XXXXII Army Corps (Wehrmacht)
The XXXXII Army Corps (XXXXII. Armeekorps) was a German army corps of the Wehrmacht during World War II.
Formation and Deployment:
The corps was formed on January 29, 1940, in Wehrkreis XII. It participated in the Battle of France in 1940 as part of the 1st Army. Following the campaign in France, the corps was transferred to the Eastern Front in June 1941 as part of Army Group South, where it participated in Operation Barbarossa.
Operational History:
Throughout its service on the Eastern Front, the XXXXII Army Corps was involved in numerous major battles and campaigns, including the Battle of Kiev, the advance towards Rostov, the Winter battles of 1941/42, and the Battle of Kharkov. It fought in the Don Bend area, and was later involved in defensive battles during the Soviet counteroffensives. The corps suffered heavy losses during the war on the Eastern Front.
Commanders:
The commanders of the XXXXII Army Corps were:
- Generalleutnant Walter Kuntze (January 29, 1940 – February 15, 1942)
- General der Infanterie Bruno Bieler (February 15, 1942 – November 20, 1943)
- Generalleutnant Anton Dostler (November 20, 1943 – January 1, 1944)
- General der Infanterie Theodor Antoni (January 1, 1944 – May 18, 1944)
- Generalleutnant Kurt Chill (May 18, 1944 – August 20, 1944)
- General der Infanterie Anton Grasser (August 20, 1944 – February 8, 1945)
- Generalleutnant Horst von Mellenthin (February 8, 1945 – April 16, 1945)
Surrender:
The XXXXII Army Corps surrendered to Allied forces in 1945. The exact date and location of the surrender may vary depending on the specific elements of the corps.
Organization:
The composition of the XXXXII Army Corps varied depending on the operational requirements and the availability of units. It typically included several infantry divisions, and potentially Panzer or motorized divisions, as well as supporting artillery, engineer, and logistical units.