The XIV Panzer Corps was originally formed as the XIV Motorised Corps in Magdeburg in 1938 to take command of units in the process of motorization, where it was placed under the leadership of Gustav von Wietersheim. The corps participated in the Polish Campaign in 1939 where it fought in the Battle of Kock. The Corps later saw action in the Battle of France in 1940, as part of armoured group Kleist, where the 2nd Motorised Division, 13th motorised Division and the 29th Motorised Division served under it. It was renamed the XIV Panzer Corps and was placed in the reserve in Romania during the Invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941.