LXXXV Army Corps (Wehrmacht) explained
The LXXXV Army Corps (German: LXXXV. Armeekorps) was an army corps of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The corps existed between 1944 and 1945 and had been preceded by a formation known as Group Knieß (German: Gruppe Knieß|link=no), with its command designated General Command Knieß (German: General-Kommando Knieß|link=no) between 1943 and 1944.
History
Group Knieß, also known as General Command Knieß, was formed in October 1943 in southern France. The formations was named after its initial commander, Baptist Knieß.[1] Under the supervision of the 19th Army, Group Knieß remained on defensive duty in France until the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.[2]
On 10 July 1944, Corps Kniess was upgraded to become the LXXXV Army Corps. The LXXXV Army Corps remained under the supervision of the 19th Army until December 1944, when the corps was transferred to the 7th Army in the Ardennes. After a stay in the Saar Palatinate region between February and March 1945 under the 1st Army, the LXXXV was transferred back to the 7th Army in Hesse and Thuringia in April. At the end of the war, the LXXXV Army Corps was commanded by Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz, who had held that post since 26 March 1945.
Structure
Organizational structure of Group Knieß and the LXXXV (85th) Army Corps!Name!Year!Date!Commander!Subordinate units[3] [4] [5] !Army!Army Group!Operational area| Gruppe Knieß | 1943 | 4 October | Baptist Knieß | FH, 715th Infantry | 19th Army | Army Group D | Southern France |
| 8 November | 242nd Infantry, 715th Infantry |
| 3 December | 148th Infantry, 242nd Infantry |
| 1944 | 1 January | 148th Infantry, 242nd Infantry, 244th Infantry |
| 12 February |
| 11 March |
| 8 April | 244th Infantry, 338th Infantry |
| 17 May | Army Group G |
| 12 June |
| LXXXV Army Corps | 17 July[6] | Belfort |
| 31 August | 198th Infantry, 338th Infantry |
| 16 September | 11th Panzer |
| 13 October | 159th Infantry, 189th Infantry, Panzerbrigade 106 |
| 5 November | 159th Infantry, 189th Infantry, 338th Infantry |
| 26 November | Friedrich-August Schack | None | 7th Army | Army Group B | Ardennes |
| 31 December | Baptist Knieß | 79th Infantry, 352nd Infantry Division |
| 1945 | 19 February | 347th Infantry, 719th Infantry | 1st Army | Army Group G | Saarpfalz |
| 1 March | 347th Infantry, 559th Infantry, 719th Infantry |
| 12 April | Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz | 11th Panzer, Kampfgruppe Schroeder | 7th Army | Hesse / Thuringia | |
Noteworthy individuals
- Baptist Knieß, corps commander of Corps Knieß and the LXXXV Army Corps (October 1943 – 10 July 1944, 10 July 1944 – 15 November 1944, 16 December 1944 – 26 March 1945).
- Friedrich-August Schack, corps commander of the LXXXV Army Corps (15 November 1944 – 16 December 1944).
- Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz, corps commander of the LXXXV Army Corps (26 March 1945 – 8 May 1945).
Notes
- Book: MacLean, French L.. Unknown Generals - German Corps Commanders In World War II. Pickle Partners Publishing. 2014. 9781782895220. 119–120.
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 71-130. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 6. Osnabrück. 80. de. Generalkommando LXXXV. Ameekorps (röm. 85. AK).
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 15-30. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 4. Osnabrück. 50–55. de. 19. Armee (AOK 19).
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 6-14. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 3. Osnabrück. 49–53. de. 7. Armee (AOK 7).
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 1-5. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 2. Osnabrück. 3–4. de. 1. Armee (AOK 1).
- Although LXXXV Army Corps was formed on 10 July 1944, the papers of 7th Army still (likely erroneously) contain Group Knieß for their entry on 17 July 1944.
References
- Book: MacLean, French L.. Unknown Generals - German Corps Commanders In World War II. Pickle Partners Publishing. 2014. 9781782895220. 119–120.
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 71-130. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 6. Osnabrück. 80. de. Generalkommando LXXXV. Ameekorps (röm. 85. AK).
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 15-30. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 4. Osnabrück. 50–55. de. 19. Armee (AOK 19).
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 6-14. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 3. Osnabrück. 49–53. de. 7. Armee (AOK 7).
- Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 1-5. Biblio Verlag. 1977. 3764810971. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 2. Osnabrück. 3–4. de. 1. Armee (AOK 1).
- Although LXXXV Army Corps was formed on 10 July 1944, the papers of 7th Army still (likely erroneously) contain Group Knieß for their entry on 17 July 1944.
