The LXVI Army Corps (German: LXVI. Armeekorps), initially known as the LXVI Reserve Corps (German: LXVI. Reservekorps), was an army corps of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The corps was formed in September 1942.

History

The LXVI Reserve Corps was formed on 21 September 1942 in Wehrkreis IX. The initial purpose of the corps staff was to oversee and lead the reserve divisions of Oberbefehlshaber West (Army Group D). Its headquarters were initially deployed in the Clermont-Ferrand area.[1] The initial corps commander during the formation of the LXVI Reserve Corps was Erich Marcks, but Marcks was soon succeeded by Baptist Knieß on 12 November 1942.[2]

The LXVI Reserve Corps oversaw the formation of the LXXVI Panzer Corps on 25 February 1943.[1] On 7 July 1943, Knieß was succeeded as the corps commander by Wilhelm Wetzel. Wetzel was in turn succeeded by Walther Lucht on 20 December 1943.[2]

Having received a new military postal number in June 1943, the LXVI Reserve Corps was renamed LXVI Army Corps on 5 August 1944. Subsequently, the corps was used in combat on the Western Front, including in the Vosges, Eifel and Ardennes region.[1] It was subsequently subordinate, in order, to the 19th Army in September 1944,[3] the 7th Army between October and December 1944,[4] the 6th Panzer Army in January 1945,[5] the 5th Panzer Army between February and March 1945,[6] and the 11th Army in April 1945.[7]

Structure

Organizational structure of the LXVI (66th) Reserve Corps and the LXVI (66th) Army Corps of the German Wehrmacht, 1942 – 1945[1]
Year Date Commander[2] Subordinate Divisions[3][4][5][6][7] Army Army Group Operational area
1942 October Erich Marcks Various Army Group D (v. Rundstedt) Clermont-Ferrand
November Baptist Knieß
December
1943 January
February
March
April
May Otto Roettig
June Wilhelm Wetzel
July
August
September
October
November
December
1944 January Walther Lucht
February
March
April
May Army Group G (Blaskowitz)
June
July
August Army Group D (v. Kluge)
16 September 19th Army Army Group G (Blaskowitz) Vosges
13 October 7th Army Army Group B (Model) Eifel
5 November
26 November
31 December 6th Panzer Army Ardennes
1945 19 February 5th Panzer Army Eifel, Rur
1 March 5th Parachute
April Hermann Flörke 11th Army Army Group D (Kesselring) Weser

Noteworthy individuals

References

  1. ^ a b c d Tessin, Georg (1977). "Generalkommando LXVI. Reservekorps (röm. 66. RK) Generalkommando LXVI. Armeekorps (röm. 66. AK)". Die Landstreitkräfte 31-70. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 5. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. p. 268. ISBN 3764810971.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i MacLean, French L. (2014). Unknown Generals - German Corps Commanders In World War II. Pickle Partners Publishing. pp. 115–117. ISBN 9781782895220.
  3. ^ a b Tessin, Georg (1977). "19. Armee (AOK 19)". Die Landstreitkräfte 15-30. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 4. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 50–55. ISBN 3764810971.
  4. ^ a b Tessin, Georg (1977). "7. Armee (AOK 7)". Die Landstreitkräfte 6-14. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 3. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 49–53. ISBN 3764810971.
  5. ^ a b Tessin, Georg (1977). "6. (SS) Panzer-Armee (Pz. AOK 6)". Die Landstreitkräfte 6-14. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 3. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 8–9. ISBN 3764810971.
  6. ^ a b Tessin, Georg (1977). "5. Panzer-Armee (Pz. AOK 5)". Die Landstreitkräfte 1-5. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 2. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 282–283. ISBN 3764810971.
  7. ^ a b Tessin, Georg (1977). "11. Armee (AOK 11)". Die Landstreitkräfte 15-30. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 4. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 191–195. ISBN 3764810971.
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