1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf HitlerGerman armored division from 1933 to 1945Military unitThe 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or SS Division Leibstandarte, abbreviated as LSSAH (German: 1. SS-Panzerdivision "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"), was a Waffen-SS Panzer division that served from 1933 until it was disbanded in 1945. It began as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard unit, responsible for guarding the Führer's person, offices, and residences.
3rd SS Panzer Division TotenkopfThe 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (German: 3. SS-Panzerdivision "Totenkopf") was an elite division of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II, formed from the Standarten of the SS-TV. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for "death's head" – the skull and crossbones symbol – and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death's Head Division.
Third Battle of KharkovBelligerentsSoviet UnionCzechoslovakiaGermanyCommanders and leadersFilipp GolikovNikolay VatutinKonstantin RokossovskyMarkian PopovVasily Koptsov†Erich von MansteinPaul HausserHermann HothEberhard von MackensenTheodor Eicke†Units involvedCentral Front1st Guards Army3rd Tank Army6th Army40th Army70th Army1st Guards Cavalry Corps16th Air Army4th Panzer ArmyII SS Panzer CorpsXLVIII Panzer Corps1st Panzer ArmyXXIV Panzer CorpsXXX Army CorpsXXXX Army CorpsLVII Army Corps4th Air Fleet6th Air FleetStrength 210,000c. 59 tanks 120,000–130,000 men350 tanksCasualties and losses 45,219 killed or missing41,250 woundedTotal:86,469 casualties 4,500 killed or missing7,000 woundedTotal:11,500 casualties (SS Panzer Corps only)The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of battles on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by Nazi Germany's Army Group South against the Soviet Red Army, around the city of Kharkov from 19 February to 15 March 1943.
2nd SS Panzer Division Das ReichThe 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich (German: 2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich") or SS Division Das Reich was an armored division of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. Initially formed from regiments of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT), Das Reich initially served during the Battle of France in 1940 before seeing combat on the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1944.
Paul HausserPaul Hausser, also known by his birth name Paul Falk post war (7 October 1880 – 21 December 1972), was a German general and, together with Sepp Dietrich, one of the two highest ranking commanders in the Waffen-SS. He played a key role in the post-war revisionist efforts by former members of the Waffen-SS to achieve historical and legal rehabilitation.
Wilhelm BittrichWilhelm Bittrich (26 February 1894 – 19 April 1979) was a high-ranking Waffen-SS commander of Nazi Germany. Between August 1942 and February 1943, Bittrich commanded the SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer, in rear security operations (Bandenbekämpfung, literally: "gang fighting") in the Soviet Union. From July 1944 until the end of the war Bittrich commanded the 2nd SS Panzer Corps in Normandy, during Market Garden and in Hungary.
Battle of KurskThe Battle of Kursk, also called the Battle of the Kursk Salient, was a major World War II Eastern Front battle between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia during the summer of 1943, resulting in a Soviet victory. The Battle of Kursk is the single largest battle in the history of warfare. It ranks only behind the Battle of Stalingrad several months earlier as the most often-cited turning point in the European theatre of the war.
World War IIGlobal conflict from 1939 to 1945BelligerentsAlliesAxisCommanders and leadersMain Allied leaders: Joseph StalinFranklin D. RooseveltWinston ChurchillChiang Kai-shekMain Axis leaders: Adolf HitlerHirohitoBenito MussoliniCasualties and losses 60–75 million deaths (military and civilian) World War II, or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945), was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers.
Western Front (World War II)Theatre of war in EuropeBelligerentsAllies1939–1940 FranceUnited Kingdom PolandNetherlandsBelgiumLuxembourgNorwayDenmark (9 April 1940)CanadaCzechoslovakiaAxis1939–1940 Germany Italy1944–1945United StatesUnited Kingdom • Newfoundland FranceCanada PolandBelgiumLuxembourgNetherlandsNorwayCzechoslovakia(and others)1944–1945 GermanyItalian Social RepublicFrench StateCommanders and leaders1939–1940Maurice Gamelin Maxime Weygand John Vereker, Lord GortWilliam Boyle, Lord CorkWładysław SikorskiHenri Winkelman Leopold III Émile Speller Otto Ruge William Prior 1944–1945Franklin D. Roosevelt #Harry S. TrumanDwight D. EisenhowerWinston ChurchillBernard MontgomeryArthur TedderOmar BradleyJacob L. DeversGeorge S. PattonCourtney HodgesWilliam SimpsonAlexander PatchMiles DempseyTrafford Leigh-Mallory †Bertram Ramsay †Charles de GaulleJean de TassignyKenneth StuartHarry CrerarKazimierz SosnkowskiStanisław Maczek1939–1940Walter von BrauchitschGerd von RundstedtErich von MansteinHeinz GuderianFedor von BockWilhelm von LeebErich RaederNikolaus von FalkenhorstPrince Umberto1944–1945Adolf Hitler ‡‡Heinrich HimmlerHermann GöringGerd von RundstedtKarl DönitzGünther von Kluge ‡‡Walter Model ‡‡Albert KesselringErwin Rommel ‡‡Johannes BlaskowitzHermann BalckPaul HausserBenito Mussolini Rodolfo Graziani Strength1939–19407,650,000 troops (total)1944–1945~5,412,219 troops (total that served)4,500,000 troops (total as of Victory in Europe Day)1939–19405,400,000 troops (total)1944–1945~8,000,000 troops (total that served)~1,900,000 troops (peak)Casualties and losses19402,121,560–2,260,000 casualties, including 143,000 killed and missing1944–1945164,590–210,000 killed/missing537,590 wounded78,680 captured10,561 tanks destroyed909 tank destroyers destroyedTotal:~3,000,000 casualties (including 355,000–375,000 killed)1940160,780–163,650 casualties, including 49,000 killed or missing1944–1945263,000–655,000 killed400,000+ wounded4,209,840 capturedTotal:5,000,000–5,400,000+ casualties (including 400,000–750,000 killed)Civilian casualties:1,650,000 deadThe Western Front was a military theatre of World War II encompassing Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Waffen-SSThe Waffen-SS (German: [ˈvafn̩ʔɛsˌʔɛs]; lit. 'Armed SS') was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's paramilitary Schutzstaffel (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both German-occupied Europe and unoccupied lands.
Eastern Front (World War II)Theatre of war in Europe This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article has an unclear citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. (September 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably.
Armoured corpsAn armoured corps (also mechanized corps or tank corps) is a specialized military organization whose role is to conduct armoured warfare. The units belonging to an armoured corps include military staff, and are equipped with tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, as well as supporting vehicles.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.