11 Army or SS Panzer-Armeeoberkommando 11

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Phil Nix
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11 Army or SS Panzer-Armeeoberkommando 11

#1

Post by Phil Nix » 20 Dec 2005, 19:32

This command was set up 28th January 1945 but was Armeeoberkommando 11 or SS Panzer-Armeeoberkommando 11
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Andreas
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#2

Post by Andreas » 20 Dec 2005, 19:56

Phil

Let's just say there are debates about this. ;)

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=78521

My personal guess is that the official name was AOK 11, but that the general usage was 11 SS Panzerarmee.

All the best

Andreas


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11th Army

#3

Post by Schloss Adler » 20 Dec 2005, 19:56

Hi Phil,

I have seen it referred to as both. I am not at home at the moment but will look at my notes later this evening.

Thanks,

Doug Batson

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#4

Post by Rob - wssob2 » 21 Dec 2005, 03:54

The "11th Panzer Armee" was originally a subcomponent of Army Group Vistula under III SS Corps commander Felix Steiner in February 1945. In the spring of 1945 the unit was little more than small staff unit attempting to organize the last reserves of German manpower into coherent defensive formations.


In April 1945 Hitler, deep in the bowels of the Führerbunker and increasingly delusional about the size and strength of the remaining German forces, ordered Steiner & the "11th Panzer Army" to break through and relieve the Russian seige of Berlin. But in reality, there was no army and thus, no breakthrough. Steiner's "failure" sent Hitler into a five-hour hysterical rage.

In the last month of the war SS-Obergruppenführer Steiner held two command positions (Eleventh SS Panzer Army and III SS Corps) at the same time. Steiner's army was little more than a staff unit commanding nonexistent formations; his corps was little more than a staff attached to the remnants of the 11th SS division. Given the chaotic situation, the Germans used multiple imprecise names - "Army Group Steiner," "11th SS Panzer Army," "11th SS Corps" - etc. in their operational orders, which adds confusion and complexity to accounts of the Battle of Berlin.

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11th Army

#5

Post by Schloss Adler » 21 Dec 2005, 05:37

Hi Phil,

Here is what I have on the 11th Army...

Thanks,

Doug

Established on January 26, 1945 in Pommerania, it marked one the last deperate attempts by the leaders of the Third Reich to turn the tide of the war. It was controlled by a headquarters (variously reported as Armeeoberkommando (AOK) Steiner, Stab z.b.V. Steiner and Panzer Armeeoberkommando 11) and named after its commander, Felix Steiner, and initially consisted of X SS Army Corps, III SS Panzer Corps, a weakened ad hoc Army corps and troops from Wehrkreis III together with whatever units were available, both SS and otherwise. In April of 1945, Steiner was instructed to make an attack to try and dislocate the the threatening Russian advance on Berlin. At the end of the war the Armeegruppe was located at Eberswalde, and having been virtually obliterated, consisted of hardly more than its headquarters staff. Almost to the very last moment, Hitler waited for Steiner to rescue Berlin from the Soviets and so prolong the war which in reality had been lost long before. The following divisions made up Army Group "Steiner": 4th Marine Division and those of the LVI Panzer Corps: 11 SS Panzer Division "Nordland", 18th SS Pz Gren Division, 20th Pz Gren Division "Muncheberg", Luftwaffen Ausb Division, and part of the 9th Fallsch. Jg Division.

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Dieter Zinke
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#6

Post by Dieter Zinke » 21 Dec 2005, 12:05

For Phil (and "naturellement" all the others)


Steiner:
26.11.1944 - 26.01.1945 Oberbefehlshaber der Armeegruppe Steiner
bei der Heeresgruppe Nord (Ferdinand Schörner) SW Libau mit der 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Nordland“ (Joachim Ziegler), SS- Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade “Nederland“ (Jürgen Wagner), 14. Panzer-Division (GLt Martin Unrein), 11. Infanterie-Division (Gerhard Feyerabend), 126. Infanterie-Division (GLt Gotthard Fischer, dann Oberst Kurt Haehling) und 87. Inf.Div. (OT Haehling, dann GLt Mauritz von Strachwitz)

26.01.1945 in der Nacht Eintreffen in Stettin nach Beauftragung mit der Verteidigung Hinterpommerns.
Bildung eines Führungsstabes zur Überwachung des Eintreffens des III. (Germ.) SS-Panzer-Korps über See von der Kurlandfront, wo in der Nacht zum 28.01.1945 die Reste des Korps in Libau verladen werden.

28.01.1945 aus Teilen des Stabes Oberkommando Oberrhein wird das (Pz) AOK 11 neu aufgestellt

05.02.1945 - 25.03.1945 Oberbefehlshaber der 11. Armee, (also 11. Panzer-Armee)
zunächst mit dem X. SS-Armee-Korps (von dem Bach / GLt Günther Krappe), dem mobil gewordenen Wehrkreis II (Walter Hoernlein) und dem III. SS-PzK (GLt Martin Unrein).
Tritt am 16.02.1945 befehlsgemäß mit 7 vollen und 5 unfertigen Divisionen nach Süden an: XXIX. Panzer-Korps (Karl Decker) und III. SS-Panzer-Korps mit 10. SS- Panzer-Division “Frundsberg“ (Heinz Harmel), 4. SS-Polizei- Panzer-Grenadier-Division (Walter Harzer), 11. SS-“Nordland“, “Nederland“, 2 Bataillone “Langemarck“, 281. Infanterie-Division (Bruno Ortner), Führergrenadier-Division (FGD: Hellmuth Mäder), Führerbegleit-Division (FBD: Otto-Ernst Remer), 402. Infanterie-Division (Siegmund Frhr. von Schleinitz), 5. Jägerdivision (Friedrich Sixt), Division Bärwalde (Wilhelm Raithel) und Division Köslin (Oberst Sommer). Muss zwischen dem 16.02. und dem 20.02.1945 die Hälfte seiner Truppen wieder abgeben:
4. und 11. SS sowie FBD und FGD.
Später unterstehen ihm kurz die Korpsgruppen Munzel und Tettau.
(General der Infanterie Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld nennt den Verband in seinen Memoiren 11. Panzerarmee)

15. - 22.02.1945 Unternehmen “Sonnenwende“ zur Öffnung des Rings bei Arnswalde.
Danach muss die 11. Armee zur Verteidigung übergehen, sie wird in der Front durch das PzAOK 3 (Erhard Raus, ab 10.03.1945 Hasso von Manteuffel) ersetzt.

24.02.1945 das AOK 11 wird aus der Front herausgelöst, der Stab AOK 11 soll ohne OB in den Harz verlegt werden

25.03.1945 Befehl Hitlers zur Auflösung des Stabes AOK 11 unter gleichzeitiger Bildung eines Korpsstabes z.V. OKW und eines Stabes z.V. Steiner für einen zu befehlenden Sondereinsatz

Neuaufstellung 11. AOK an der Weser bis in den Raum Kassel (ab 08.04.1945 in der “Festung Harz“)
02.04.1945 - 09.04.1945 stellvertretender OB: Otto-Maximilian Hitzfeld (Lucht vorübergehend am Laacher See vermisst)
Walther Lucht:
08.04.1945 - 21.04.1945 OB der 11. Armee


Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year to all forum-mmbers and their families
Dieter Zinke
Last edited by Dieter Zinke on 21 Dec 2005, 19:51, edited 1 time in total.

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#7

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 21 Dec 2005, 12:32

Thanks , Dieter !

That goes "d'accord" with the material I found !

Jan-Hendrik

Phil Nix
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#8

Post by Phil Nix » 21 Dec 2005, 12:33

Thanks to all for excellent answers
Phil Nix

Schloss Adler
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Possible translation?

#9

Post by Schloss Adler » 22 Dec 2005, 16:40

Hi,

I tried to translate what Dieter wrote so that I can understand what was written. I know that my German is very poor, so I was wondering if anyone could help correct any mistakes. Also, I would like to know more about Korpsstabes z.V. OKW and Stabes z.V. Steiner that were created on 25 March 1945.

Thanks,

Doug

----------------

Steiner:

26.11.1944 - 26.01.1945

Commander of Armeegruppe Steiner which was part of Heeresgruppe Nord (Ferdinand Schoerner) southwest of Libau with the 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Nordland“ (Joachim Ziegler), SS- Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade “Nederland“ (Jürgen Wagner), 14. Panzer-Division (GLt Martin Unrein), 11. Infanterie-Division (Gerhard Feyerabend), 126. Infanterie-Division (GLt Gotthard Fischer, then Oberst Kurt Haehling) and 87. Inf.Div. (OT Haehling, then GLt Mauritz von Strachwitz)

26.01.1945

The night of 26 January 1945 an office is setup in Stettin charged with the defense of Eastern Pomerania.

An operations staff is set up to monitor the arrival of the III. (Germ.) SS Panzerkorps arriving by sea from the Kurland front, where on the night of 28.01.1945 the remainder of the Corps arrives from Libau.

28.01.1945

The (Pz) AOK 11 is rebuilt from parts of the staff Oberkommando Oberrhein

05.02.1945 - 25.03.1945

The commander of the 11. Army, (also known as 11. Panzerarmee) initially comprised the Xth SS army corps (von dem Bach/GLt Guenther Krappe), mobile units of Wehrkries II (Walter Hoernlein) and then III. SS PzK (GLt Martin Unrein).

Back on 16.02.1945, 7 full and 5 incomplete divisions were ordered to the south: XXIX. Panzerkorps (Karl Decker) and III. SS Panzerkorps with 10. SS-Panze Division "Frundsberg" (Heinz Harmel), 4. SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Division (Walter Harzer), 11. SS "Nordland", "Nederland", 2 battalions "Langemarck", 281. Infantry Division (Bruno Ortner), Fuhrergrenadier Division (FGD: Hellmuth Maeder), Fuhrerbegliet Division (FBD: Otto-Ernst Remer), 402. Infantry division (Siegmund Frhr. of Schleinitz), 5. Jager Division (Friedrich Sixt), Division Barwalde (William Raithel) and Division Koeslin (Oberst Sommer).

Again between 16.02. and that half of its troops must deliver 20.02.1945:
4. and 11. SS as well as FBD and FGD.
Later Korpsgruppen Munzel and Tettau are subordinate to it briefly. (General der Infanterie Otto Maximilian Hitzfeld calls the federation in its memoirs 11. Panzer Army)

15. - 22.02.1945

Operation "Sonnenwende" is launched aimed at breaking open the ring by Arnswalde.
Afterwards most of the 11 Army is replaced by the PzAOK 3 (Erhard Raus, starting from 10.03.1945 commanded by Hasso von Manteuffel).

24.02.1945

The 11 Army is extracted without a commander and is moved to the Harz.

25.03.1945

Hitler orders the 11th Army dissolved and an order issued for the simultaneous formation of a Korpsstabes z.V. OKW and a Stabes z.V. Steiner for one special operation.

A newly formed 11. Army is moved to the Weser in the area Kassel (starting from 08.04.1945 "Fortress Harz")
02.04.1945 - 09.04.1945
Deputy commander Otto-Maximilian Hitzfeld (Lucht temporarily missing in the Laacher See)
Walther Lucht: 08.04.1945 - 21.04.1945 Commander of the 11. Army

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genstab
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Fuehrer Grenadier Division 2/45

#10

Post by genstab » 25 Dec 2005, 20:43

Hallo Dieter-
I have one conflict with your list for 5.2.45- and naturally giving your preeminence I am assuming you are right. Mehner says Gen. Mader commanded Fuehrer Grenadier Division until 1.2.45 and then Gen Hassenstein assumed command. So this is wrong- Mader was in command longer? Would you have the date Gen. Hassenstein actually did assume command?

Oh yes- there is one typo in this same 5.2.45 list- you meant that Karl Decker commanded XXXIX Panzerkorps, not XXIX (which was an Armeekorps).

A Merry Christmas to all!

Best regards,
Genstab in Oregon

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#11

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 16 Oct 2007, 08:07

Just for the record:
My personal guess is that the official name was AOK 11, but that the general usage was 11 SS Panzerarmee.
Heeresgruppe Weichsel does not mention any SS or Panzer, simply 11.Armee or AOK 11 in its maps and Kriegsgliederungen :D

Jan-Hendrik

Andreas
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#12

Post by Andreas » 16 Oct 2007, 10:02

I know, but your favourite author on the subject continues to refer to it as 11. SS Panzerarmee. Hence my thought that official (maps/Kriegsgliederungen) was AOK 11, while general use (Murawksi) use 11. SS Panzerarmee.

All the best

Andreas

Jan-Hendrik
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#13

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 16 Oct 2007, 10:10

He had no access to what I have now in my hands :P

Jan-Hendrik

Andreas
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#14

Post by Andreas » 16 Oct 2007, 10:51

Lucky devil.

All the best

Andreas

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