XLI Panzer Corps was one of the three Panzerkorps that broke through the Ardennes
in the Battle of Sedan
and drove west to the sea at Abbeville
. In late 1940, Reinhardt and XLI Panzer Corps were designated to participate in Operation Sea Lion, the proposed invasion of Great Britain. Reinhardt's force was to be in the first landing wave. However, the operation never occurred.
In June 1941, the XLI Panzer Corps was deployed on the Eastern Front for Operation Barbarossa
, the invasion of the Soviet Union. It defeated the Soviet 3rd Mechanised
& 12th Mechanised Corps in the Battle of Raseiniai
in late June, which destroyed more than 300 Soviet tanks & led the advance of Army Group North
to the outskirts of Leningrad
in October. It was reorganised in 1942, becoming part of the Second Panzer Army of Army Group Centre
.
The XLI Panzer Corps fought at Bely
, in the anti-partisan operations at Nikitinka, Yartsevo
, Vyazma
, and Dukhovshchina
. In March 1943, the corps fought at Smolensk
, Kromy
, and Bryansk
. In April 1943, it fought in Sevsk
, Trubchersk, and Ponyri. Later, the XLI Panzer Corps fought at the Battle of Kursk
. During this period it transferred several times between the Ninth and Second Panzer Armies.
In June / July 1944 the corps was almost destroyed during the Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration, and required complete rebuilding. As part of the reconstructed Fourth Army, it faced the East Prussian Offensive
during January 1945. After a week of heavy fighting its divisions were trapped in the Heiligenbeil pocket
on the Baltic
coast, where they were eventually destroyed in March.
In common with several other of the Wehrmacht 'Panzer Corps', the XLI Panzer Corps only periodically had an actual panzer
division in its establishment, and was generally composed of several standard infantry
divisions along with artillery and support units.
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
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...
in the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) 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...
.
Formation and actions
The corps was originally formed, as the XLI Corps, on 24 February 1940 in Wehrkreis VIII (SilesiaSilesia
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...
). Reorganised as a Panzer Corps, it was known as the XLI Panzer Corps and was commanded by General Georg-Hans Reinhardt
Georg-Hans Reinhardt
Georg-Hans Reinhardt was a German general of World War II. He commanded Third Panzer Army from 1941 to 1944, and Army Group Centre in 1944 and 1945. His highest rank was Generaloberst . He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
. In the May 1940 Battle 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...
, the XLI Panzer Corps was one of the three Panzerkorps that broke through the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
in the Battle of Sedan
Battle of Sedan (1940)
The Battle of Sedan or Second Battle of Sedan was a Second World War battle fought during the French Campaign. The battle was part of the German Wehrmacht's operational plan codenamed Fall Gelb , to encircle the Allied armies in Belgium and north-eastern France...
and drove west to the sea at Abbeville
Abbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
. In late 1940, Reinhardt and XLI Panzer Corps were designated to participate in Operation Sea Lion, the proposed invasion of Great Britain. Reinhardt's force was to be in the first landing wave. However, the operation never occurred.
In June 1941, the XLI Panzer Corps was deployed on the Eastern Front for 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...
, the invasion of the Soviet Union. It defeated the Soviet 3rd Mechanised
3rd Mechanised Corps (Soviet Union)
The 20th Motor Rifle Division is a formation of the Russian Ground Forces, originally formed within the Soviet Red Army as the 3rd Mechanised Corps....
& 12th Mechanised Corps in the Battle of Raseiniai
Battle of Raseiniai
The Battle of Raseiniai was a tank battle fought between the elements of the 4th Panzer Group commanded by Gen. Erich Hoepner and the 3rd Mechanized Corps commanded by Major General Kurkin & 12th Mechanised Corps commanded by Major General Shestapolov in Lithuania 75 km northwest of Kaunas...
in late June, which destroyed more than 300 Soviet tanks & led the advance of 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...
to the outskirts of Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in October. It was reorganised in 1942, becoming part of the Second Panzer Army of 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...
.
The XLI Panzer Corps fought at Bely
Bely
Bely , Belaya , or Beloye , a Russian surname meaning "white" in Russian, may refer to:-People:*Andrei Bely , pseudonym of Boris Bugayev, a Russian novelist, poet, and literary critic...
, in the anti-partisan operations at Nikitinka, Yartsevo
Yartsevo
Yartsevo is a town and the administrative center of Yartsevsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vop River northeast of Smolensk. Population:...
, Vyazma
Vyazma
Vyazma is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk and Mozhaysk. Throughout its turbulent history, the city defended western approaches to the city of Moscow...
, and Dukhovshchina
Dukhovshchina
Dukhovshchina is a town and the administrative center of Dukhovshchinsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vostitsa River northeast of Smolensk. Population:...
. In March 1943, the corps fought at 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...
, Kromy
Kromy
Kromy is a urban locality Kromy is a urban locality Kromy is a urban locality (an urban-type settlement and the administrative center of Kromskoy District of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Kroma River (a tributary of the Oka) southwest of Oryol. Population:...
, and Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
. In April 1943, it fought in Sevsk
Sevsk
Sevsk is a town in Sevsky District of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Sev River , away from Bryansk. Population: -History:...
, Trubchersk, and Ponyri. Later, the XLI Panzer Corps fought at 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,...
. During this period it transferred several times between the Ninth and Second Panzer Armies.
In June / July 1944 the corps was almost destroyed during the Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration, and required complete rebuilding. As part of the reconstructed Fourth Army, it faced the East Prussian Offensive
East 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 January 1945. After a week of heavy fighting its divisions were trapped in the Heiligenbeil pocket
Heiligenbeil Pocket
The Heiligenbeil Pocket or Heiligenbeil Cauldron was the site of a major encirclement battle on the Eastern Front during the closing weeks of World War II, in which the Wehrmacht's 4th Army was almost entirely destroyed during the Soviet Braunsberg Offensive Operation...
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, where they were eventually destroyed in March.
In common with several other of the Wehrmacht 'Panzer Corps', the XLI Panzer Corps only periodically had an actual panzer
Panzer
A 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 :...
division in its establishment, and was generally composed of several standard 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...
divisions along with artillery and support units.
Commanders
- 15 February 1940 Lieutenant General Georg-Hans ReinhardtGeorg-Hans ReinhardtGeorg-Hans Reinhardt was a German general of World War II. He commanded Third Panzer Army from 1941 to 1944, and Army Group Centre in 1944 and 1945. His highest rank was Generaloberst . He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- 5 October 1941 Lieutenant General Otto-Ernst OttenbacherOtto-Ernst OttenbacherOtto-Ernst Ottenbacher was a highly decorated Generalleutnant 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...
- 1 November 1941 General of Panzer Troops Walther Model
- 10 July 1942 Colonel-General Josef HarpeJosef HarpeJosef Harpe was a German Generaloberst who served during World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- 15 October 1943 General of Artillery Helmuth WeidlingHelmuth WeidlingHelmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling was an officer in the German Army before and during World War II...
- 19 June 1944 Lieutenant-General Edmund HoffmeisterEdmund HoffmeisterEdmund Hoffmeister was an officer in the German Army, mainly notable for his service in the Wehrmacht Heer during World War II.Hoffmeister's military service began in 1914 in the Imperial German army...
- 1 July 1944 General of Artillery Helmuth Weidling (2nd time)
- 10 April 1945 Lieutenant-General Wend von WietersheimWend von WietersheimWend von Wietersheim was a German general of Infantry, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- 19 April 1945 Lieutenant-General Rudolf HolsteRudolf HolsteRudolf Holste was a German officer during World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...