m The LXIX Army Corps (), initially known as the LXIX Reserve Corps (), was an

army corps Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was formally introduced March 1, 1800, when Napoleon ordered Gener ...

of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

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

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The corps was initially formed in July 1943.

History

The LXIX Reserve Corps was formed on 8 July 1943 for deployment in

occupied Yugoslavia World War II in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia began on 6 April 1941, when the country was invaded and swiftly conquered by Axis forces and partitioned among Germany, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and their client regimes. Shortly after Germany attack ...

. It was deployed under the supervision of the German commander in Croatia (16 November 1942 to 24 August 1943:

Rudolf Lüters Rudolf Lüters (May 10, 1883 – December 24, 1945) was a German general who served in the Wehrmacht, during World War II. Biography He joined the Imperial German Army on November 2, 1902 as Fahnenjunker and participated in World War I where ...

), stationed in

Banja Luka Banja Luka ( sr-Cyrl, Бања Лука, ) or Banjaluka ( sr-Cyrl, Бањалука, ) is the List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest city in Republika Srpska. Banja Luka is the tr ...

. The initial commander of the LXIX Reserve Corps was the

Ernst Dehner __NOTOC__ Ernst Dehner (5 March 1889 – 13 September 1970) 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. In 1948 he was found guilty of war crimes at the Hostages T ...

. The LXIX Reserve Corps was part of the

2nd Panzer Army The 2nd Panzer Army () was a German armoured formation during World War II, formed from the 2nd Panzer Group on October 5, 1941. Organisation Panzer Group Guderian () was formed on 5 June 1940 and named after its commander, general Heinz Gude ...

under

Army Group F Army Group F () was a strategic command formation of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. The commander of Army Group F served also as the ''OB South East, Oberbefehlshaber Südost'' (Commander-in-Chief in the Southeast). Created 12 Augus ...

between September 1943 and December 1944 and carried the name ''LXIX. Armeekorps'' after 20 January 1944. Dehner was succeeded as corps commander by

Julius Ringel Julius 'Papa' Ringel (16 November 1889 – 11 February 1967) was an Austrian general in the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. He fought in the Western and Eastern fronts, as well as the Balkan Campaign.Williamson 2012. Ringel c ...

on 1 April 1944, who was in turn replaced by

Helge Auleb __NOTOC__ Helge Arthur Auleb (24 March 1887 – 14 March 1964) was a general in the ''Wehrmacht'' of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was born in Gehren. Auleb commanded the 6th Infantry Division as part of VI Army Corps during Ope ...

on 24 June 1944. The corps then served in the reserves of Army Group F between January and March 1945 and then in the reserves of

Army Group E Army Group E () was a German Army Group active during World War II. Army Group E was created on 1 January 1943 from the 12th Army. Units from this Army Group were distributed throughout the Eastern Mediterranean area, including Albania, Greece ...

until the end of the war in May 1945.

Structure

Noteworthy individuals

, corps commander of LXIX Reserve Corps and LXIX Army Corps (15 July 1943 – 1 April 1944). *

, corps commander of LXIX Army Corps (1 April 1944 – 24 June 1944). *

, corps commander of LXIX Army Corps (24 June 1944 – 8 May 1945).

References

{{German Army Corps of the Wehrmacht Corps of Germany in World War II Military units and formations established in 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945