The 11th SS Panzer Army (SS-Panzer-Armeeoberkommando 11) was little more than a paper army formed in February 1945 by Heinrich Himmler while he was commander of Army Group Vistula.
Military historian Antony Beevor writes that when the 11th SS Panzer Army was created the available units at best could constitute a corps, "'But panzer army' observed Hans-Georg Eismann 'has a better ring to it'". It also allowed Himmler to promote SS officers to senior staff and field commands within the formation. ObergruppenführerFelix Steiner was named its commander.[1] The army was officially listed as the 11th Army but it was also known as SS Panzer-Armeeoberkommando 11[2] and is often referred to in English as the 11th SS Panzer Army.
After taking part in Operation Solstice east of the Oder River in February 1945, the army was assigned to OB West and reorganized in March 1945. Many of the units formerly subordinated to the 11th SS Panzer Army were transferred to the 3rd Panzer Army and other units were assigned to the 11th Army for operations against the Western Allies. After defending the Weser River and the Harz Mountains, the 11th surrendered to the Western Allies on 21 April.[2]
Orders of battle
February 1945
By 5 February the 11th SS Panzer Army, subordinated to Army Group Vistula, had the following units assigned to it:[2]
11th Army, the official German Army name for the army. The 11th Army also existed before this last reincarnation as an army that fought on the Eastern Front earlier in the war.
Army Detachment Steiner fought in the Battle of Berlin, and because Steiner commanded that paper army it can easily be confused with the 11th SS Panzer Army.
References
Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 3
Beevor, Antony. Berlin: The Downfall 1945, Penguin Books, 2002, ISBN0-670-88695-5
11th, panzer, army, panzer, armeeoberkommando, little, more, than, paper, army, formed, february, 1945, heinrich, himmler, while, commander, army, group, vistula, activenovember, 1944, february, 1945country, nazi, germanybrancharmytypepanzerrolearmoured, warfa. The 11th SS Panzer Army SS Panzer Armeeoberkommando 11 was little more than a paper army formed in February 1945 by Heinrich Himmler while he was commander of Army Group Vistula 11th SS Panzer ArmyActiveNovember 1944 February 1945Country Nazi GermanyBranchArmyTypePanzerRoleArmoured warfareSizeArmyEngagementsWorld War II Eastern Front Operation SolsticeCommandersNotablecommandersFelix Steiner Military historian Antony Beevor writes that when the 11th SS Panzer Army was created the available units at best could constitute a corps But panzer army observed Hans Georg Eismann has a better ring to it It also allowed Himmler to promote SS officers to senior staff and field commands within the formation Obergruppenfuhrer Felix Steiner was named its commander 1 The army was officially listed as the 11th Army but it was also known as SS Panzer Armeeoberkommando 11 2 and is often referred to in English as the 11th SS Panzer Army After taking part in Operation Solstice east of the Oder River in February 1945 the army was assigned to OB West and reorganized in March 1945 Many of the units formerly subordinated to the 11th SS Panzer Army were transferred to the 3rd Panzer Army and other units were assigned to the 11th Army for operations against the Western Allies After defending the Weser River and the Harz Mountains the 11th surrendered to the Western Allies on 21 April 2 Orders of battle EditFebruary 1945 Edit By 5 February the 11th SS Panzer Army subordinated to Army Group Vistula had the following units assigned to it 2 Tettau Corps Group Koslin Barwalde X SS Corps 5th Jager Division Division Nr 402 Munzel Corps Group Fuhrer Grenadier Division Fuhrer Escort Division III Germanic SS Panzer Corps 281st Infantry Division 23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nederland Division Voigt 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Langemarck XXXIX Panzer Corps 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien Panzer Division Holstein HQ Wehrkreis II as corps level field command stellv II Swinemunde Defensive Region Division Deneke 9th Parachute Division Direct army command 163rd Infantry DivisionMarch 1945 Edit By 1 March the 11th SS Panzer Army subordinated to Army Group Vistula had no units assigned to it 2 April 1945 Edit By 12 April the 11th SS Panzer Army was directly subordinated to OB West and had the following units assigned to it 2 LXVII Army Corps Kampfgruppe Fellner Division Ettner Division Heidenreich Division Grosskreuz Stellv IX 26th Volksgrenadier Division 326th Volksgrenadier Division LXVI Army Corps 277th Volksgrenadier Division SS Brigade Westfalen 9th Panzer Division 116th Panzer DivisionSee also Edit11th Army the official German Army name for the army The 11th Army also existed before this last reincarnation as an army that fought on the Eastern Front earlier in the war Army Detachment Steiner fought in the Battle of Berlin and because Steiner commanded that paper army it can easily be confused with the 11th SS Panzer Army References EditTessin Georg Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS 1939 1945 Volume 3 Beevor Antony Berlin The Downfall 1945 Penguin Books 2002 ISBN 0 670 88695 5Footnotes Edit Beevor p 88 a b c d e Tessin p 194 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 11th SS Panzer Army amp oldid 1147509621, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
