Third Panzer Army (Germany)
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The German Third Panzer Army (German: 3.Panzer-Armee) was a German panzer army that saw action during World War II.
The Third Panzer Army was a constituent of Army Group Centre and fought in the Battle of Moscow in late 1941 and early 1942. During the Soviet counter-offensive, the Third fought its way out of an encirclement, and later fought at Tekino, the Duna, and Vitebsk. The Third later retreated through Lithuania and Courland, fighting in the Battle of Memel in late 1944.
In February 1945 the Third was one of the armies that made up the new Army Group Vistula. On March 10, 1945, General Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel was made the commander of the Third, which was assigned to defend the banks of Oder River, north of the Seelow Heights, thus preventing the Soviets access to Western Pomerania and Berlin. The Third then faced an overwhelming attack launched by General Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front during the Battle of Berlin. On April 25 the 2nd Belorussian Front broke through Third's line around the bridgehead south of Stettin and crossed the Rando Swamp. Manteuffel was forced to retreat to Mecklenburg where he successfully surrendered his troops to the western Allies on May 3, 1945, thus escaping capture by the Soviets.
[edit] Commanders
- Generaloberst Georg-Hans Reinhardt (5 October 1941 - 15 August 1944)
- Generaloberst Erhard Raus (15 August 1944 - 9 March 1945)
- General Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel (9 March 1945 - 8 May 1945)
[edit] See also
military units
- List of German military units of World War II
- Army Group Vistula
- Panzer Corps Feldherrnhalle
- German 1st Infantry Division
Campaigns
Biographies
[edit] References
- Wendel, Marcus. Axis history 3. Panzer-Armee
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