The LIX Army Corps (German: LIX. Armeekorps), also known as Generalkommando LIX. Armeekorps, was a corps-level command formation of the German Army (Wehrmacht) during World War II. It saw service primarily on the Eastern Front.
Operational History
The LIX Army Corps was initially formed on October 10, 1940, in France as the LIX. Armeekorps (motorisiert) (59th Motorized Army Corps), responsible for occupation duties. It was redesignated simply as LIX. Armeekorps on July 5, 1942.
Upon its redesignation in 1942, the corps was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it became part of Army Group Centre. It participated in defensive and offensive operations in the central sector of the front, including engagements around Rzhev, Smolensk, and Vitebsk. Throughout 1943 and early 1944, the LIX Army Corps was involved in the bitter defensive battles as the Soviet Red Army launched successive offensives.
On July 20, 1944, the corps was withdrawn from the front and redesignated as Generalkommando LIX. Reserve-Korps in Germany, serving as a command for reserve and training units. However, due to the deteriorating situation on the Eastern Front, it was again reactivated as a frontline combat formation and redesignated as Generalkommando LIX. Armeekorps on February 20, 1945.
In its final incarnation, the LIX Army Corps was deployed to the southern sector of the Eastern Front, fighting in Silesia, southern Poland, and later in Slovakia and Moravia as part of Army Group Centre (later renamed Army Group Ostmark). It was involved in desperate defensive battles against the final Soviet offensives towards the end of the war.
The LIX Army Corps eventually surrendered to Soviet forces in Czechoslovakia in May 1945, at the end of the war in Europe.
Commanders
The LIX Army Corps was commanded by a succession of senior Wehrmacht generals throughout its existence:
- General der Infanterie Friedrich Dollmann (October 1940 – October 1940)
- General der Infanterie Curt Haase (October 1940 – January 1941)
- General der Infanterie Wilhelm Schubert (January 1941 – October 1941)
- General der Panzertruppen Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (October 1941 – January 1942)
- General der Infanterie Kurt von der Chevallerie (January 1942 – February 1942)
- General der Artillerie Erich von Manstein (February 1942 – March 1942)
- General der Panzertruppen Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (March 1942 – July 1942)
- General der Infanterie Sigfrid Henrici (July 1942 – October 1943)
- General der Infanterie Anton Grasser (October 1943 – December 1943)
- General der Panzertruppen Walter Lucht (December 1943 – January 1944)
- General der Infanterie Ernst Sieler (January 1944 – February 1944)
- General der Gebirgstruppen Georg Ritter von Hengl (February 1944 – March 1944)
- General der Artillerie Friedrich Schulz (March 1944 – July 1944)
- General der Panzertruppen Walter Hörnlein (July 1944 – July 1944)
- General der Infanterie Joachim von Kortzfleisch (as Reserve-Korps; July 1944 – December 1944)
- General der Infanterie Ernst Sieler (December 1944 – January 1945)
- General der Panzertruppen Hellmuth Prieß (January 1945 – April 1945)
- General der Infanterie Georg Jauer (April 1945 – May 1945)
See Also
- World War II
- Wehrmacht
- Eastern Front (World War II)