| 3. Panzerarmee 3rd Panzer Army |
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|---|---|
| Active | 1942 - 1945 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 3rd Panzer Army (German: 3.Panzerarmee) was a German army that saw action during World War II. It was formed from Panzergruppe 3, which had been formed on November 16, 1940.
The 3rd Panzer Army was a constituent part of Army Group Centre and fought in the Battle of Moscow in late 1941 (as Panzergruppe 3) and early 1942. Panzergruppe 3 was retitled the 3rd Panzer Army on January 1, 1942. During the Soviet counter-offensive, the 3rd Panzer Army fought its way out of an encirclement and later fought at Tekino, the Duna and Vitebsk. The 3rd Panzer Army later retreated through Lithuania and Courland, fighting in the Battle of Memel in late 1944.
In February 1945 the 3rd Panzer Army was one of the armies that made up the new Army Group Vistula. On March 10, 1945, General Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel was made the commander of the 3rd Panzer Army, which was assigned to defend the banks of the Oder River, north of the Seelow Heights, thus hampering Soviet access to Western Pomerania and Berlin. They then faced an overwhelming Soviet attack launched by General Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front during the Battle of Berlin. On April 25 the Soviets broke through 3rd Panzer Army's line around the bridgehead south of Stettin and crossed the Rando Swamp. Manteuffel was forced to retreat to Mecklenburg where he surrendered his troops to the Western Allies on May 3, 1945, thus avoiding capture by the Soviets.
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