Surrender of LIII. Armeekorps

This footage documents the mass surrender of the German LIII. Armeekorps - commanded by Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein - to the 7th Armored Division near Menden, Germany on April 16, 1945. Over 20,000 Germans from at least four division surrendered at once. This footage shows elements of the divisions listed in the excerpt below, including the famous 116. Panzer-Division "Windhund".

From the 7th Armored Division AAR for April 16, 1945: The size of this mass surrender can be better appreciated by looking at the total figures of prisoners taken. For the period 152400 to 162400, the Seventh processed 20,303 German prisoners of war. Known units that surrendered intact to the division are: 116. Panzer-Division, 180. Infanterie-Division, 190. Infanterie-Division, and remnants of the 9. Panzer-Division. A number of other Flak, Pionier, Artillerie, TD, replacement training, and service formations located in the Corps area turned themselves in. There were four General officers, all with field commands:
1. Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein (Kommandierender General LIII. Armeekorps,
2. Generalleutnant Ernst Hammer (Kommandeur 190. Infanterie-Division),
3. Generalmajor Bernhard Klosterkemper (Kommandeur 180. Infanterie-Division),
4. Generalmajor Siegfried von Waldenburg (Kommandeur 116. Panzer-Division).

In addition, the Commander of the remains of the 9. Panzer-Division, Oberst Helmut Zollenkopf, was included in the take, also Oberstleutnant i.G. Heinz Günther Guderian (Ia 116. Panzer-Division). A brief recapitulation of prisoners of war taken by the division to date follows:

- Prisoners taken prior to crossing of Rhine river: 9,085
- Taken between Rhine river and Eder See Dam: 13,071
- Taken from the Ruhr Pocket: 34,476
- Military personnel in overrun hospitals (not evacuated): 1,313
- Grand total to date (16 April 1945): 60,945

In the above clip, the following Ritterkreuzträger are shown:
1. Siegfried von Waldenburg (00:01 - 01:07 - 01:50)
2. Heinz Günther Guderian (00:42 - 01:25)
3. Bernhard Klosterkemper (01:40)
4. Ernst Hammer (01:50 - 02:57)
5. Fritz Bayerlein (02:04 - 02:56)

Source :
NARA Archive, 111-ADC-3341
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRTFYsbUf7o