During the Belgian Campaign of 1940, it initially held defences at Liège but was forced to retreat by the German XVI Panzer Corps.

German planners had recognised the need to eliminate Fort Ében-Émael if their army was to break into the interior of Belgium.

It decided to deploy airborne forces (Fallschirmjäger) to land inside the fortress perimeter using gliders.

The corps headquarters was initially established at Yser Caserne, Lüdenscheid, on 15 October 1946.

Corps headquarters moved to Haelen Caserne, Junkersdorf, Lindenthal, Cologne, in 1948.