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9th Army was organised as follows:
CI Corps
LVI Panzer Corps
XI SS Panzer Corps
V SS Mountain Corps
Whilst this sounds like an impressive formation, most of the units were undermanned without proper weapons, little fuel and low morale (Hans von Lucks biography tells of a near mutinous atmosphere following the attack by the Soviets)
As the Russians attacked CI Corps was pushed to the North, LVI Corps retreated along Reichstrasse 1 falling back towards Berlin. The remaining formations would get pushed southwards and would make up some of the main formations trapped in the Halbe Pocket.
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"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."
- General Heinz Guderian |