X SS Corps (Germany)

The X SS Corps (German: "Generalkommando X. SS-Armeekorps" or "Gruppe Krappe") was a short-lived SS corps-level headquarters employed on the Eastern Front in 1945 during World War II.

The X SS Corps headquarters was formed in January 1945 with the use of men and equipment provided by the disbanded XIV SS Corps headquarters (a temporary HQ unit employed during Operation Nordwind). [Tessin, Vol. III, p.164]

X SS Corps was subordinated to the 11th SS Panzer Army in February 1945, and then to the 3rd Panzer Army in March. The corps was deployed in the vicinity of Dramburg, Pommerania during its existence. [Tessin, Vol. III, p.164]

In February 1945, the X Corps controlled the 5th Jäger Division and the 402nd Division. Generalleutnant Günther Krappe took command of the corps on February 10, 1945. In March 1945, the corps also had the 163rd Infantry Division under its control. [Tessin, Vol. II, p.156]

In March 1945, the X SS Corps (and Korpsgruppe Tettau) were encircled by elements of the 1st Guards Tank Army, 3rd Shock Army, and the Polish 1st Army in an area approximately 10 kilometers north of Dramburg. This pocket of encircled German troops was destroyed by the Red Army on March 7, 1945. [Tessin, Vol. III, p.164] [Ustinow, p. 179] On March 8, 1945 the Soviets announced the capture of General Krappe and 8,000 men of the X SS Corps. [Schramm, p. 1156]

References

*"Geschichte des zweiten Weltkrieges 1939-1945", Volume X, D. F. Ustinow, Berlin: Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 1981.
* "Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht", 1944-1945 Teilband II, Percy E. Schramm, Herrsching: Manfred Pawlak, 1982.
* "Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939-1945", Volumes II and III, Georg Tessin, Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag, 1973.

Footnotes