I SS Panzer Corps

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Corps insignia

I.SS-Panzerkorps
I.SS-Panzerkorps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler


The I.SS-Panzerkorps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.


Contents

[edit] Formation and Training

The corps was raised on 27 July 1943 in Berlin-Lichterfeld. Formation took place on the Truppenübungsplatz at Beverloo, in occupied Belgium. The formation resulted in SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps being renamed to II.SS-Panzerkorps. SS-Obergruppenfüher Josef Dietrich, the ex-Leibstandarte commander, was the corps first commander. The key is the symbol of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler." They chose the key because of their commander, Josef "Sepp" Dietrich, since "Dietrich" is the German word for key.

In August 1943, the corps was transferred to Merano in Italy, where it took part in operations to disarm Italian troops. After the completion of this, the corps continued it's training, being sporadically engaged in anti-partisan operations in northern Italy. By December 1943, the corps was fully formed and deemed ready for action, and it's HQ was set up in Brussels.

[edit] Normandy Battles

In April 1944, the corps was moved to Septeuil, to the west of Paris, where it had 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend, 130.Panzer-Lehr-Division and 17.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Götz von Berlichingen assigned to it. The corps was to form a part of General der Panzertruppen Leo Geyr von Schweppenberg's Panzergruppe West, the Western theatre's armoured reserve. During this time, the corps was granted the honorary title Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler.

With the launch of Operation Overlord and the allied invasion of France on 6 June 1944, the corps was ordered to Falaise. The Hitlerjugend engaged British and Canadian troops to the north of Caen on 8 June. The corps was tasked with holding the area of Caen and saw heavy fighting around the villages of Authie, Buron and the airport at Carpiquet. The Tiger I's of the corps' heavy panzer abteilung, 101.schwere-SS-Panzer-Abt, distinguished themselves during the fighting, with the Abt's SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittman defeating a British armoured breakthrough virtually single-handedly near the village of Villers-Bocage.

The corps played a major role in the halting of the British Epsom and Goodwood operations, and the Götz von Berlichingen and Panzer-Lehr bitterly contested the American advance in the bocage country near St. Lo.

After the launch of the American Operation Cobra, which decimated the Panzer-Lehr, the corps was ordered to take part in Operation Lüttich, the abortive counter-offensive towards Avranches. The remnants of the corps escaped encirclement in the Falaise Pocket and fought hard to retain an escape corridor for the trapped German forces. After the fall of the falaise pocket and the collapse of the front, the corps took part in the fighting withdrawal to the Franco-German border.

[edit] Ardennes - Hungary

In early October, 1944, the corps was pulled back from the front line for rest and refit in Westfalen. Refitting was complete by early December 1944, and the corps was ordered to the Ardennes region to join its old commander, 'Sepp' Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzer-Armee, currently mustering for a major offensive codenamed Wacht Am Rhein.

The corps was to play a major role in the Battle of the Ardennes, with Kampfgruppe Peiper of the Leibstandarte division forming the spearhead. After several weeks heavy fighting, the corps was exhausted. The offensive was called off, and the corps, together with the whole of Dietrich's Army, was ordered to move to Hungary to take part in another offensive, Operation Frühlingserwachen.

The assault was finally in launched on 6 March, 1945. The corps, which formed the left flank of Dietrich's assault, was soon bogged down by mud and, despite initial gains, the offensive was soon halted by intense Soviet opposition. The corps fell back in an attempt to support the IV.SS-Panzerkorps, which was to their left and engaged in heavy action near Stuhlweissenberg. On 15 March, the Soviets launched the Vienna Operation, which split the lines of the neighbouring Armeegruppe Balck and forced the entire southern front to fall back towards Vienna. The corps was engaged in scattered resistance, falling back through Hungary and Austria. The corps surrendered to the Americans on 8 May, 1945.

[edit] Commanders

[edit] Orders Of Battle

[edit] 6 June 1944 - Normandy

[edit] 16 December 1944 - Operation Wacht Am Rhein

[edit] 6 March 1945 - Operation Frühlingserwachen

[edit] References

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