XI. SS-Armeekorps controlled Heer units in Poland and Slovakia until early 1945 when it controlled units on the Oder and later south of Berlin.

Commanders  

SS-Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp (6 Aug 1944 - 8 May 1945)

Chef des Stabes  

Oberst Leo Hepp (? Aug 1944 - ?)
SS-Standartenführer Gerhard Giese (1 Sep 1944 - ? Apr 1945)

Area of operations  

Poland & Eastern Germany (Feb 1944 - May 1945)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Knight's Cross (4, including two unofficial/unconfirmed)
- Oakleaves
-- Kleinheisterkamp, Matthias 09.05.1945 [871. EL] SS-Obergruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS, K.G. XI. SS-Korps
--- [the situation about the legality of K.'s OL is difficult and it seems this is not to clarify fully on base of the existing documentation in the BArch ; the research of author V.Scherzer (in "RKT", 1st ed. 2005) is as follows :
the Fellgiebel RKT book refers to a "Fernschreiben" by OB 9. Armee (Gen. Busse) with in-come date of 21.04.1945 at the HPA ; therein K. was proposed for the OL and according to F. the note had been added : "Dienstwegvorschlag bzgl. Sofortverleihung abwarten" [await official proposal with regard to an immediate award] ; this "Fernschreiben" is not in the BA (RH 7) ; a parallel procedure occured concerning the OL proposal for Gen. von Siegroth ; in contrast to K.'s case this one is existing (BArch RH 7/300) and is listed in the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" with in-come date 21.04. ; but apparently both detailed proposals never arrived at the HPA ; it is to estimate that the "Fernschreiben" for K. vanished and never was treated properly, because the liaison officer of the Waffen-SS with HPA/P5a took it in his hands and (tried to ?) handed it over to RF-SS for a comment ; with this approval, and sent back to Berlin, a final decision would have been prepared and with the signing of Hitler an immediate award would have been completed ; but this obviously never happened ; on base of the documents (so-called "Verteiler" for the "Fernschreiben" [the note/order, which commands are to inform about]) it is to state that Gen. Busse informed HGr. Weichsel as well as Chef HPA, General Burgdorf ; this allows the conclusion that Burgdorf indeed was informed about the proposal ; the unanswered question now is if the FHQ, respectively Hitler made that direct award or not (like reported by Krätschmer) !? ; according to Krätschmer (letter to von Seemen from 07.08.1980) the OL for K. in fact was decided and done, together with the immediate decisions on the KCs for Hartrampf, Blond, Haukelt and Reber ; and this was to be announced via radio message from FHQ in Berlin to 9. Armee (Kessel von Halbe) on 28.04.1945 ; the incoming radio messages of AOK 9 from april 45 are not existing anymore ; the wireless radio connections to the Führerbunker in Berlin were interrupted since April 28th, 05.00hours in the morning ; the answer to the above question - which couldn't be clarified otherwise until today - by V.S. is : most probably No. ; the two main arguments are : Gen. Burgdorf wouldn't have done two things by all means - firstly : to hand over a proposal to the "Führer" without having had the opportunity to rate the deed before - and this was impossible for him because he hadn't a detailed proposal on his desk and approvals by superior commands weren't at hand, too (at least by Himmler) - secondly : most probably he wouldn't have short-cut this decision (immediate award) without waiting for the proposal, which was on the way through the official channels ; OL #"871" was determined by the OdR, the award date is estimated]
- Knight's Cross
-- Baumann, Willi (Wilhelm) 27.01.1945 SS-Sturmbannführer Quartiermeister XI. SS-AK u. Führer einer Kampfgruppe
-- Blond, Friedrich („Friedel“) 28.04.1945 SS-Untersturmführer Führer 12./SS-Pz.Gren.Ausb. und Ers.Btl 1 „LSSAH“
--- [actions in Halbe pocket ; before breakout awarded by Gruppenführer Wagner , approved by Obergruppenführer Kleinheisterkamp, K.G. XI. SS-AK]
--- [no proof possible with existing BArch documents ; according to Krätschmer (letter to von Seemen from 07.08.1980) the award was made together with the OL for Kleinheisterkamp and was announced via radio message from FHQ in Berlin to 9. Armee (Kessel von Halbe) on 28.04.1945 ; the incoming radio messages of AOK 9 from april 45 are not existing anymore ; the wireless radio connections to the Führerbunker in Berlin were interrupted since April 28th, 05.00hours in the morning ; the OdR Ordenskommission decided about this case in 1981 with the result : "RK ja, 28.4.1945"]
-- Reber, Gustav-Peter 28.04.1945 SS-Obersturmführer Kdt. HQu XI. SS-Pz.Korps u. Fhr. e. Pz.Jagd.Kdos. z.b.V. des SS-FHA im Kessel von Halbe
--- [no proof possible with existing BArch documents ; according to Krätschmer (letter to von Seemen from 07.08.1980) the award was made together with the OL for Kleinheisterkamp and was announced via radio message from FHQ in Berlin to 9. Armee (Kessel von Halbe) on 28.04.1945 ; the incoming radio messages of AOK 9 from april 45 are not existing anymore ; the wireless radio connections to the Führerbunker in Berlin were interrupted since April 28th, 05.00hours in the morning ; the OdR Ordenskommission decided about this case in 1981 with the result : "RK ja, 28.4.1945"]

Order of battle - Korpstruppen

SS-Kraftfahr-Kompanie 111
SS-Transport-Kolonne 111
Feldgendarmerietrupp 111
SS-Feldlazarett 511
Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 45
SS-Korps-Pionier-Zug

Sources used

Roger James Bender & Hugh Page Taylor - Uniforms, Organization and History of the Waffen-SS, vol 2
Georges M. Croisier - Waffen-SS (PDF)
Dr. K-G Klietmann - Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation
Kurt Mehner - Die Waffen-SS und Polizei 1939-1945
Marc J. Rikmenspoel - Waffen-SS Encyclopedia
Mark C. Yerger - Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, corps and divisional leaders of a legend (2 vol)

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -