III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps

The III. (germanische) SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II. The "(germanische)" (lit. Germanic) part of its designation was granted as it was composed primarily of foreign volunteer formations.

History

The Panzerkorps was formed in April, 1943 as a headquarters for the 5th SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking" and 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. The corps was placed under the control of former Wiking commander SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner. After training, the corps took part in anti-partisan operations in the Balkans against Tito's forces, enjoying some successes. The corps then was sent to a quiet sector in Army Group North, now made up of the "Nordland" Division and the 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands. By this stage, the "Wiking" had been sent south and came under the control of Army Group South's Eighth Army. Forced back by the Russian winter 1944 offensive, the corps took a leading role in the defense of the Narva salient in the summer of 1944, in what was then characterized by some Germans as "The Battle of the European SS". It then withdrew with the rest of the army group across Estonia and into the Courland Peninsula, fighting several actions there until the end of January. Brought back to the Oder Front and placed under Steiner's Eleventh SS Panzer Army, the corps participated in Operation Sonnenwende before being assigned as the reserve corps to Third Panzer Army and the final actions east and north of Berlin during the Battle of Berlin during which it was briefly assigned to (or redesignated) Army Detachment Steiner. The remnants of the corps surrendered on 4 May 1945 to US troops near Eldena on the Elbe-Müritz canal.

Commanders

* SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner (1 May 1943 - 30 Oct 1944)
* SS-Obergruppenführer Georg Keppler (30 Oct 1944 - 4 Feb 1945)
* SS-Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp (4 Feb 1945 - 11 Feb 1945)
* Leutnant-General Martin Unrein (11 Feb 1945 - 5 Mar 1945)
* SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner

Orders of battle

=June 15 1944 - Narwa Front=

* Korps Stab
* Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 503 (SS Nr.103)
* 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
* 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
* 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands
* Werfer-Abteilung 103 / 503
* Schwere SS-Artillerie-Abteilung 503
* SS-Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 3
* Schwere Beobachtungs Batterie 103 / 503
* SS-Nachschubtruppen 503
* SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 503
* Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 103 / 503
* SS-Feldpostamt 503
* SS-Feld-Ersatz-Brigade 103

eptember 16 1944 - Courland Pocket

* Corps Stab
* Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 503 (SS Nr.103)
* 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
* 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
* 6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Langemarck
* 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien (Only the Battle Group)
* 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands
* 11th Infantry Division
* 300th Infantry Division
* Werfer-Abteilung 103 / 503
* Schwere SS-Artillerie-Abteilung 503
* SS-Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 3
* Schwere Beobachtungs Batterie 103 / 503
* SS-Nachschubtruppen 503
* SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 503
* Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 103 / 503
* SS-Feldpostamt 503
* SS-Feld-Ersatz-Brigade 103

References

* Tieke, Wilhelm - Tragedy of the Faithful: A History of III. (gemanisches) SS-Panzer-Korps