Army Group C
Encyclopedia
Army Group C was an army group
of the German Wehrmacht
during the Second World War.
on 26 August 1939. It initially commanded all troops on Germany’s western front but after the Polish campaign it was reduced to commanding the southern half of the western front
, overseeing the frontal breakthrough through the Maginot Line
during June 1940. At the end of the battle of France
it moved back to Germany then – under the title ‘’ Abschnittsstab Ostpreußen’’ – moved to East Prussia on 20 April 1941. On 21 June 1941 it was renamed Army Group North
.
It was re-animated on 26 November 1943 by splitting back off from the staff of Oberbefehlshabers Süd (Luftwaffe
) and put in command of the southwestern front and the Italian Campaign
. On 2 May 1945 Army Group C surrendered.
Army group
An army group is a military organization consisting of several field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area...
of the German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
during the Second World War.
Career
Army Group C was set up from Heeresgruppenkommando 2 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
on 26 August 1939. It initially commanded all troops on Germany’s western front but after the Polish campaign it was reduced to commanding the southern half of the western front
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, overseeing the frontal breakthrough through the Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
during June 1940. At the end of the battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
it moved back to Germany then – under the title ‘’ Abschnittsstab Ostpreußen’’ – moved to East Prussia on 20 April 1941. On 21 June 1941 it was renamed Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
.
It was re-animated on 26 November 1943 by splitting back off from the staff of Oberbefehlshabers Süd (Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
) and put in command of the southwestern front and the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. On 2 May 1945 Army Group C surrendered.
Commanders
- 26 August 1939 Generaloberst / Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von LeebWilhelm Ritter von LeebWilhelm Josef Franz Ritter von Leeb was a German Field Marshal during World War II. - Youth :...
- 21 November 1943 Generalfeldmarschall Albert KesselringAlbert KesselringAlbert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
- 10 March 1945 Generaloberst Heinrich Gottfried von VietinghoffHeinrich von VietinghoffHeinrich Gottfried Otto Richard von Vietinghoff genannt Scheel was a German Colonel-General of the German Army during the Second World War....
(already representing it 26 October 1944 - 15 January 1945) - 30 April 1945 General der Infanterie Friedrich SchulzFriedrich SchulzKarl Friedrich "Fritz" Wilhelm Schulz was a German general of infantry, serving during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- 1 May 1945 General der Panzertruppe Hans RöttigerHans RöttigerGeneral Hans Röttiger was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II and the first Inspector of the Bundeswehr....