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| History |
The II.SS-Panzer-Korps was formed in 7.42 in Bergen (Holland) as SS
Panzer-Generalkommando. It was ready for action 8.42, and in 6.43
it was renamed as tje Generalkommando II.SS-Panzerkorps. The Korps was
first used to control reorganizing SS-Infanterie-Divisionen in France in
the Summer of 1942. The Korps was sent to the Southern Front in Russia in
Early 1943 where it took part in operations to stem the Soviet 1943 Winter
Offensive and then to recapture Kharkov and Belgorod in the early
Spring, 1943. After the German success on the Eastern Front in stemming Soviet Offensives, the Germans launched an offensive of their own in the Summer of 1943 aimed at further crushing the Soviet forces already pushed back from the previous months of fighting. This was the Kursk Offensive, and it was the most massive and important tank battle in all of History. The II.SS-Panzer-Korps spearheaded this offensive by driving into the southern edge of the Kursk salient. The Divisions of the Korps managed to push deeper into the salient then any other unit in the offensive. Against massive Soviet pressure and manpower, the offensive stalled and was called off shortly after it was launched, and the II.SS-Panzer-Korps was pulled back. The Korps was ordered to Italy to help stabilize the rapidly crumbling situation of Germany's Italian Ally after the failed Kursk offensive. Mussolini was deposed on the same day that the II.SS-Panzer-Korps was ordered to Italy, and in the end, only the 1.SS-Panzer-Divsion actaully was transfered, while the other unit of the Korps stayed on the Eastern Front. In the Winter of 1943 the Korps was in France again, until the Spring of 1944 when it was transfered to the Eastern Front once more. In June, 1944, the Korps was once again back in France, this time fighting against the D-Day landings in Normany. In Late Summer, 1944, the Korps took part in the Battle of Falaise gap, and managed to break-out before the Allies closed the ring around them. In Septemeber, 1944, the II.SS-Panzer-Korps took part in opeations during the Allied Operation Market-Garden, an air and land assault into the Netherlands. The 9.SS-Panzer-Divison and the 10-SS-Panzer-Division were present in and around the city of Arnhem, the Northern most goal of the Allied offensive. The British 1st Airborne Division was dropped on Arnhem, and then crushed under the shear pressure of the German counter-attack. The 9th and 10th took part in these operations against the Allies under control of the II.SS-Panzer-Korps. The II.SS-Panzer-Korps took part in the Ardennes Offensive in December, 1944, and was later transfered to the Eastern Front where it ended the War in May, 1945. |
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| Korps Units |
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| Attached Units |
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| Commanders |
Paul Hausser 6.01.42 - 6.28.44 Wilhelm Bittrich 7.10.44 - 5.08.45 |
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| War Service |
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