The LXVI Army Corps (german: LXVI. Armeekorps), initially known as the LXVI Reserve Corps (german: LXVI. Reservekorps), was an army corps of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The corps was formed in September 1942.

History

The LXVI Reserve Corps was formed on 21 September 1942 in

Wehrkreis IX The military districts, also known in some English-language publications by their German name as Wehrkreise (singular: ''Wehrkreis''), were administrative territorial units in Nazi Germany before and during World War II. The task of military distr ...

. The initial purpose of the corps staff was to oversee and lead the reserve divisions of ''

Oberbefehlshaber West ''Oberbefehlshaber West'' (German: initials OB West), German for "high commander in the West") was the overall commander of the ''Westheer'', the German armed forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to the Obe ...

'' (

Army Group D Army Group D (''Heeresgruppe D'') was a German Army Group which saw action during World War II. Army Group D was formed on 26 October 1940 in France, its initial cadre coming from the disbanded Army Group C. On 15 April 1941, the status of Army ...

). Its headquarters were initially deployed in the

Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand (, ; ; oc, label=Auvergnat (dialect), Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population ...

area. The initial corps commander during the formation of the LXVI Reserve Corps was Erich Marcks, but Marcks was soon succeeded by

Baptist Knieß __NOTOC__ Baptist Knieß (17 April 1885 - 10 November 1956 ) was a German general during World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved ...

on 12 November 1942. The LXVI Reserve Corps oversaw the formation of the

LXXVI Panzer Corps The LXXVI Panzer Corps (''LXXVI Panzerkorps'', 76th Armoured Corps) was a panzer corps of Nazi Germany during World War II. The headquarters were formed in France under Army Group D on 29 June 1943 as LXXVI Army Corps but renamed a month later. I ...

on 25 February 1943. On 7 July 1943, Knieß was succeeded as the corps commander by

Wilhelm Wetzel __NOTOC__ Wilhelm Wetzel (17 July 1888 – 4 July 1964) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Awards and decorations * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on ...

. Wetzel was in turn succeeded by Walther Lucht on 20 December 1943. 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 Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

, including in the

Vosges The Vosges ( , ; german: Vogesen ; Franconian and gsw, Vogese) are a range of low mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single ...

Eifel The Eifel (; lb, Äifel, ) is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the southern area of the German-speaking Community of ...

and

Ardennes The Ardennes (french: Ardenne ; nl, Ardennen ; german: Ardennen; wa, Årdene ; lb, Ardennen ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Be ...

region. It was subsequently subordinate, in order, to the 19th Army in September 1944, the 7th Army between October and December 1944, the

6th Panzer Army The 6th Panzer Army (german: 6. Panzerarmee) was a formation of the German Army, formed in the autumn of 1944. The 6th Panzer Army was first used as an offensive force during the Battle of the Bulge, in which it operated as the northernmost element ...

in January 1945, the

5th Panzer Army 5th Panzer Army (german: 5. Panzerarmee) was the name of two different German armoured formations during World War II. The first of these was formed in 1942, during the North African campaign and surrendered to the Allies at Tunis in 1943. The a ...

between February and March 1945, and the 11th Army in April 1945.

Structure

Noteworthy individuals

* Erich Marcks, corps commander of LXVI Reserve Corps between 21 September 1942 and 12 November 1942. *

, corps commander of LXVI Reserve Corps between 12 November 1942 and 10 May 1943 and between June 1943 and 7 July 1943. * Otto Roettig, corps commander of LXVI Reserve Corps between 21 May 1943 and June 1943. *

, corps commander of LXVI Reserve Corps between 7 July 1943 and 20 December 1943. * Walther Lucht, corps commander of LXVI Reserve Corps between 20 December 1943 and 5 August 1944, corps commander of the renamed LXVI Army Corps between 5 August 1944 and 3 April 1945. *

Hermann Flörke __NOTOC__ Hermann Flörke (23 October 1893 – 19 August 1979) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 14th Infantry Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Awards and decoration ...

, corps commander of LXVI Army Corps between 3 April 1945 and the end of the war.

References

{{Subject bar, portal1=Military of Germany, portal2=World War II Corps of Germany in World War II Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945