I am totally confused right now and need help badly. What units did the SS-Panzer-Generalkommando (the latter II.Panzerkorps) consisted of? It was formed in summer 1942 (re-named in 1943) in Holland - I can't find much information on the internet (only in connection with the II.SS-Pzkorps) and on most sites where there is at least some info, it's stated that the Generalkdo. consisted of the divisions "Reich" and "Hohenstaufen". I find it very hard to believe this since the 9.SS was only formed at the end of 1942 (and wasn't ready until autumn 1943) Is it possible that those sites are just letting me down and that it was in fact "DR" and "LSSAH" which formed the SS-Pz.Gen.Kdo?? I'd greatly appreciate some help on this.
Kate, whereas up to divisional levels unit composition is more or less fixed (exceptions abound though), a above that (Korps, Army, Army Group) composition can vary a lot, Lego bricks can be assigned, de-assigned, re-assigned, etc. The Korps and above was defined by a Staff and a number of of administrative, logistical, artillery, construction, communications core (lousy pun!) units, to which were added fighting units and others, according to the mission and perceived needs. These could be easily taken away, Korps composition varying widely along time. Remember for instance that 4th Pz Army at the time of Op. Bagration did not have a single Pz. Div. assigned to it, yet was still organised and designated as a Panzer Army. In the case of II ZZ-PzK, the order of battle (partial) at the beginning of Kursk (early Jul'43) - data from "Kursk, the German View", S. Newton, Da Capo Press - was: II SS Panzer Corps Obergruppenfuehrer Paul Hausser Liebstandarte Adolph Hitler SS Panzergrenadier Division Brigadefuehrer Theodor WischSS Panzer Regiment l LAH SS Panzergrenadier Regiments l LAH, 2 LAH SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion l LAH SS Panzer Artillery Regiment l LAH SS Assault Gun Battalion 1 LAH SS Flak Battalion l LAH SS Mortar Battalion l LAH SS Panzerjaeger Battalion l LAH SS Engineer Battalion l LAH AttachedRegimentsgruppe, 167th Infantry Division (Grenadier Regiment 315) (II Battalion, Artillery Regiment 238) (1st Company, Engineer Battalion 238) Das Reich SS Panzergrenadier Division Brigadefuehrer Willi BittrichSS Panzer Regiment 2 SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 Deutschland SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 4 Der Fuehrer SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 2 SS Panzer Artillery Regiment 2 SS Flak Battalion 2 SS Mortar Battalion 2 SS Panzerjaeger Battalion 2 SS Engineer Battalion 2 Totenkopf SS Panzergrenadier Division Brigadefuehrer Hermann PreissSS Panzer Regiment 3 Danmark SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 5 Thule SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 3 SS Panzer Artillery Regiment 3 SS Assault Gun Battery 3 SS Flak Battalion 3 SS Mortar Battalion 3 SS Panzerjaeger Battalion 3 SS Engineer Battalion 3 Korps troops Artillery Commander 122Artillery Battalions 861, HI/818 Mortar Commander 3Mortar Regiment 55 Mortar Training Regiment 1 Engineer Regimental Staff 680 (Special Purpose)Engineer Battalions (Motorized) 627, 666 Bridge Column Sector Staff (Motorized) 929 Bridge Columns 2/41,11, 21, 31, 537, 840 Commander of Construction Troops 8 Bridge Construction Battalion 26 Light Bicycle Road Construction Battalion 508 Construction Battalion 410 Bridging Supply Unit 812 Army Troops Senior Artillery Commander 312 Senior Construction Staff 14Commander of Construction Troops 35 Construction Battalions (POWs) 155, 305 Bridge Column Sector Staff 922 Bridge Columns 671, 2/413 Organization Todt Operational Staff Kretzer Organization Todt Units 71, 73 Panzer Army Signal Regiment 4 Panzer Propaganda Company 694 Military Intelligence Troops 323, 206,104 Military Police Companies 34, 37 Plus other Army and Korps medical, comms, transport, etc, etc, etc troops. At least around 17th July 1st SS-PzgrenDiv was reassigned to Italy, so like I said this was a very flexible arrangement, you have to set specific dates to pin down composition.
Za, thanks a lot for your detailed response! I was aware that the formations of a Korps vary . According to the list above, it was the three "classic" units of the W-SS which formed the core at the beginning (summer 1942), i.e. LSSAH, DR and T - as far as I'm concerned, they had been transferred from the eastern front in winter 1941 to western Europe. And half a year later, they formed the SS-Panzerkorps (stationed in France till beginning of 1943) which was sent to the eastern front in Feb. 1943. Is that correct so far? So it was the 1., 2. and 3.SS that made the SS-Pz.Gen.Kdo, no? And Wikipedia et al. wrongly states that it was the 2. and the 9.? *note* I'm talking about the Generalkdo. only, so the constituion till it became the II.SS-Pz.Korps.
