III.(germanisches) ϟϟ-Panzerkorps and other Foreign SS Formations

Waffen-SS Commander Felix Steiner

European SS Volunteers with 7,5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40

After the encirclement was broken at the front near Leningrad, the 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland, along with the rest of III (Germanic) SS-Panzerkorps, fought it's way back to the city of Narva in Estonia where a new line of defence was being organised. The SS corps was subordinated to the German 18th Army under Generaloberst Georg Lindemann. The former Wiking commander SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner's SS-Panzerkorps, principally made up of Scandinavians and Dutch, comprising the Nordland and the 4.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Brigade Nederland, played a leading role during the Battle of Narva and the Battle of Tannenberg Line. Operating within the same sector (Sinimäe/Blue Hills) were the 15. and 19.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS, both Latvian volunteer divisions, the Estonian 20.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS, the Flemish volunteers of 6.SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade Langemark and SS-Standartenführer Leon Degrelle's Walloons in the 5.SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade Wallonien. Left image: a formal studio portrait of Felix Steiner, commanding general of III. (germanisches) SS-Panzerkorps, and holder of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. Photo probably taken during the award of the Swords on August 10 1944. The Heinrich Hoffmann Photo Archive. Fair use. Right image: Waffen-SS volunteers with 75mm Pak-40 anti-tank gun. Credit: Karl Mensburg. c. Bundesarchiv.