German Fifteenth Army
Encyclopedia
The 15th Army was a World War II
field army
.
The 15th Army was activated on January 15, 1941 with General Curt Haase
in command. First seeing service in France, the army was involved in the protection of the Channel coast from a possible Allied invasion. It defended against Allied forces with success during Operation Market Garden
, but suffered defeat against the Canadian First Army in the Battle of the Scheldt
and against the British 2nd Army during Operation Blackcock
. It was involved in the Battle of the Bulge
before finally surrendering along the Ruhr river in 1945.
Today, the HQ of the 15th Army is a museum in Tourcoing, (France, side Lille, in the north) musée du 5 juin 1944
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
field army
Field army
A Field Army, or Area Army, usually referred to simply as an Army, is a term used by many national military forces for a military formation superior to a corps and beneath an army group....
.
The 15th Army was activated on January 15, 1941 with General Curt Haase
Curt Haase
Curt Haase served in World War I and was a Colonel General in the German Wehrmacht during World War II.- Early Career :...
in command. First seeing service in France, the army was involved in the protection of the Channel coast from a possible Allied invasion. It defended against Allied forces with success during Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, but suffered defeat against the Canadian First Army in the Battle of the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
and against the British 2nd Army during Operation Blackcock
Operation Blackcock
Operation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond, Sittard and Heinsberg. It was conducted by the 2nd British Army in January 1945 between 14 and 26 January 1945. The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur and...
. It was involved in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
before finally surrendering along the Ruhr river in 1945.
Today, the HQ of the 15th Army is a museum in Tourcoing, (France, side Lille, in the north) musée du 5 juin 1944
Commanders
- General Curt HaaseCurt HaaseCurt Haase served in World War I and was a Colonel General in the German Wehrmacht during World War II.- Early Career :...
(January 15, 1941 - November 30, 1941) - General Heinrich 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....
genannt Scheel (December 1, 1941 - August 7, 1943) - General Hans von SalmuthHans von SalmuthHans Eberhard Kurt von Salmuth was a German general during World War II. A lifelong professional soldier, he served his country as a junior officer in World War I, a staff officer in the inter-war period and early World War II, and an army level commander...
(August 8, 1943 - August 24, 1944) - General Gustav-Adolf von ZangenGustav-Adolf von ZangenGustav-Adolf von Zangen was a German general and the commander of the German 15th Army in the Netherlands in 1944 during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(August 25, 1944 - April 18, 1945)