The LXXXV Army Corps () was an army corps of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The corps existed between 1944 and 1945 and had been preceded by a formation known as Group Knieß (), with its command designated General Command Knieß () between 1943 and 1944.
History Group Knieß, also known as General Command Knieß, was formed in October 1943 in southern France. The formations was named after its initial commander, Baptist Knieß. Under the supervision of the 19th Army, Group Knieß remained on defensive duty in France until the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.
On 10 July 1944, Corps Kniess was upgraded to become the LXXXV Army Corps. The LXXXV Army Corps remained under the supervision of the 19th Army until December 1944, when the corps was transferred to the 7th Army in the Ardennes. After a stay in the Saar Palatinate region between February and March 1945 under the 1st Army, the LXXXV was transferred back to the 7th Army in Hesse and Thuringia in April. At the end of the war, the LXXXV Army Corps was commanded by Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz, who had held that post since 26 March 1945.
Structure +Organizational structure of Group Knieß and the LXXXV (85th) Army CorpsNameYearDateCommanderSubordinate unitsArmyArmy GroupOperational areaGruppe Knieß19434 OctoberBaptist KnießFH, 715th Infantry19th ArmyArmy Group DSouthern France8 November242nd Infantry, 715th Infantry3 December148th Infantry, 242nd Infantry19441 January148th Infantry, 242nd Infantry, 244th Infantry12 February11 March8 April244th Infantry, 338th Infantry17 MayArmy Group G12 JuneLXXXV Army Corps17 JulyAlthough LXXXV Army Corps was formed on 10 July 1944, the papers of 7th Army still (likely erroneously) contain Group Knieß for their entry on 17 July 1944.Belfort31 August198th Infantry, 338th Infantry16 September11th Panzer13 October159th Infantry, 189th Infantry, Panzerbrigade 1065 November159th Infantry, 189th Infantry, 338th Infantry26 NovemberFriedrich-August SchackNone7th ArmyArmy Group BArdennes31 DecemberBaptist Knieß79th Infantry, 352nd Infantry Division194519 February347th Infantry, 719th Infantry1st ArmyArmy Group GSaarpfalz1 March347th Infantry, 559th Infantry, 719th Infantry12 AprilSmilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz11th Panzer, Kampfgruppe Schroeder7th ArmyHesse / Thuringia
Noteworthy individuals
Baptist Knieß, corps commander of Corps Knieß and the LXXXV Army Corps (October 1943 – 10 July 1944, 10 July 1944 – 15 November 1944, 16 December 1944 – 26 March 1945). Friedrich-August Schack, corps commander of the LXXXV Army Corps (15 November 1944 – 16 December 1944). Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz, corps commander of the LXXXV Army Corps (26 March 1945 – 8 May 1945).
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