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Army Group North

January 21, 2023

Army Group North (German: Heeresgruppe Nord) was a German strategic formation, commanding a grouping of field armies during World War II. The German Army Group was subordinated to the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the German army high command, and coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics, including the Army Group North Rear Area.

Army Group North
Heeresgruppe Nord
Active
  • 2 September 1939 – 10 October 1939
  • 20 June 1941 – 25 January 1945
Country Nazi Germany
Commanders
Notable
commanders

Operational history

The Army Group North was created on the 2 September 1939 by reorganization of the 2nd Army Headquarters. Commander in Chief as of 27 August 1939 was Field Marshal Fedor von Bock.

Invasion of Poland

The first employment of Army Group North was in the invasion of Poland of 1939, where in September it controlled:

The Army Group was commanded by Fedor von Bock for the operation.

After the end of the campaign, it was transferred to the Western Theatre and on the 10 October 1939 was renamed as the Army Group B, and consisted of:

Invasion of the Soviet Union

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, Army Group North was reformed from Army Group C on 22 June 1941. Army Group North was commanded by Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb[1] and staged in East Prussia. Its strategic goal was Leningrad, with operational objectives being the territories of the Baltic republics and securing the northern flank of Army Group Centre in Northern Russia between Western Dvina River and Daugavpils-Kholm Army Group boundary. On commencement of the Wehrmacht's Baltic offensive operation the army group deployed into Lithuania and northern Belorussia. It served mainly in Baltic territories and north Russia until 1944. Commander in Chief 22 June 1941: Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb.

Its subordinate armies were deployed with the following immediate objectives:

  • 18th Army - from Koenigsberg to Ventspils - Jelgava
  • 4th Panzer Group - Pskov
  • 16th Army - Kaunas, Daugavpils
  • Army Group troops
    • Army-Group signals regiment 537
    • Army-Group signals regiment 639 (2nd echelon)

The Baltic offensive operation

All operational objectives such as Tallinn were achieved despite stubborn Red Army resistance and several unsuccessful counter-offensives such as the Battle of Raseiniai, and the army group approached Leningrad, commencing the Siege of Leningrad. However, while the Baltic states were overrun, the Siege of Leningrad continued until 1944, when it was lifted as a result of the Red Army Leningrad-Novgorod strategic offensive operation.

In September 1941, the Spanish Blue Division was assigned to Army Group North.

Northern Russia offensive operation

Composition:
October 1941

  • 16th Army
  • 18th Army

Nevsky Pyatachok
Operation Nordlicht

Northern Russia defensive campaign

Commander in Chief 17 January 1942: GFM Georg von Küchler

Composition:
September 1942

  • 11th Army
  • 16th Army
  • 18th Army

December 1942

  • 16th Army
  • 18th Army

Demyansk Pocket
Kholm Pocket
Soviet Toropets-Kholm Operation
Battle of Velikiye Luki
Battle of Krasny Bor

Baltic defensive campaign

Commander in Chief 9 January 1944: Field marshal Walter Model
Commander in Chief 31 March 1944: Generaloberst Georg Lindemann
Commander in Chief 4 July 1944: Generaloberst Johannes Frießner
Commander in Chief 23 July 1944: GFM Ferdinand Schörner

March 1944

Battle of Narva, consisting of:

  1. Battle for Narva Bridgehead and
  2. Battle of Tannenberg Line

Combat in South Estonia, 1944
Soviet Baltic Offensive
Battle of Porkuni
Battle of Vilnius (1944)
Battle of Memel

After becoming trapped in the Courland Cauldron after 25 January 1945, the Army Group was renamed Army Group Courland. On the same day, in East Prussia, a new Army Group North was created by renaming Army Group Center. On the 2 April 1945, the army group was dissolved, and the staff formed the 12th Army headquarters.

Campaign in East Prussia

Army Group North (old Army Group Centre), was driven into an ever smaller pocket around Königsberg in East Prussia. On April 9, 1945 Königsberg finally fell to the Red Army, although remnants of Army Group units continued to resist on the Heiligenbeil & Danzig beachheads until the end of the war in Europe.

October 1944

November 1944

  • 16th Army
  • Armee-Abteilung Kleffel
  • 18 Armee

December 1944

  • 16th Army
  • 18th Army

Soviet East Prussian Offensive
Battle of Königsberg
Heiligenbeil pocket

Campaign in West Prussia

Commander in Chief 27 January 1945: Generaloberst Dr. Lothar Rendulic
Commander in Chief 12 March 1945: Walter Weiß
Composition:
February 1945

Soviet East Pomeranian Offensive
Battle of Kolberg
Courland Pocket
On the 25 January 1945 Hitler renamed three army groups. Army Group North became Army Group Courland, more appropriate as it had been isolated from Army Group Centre and was trapped in Courland, Latvia; Army Group Centre became Army Group North and Army Group A became Army Group Centre.

Commanders

No. Portrait Commander Took office Left office Time in office
1
 
Bock, FedorGeneralfeldmarschall
Fedor von Bock
(1880–1945)		27 August 193920 June 19411 year, 297 days
2
 
Leeb, WilhelmGeneralfeldmarschall
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb
(1876–1956)		20 June 194117 January 1942211 days
3
 
Küchler, GeorgGeneralfeldmarschall
Georg von Küchler
(1881–1968)		17 January 19429 January 19441 year, 357 days
4
 
Model, WalterGeneralfeldmarschall
Walter Model
(1891–1945)		9 January 194431 March 194482 days
5
 
Lindemann, GeorgGeneraloberst
Georg Lindemann
(1884–1963)		31 March 19444 July 194495 days
6
 
Frießner, JohannesGeneraloberst
Johannes Frießner
(1892–1971)		4 July 194423 July 194419 days
7
 
Schörner, FerdinandGeneralfeldmarschall
Ferdinand Schörner
(1892–1973)		23 July 194427 January 1945188 days
8
 
Rendulic, LotharGeneraloberst
Lothar Rendulic
(1887–1971)		27 January 194512 March 194544 days
9
 
Weiß, WalterGeneraloberst
Walter Weiß
(1890–1967)		12 March 19452 April 194521 days

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Kirchubel, Robert (2012). Operation Barbarossa 1941 (2): Army Group North. Osprey. p. 18. ISBN 9781782004264.

Bibliography

January 21, 2023
army, group, north, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, septemb. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Army Group North news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Army Group North German Heeresgruppe Nord was a German strategic formation commanding a grouping of field armies during World War II The German Army Group was subordinated to the Oberkommando des Heeres OKH the German army high command and coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps reserve formations rear services and logistics including the Army Group North Rear Area Army Group NorthHeeresgruppe NordActive2 September 1939 10 October 1939 20 June 1941 25 January 1945Country Nazi GermanyCommandersNotablecommandersFedor von Bock Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb Georg von Kuchler Walter Model Georg Lindemann Johannes Friessner Ferdinand Schorner Lothar Rendulic Walter Weiss Contents 1 Operational history 1 1 Invasion of Poland 1 2 Invasion of the Soviet Union 1 2 1 The Baltic offensive operation 1 2 2 Northern Russia offensive operation 1 3 Northern Russia defensive campaign 1 4 Baltic defensive campaign 1 5 Campaign in East Prussia 1 6 Campaign in West Prussia 2 Commanders 3 See also 4 Notes and references 5 BibliographyOperational history EditThe Army Group North was created on the 2 September 1939 by reorganization of the 2nd Army Headquarters Commander in Chief as of 27 August 1939 was Field Marshal Fedor von Bock Invasion of Poland Edit The first employment of Army Group North was in the invasion of Poland of 1939 where in September it controlled 3rd Army 4th Army a reserve of four divisions 10th Panzer Division 73rd Infantry Division 206th Infantry Division 208th Infantry Division The Army Group was commanded by Fedor von Bock for the operation After the end of the campaign it was transferred to the Western Theatre and on the 10 October 1939 was renamed as the Army Group B and consisted of 6th Army 4th ArmyInvasion of the Soviet Union Edit In preparation for Operation Barbarossa Army Group North was reformed from Army Group C on 22 June 1941 Army Group North was commanded by Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb 1 and staged in East Prussia Its strategic goal was Leningrad with operational objectives being the territories of the Baltic republics and securing the northern flank of Army Group Centre in Northern Russia between Western Dvina River and Daugavpils Kholm Army Group boundary On commencement of the Wehrmacht s Baltic offensive operation the army group deployed into Lithuania and northern Belorussia It served mainly in Baltic territories and north Russia until 1944 Commander in Chief 22 June 1941 Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb Its subordinate armies were deployed with the following immediate objectives 18th Army from Koenigsberg to Ventspils Jelgava 4th Panzer Group Pskov 16th Army Kaunas Daugavpils Army Group troops Army Group signals regiment 537 Army Group signals regiment 639 2nd echelon The Baltic offensive operation Edit All operational objectives such as Tallinn were achieved despite stubborn Red Army resistance and several unsuccessful counter offensives such as the Battle of Raseiniai and the army group approached Leningrad commencing the Siege of Leningrad However while the Baltic states were overrun the Siege of Leningrad continued until 1944 when it was lifted as a result of the Red Army Leningrad Novgorod strategic offensive operation In September 1941 the Spanish Blue Division was assigned to Army Group North Northern Russia offensive operation Edit Composition October 1941 16th Army 18th ArmyNevsky PyatachokOperation Nordlicht Northern Russia defensive campaign Edit Commander in Chief 17 January 1942 GFM Georg von KuchlerComposition September 1942 11th Army 16th Army 18th ArmyDecember 1942 16th Army 18th ArmyDemyansk PocketKholm Pocket Soviet Toropets Kholm OperationBattle of Velikiye LukiBattle of Krasny Bor Baltic defensive campaign Edit Commander in Chief 9 January 1944 Field marshal Walter Model Commander in Chief 31 March 1944 Generaloberst Georg Lindemann Commander in Chief 4 July 1944 Generaloberst Johannes Friessner Commander in Chief 23 July 1944 GFM Ferdinand SchornerMarch 1944 Army detachment Narwa 16th Army 18th ArmyBattle of Narva consisting of Battle for Narva Bridgehead and Battle of Tannenberg LineCombat in South Estonia 1944 Soviet Baltic OffensiveBattle of PorkuniBattle of Vilnius 1944 Battle of MemelAfter becoming trapped in the Courland Cauldron after 25 January 1945 the Army Group was renamed Army Group Courland On the same day in East Prussia a new Army Group North was created by renaming Army Group Center On the 2 April 1945 the army group was dissolved and the staff formed the 12th Army headquarters Campaign in East Prussia Edit Army Group North old Army Group Centre was driven into an ever smaller pocket around Konigsberg in East Prussia On April 9 1945 Konigsberg finally fell to the Red Army although remnants of Army Group units continued to resist on the Heiligenbeil amp Danzig beachheads until the end of the war in Europe October 1944 16th Army Armee Abteilung Grasser 18th ArmyNovember 1944 16th Army Armee Abteilung Kleffel 18 ArmeeDecember 1944 16th Army 18th ArmySoviet East Prussian OffensiveBattle of KonigsbergHeiligenbeil pocket Campaign in West Prussia Edit Commander in Chief 27 January 1945 Generaloberst Dr Lothar Rendulic Commander in Chief 12 March 1945 Walter Weiss Composition February 1945 Armee Abteilung Samland 4th ArmySoviet East Pomeranian OffensiveBattle of KolbergCourland Pocket On the 25 January 1945 Hitler renamed three army groups Army Group North became Army Group Courland more appropriate as it had been isolated from Army Group Centre and was trapped in Courland Latvia Army Group Centre became Army Group North and Army Group A became Army Group Centre Commanders EditNo Portrait Commander Took office Left office Time in office1 Bock Fedor GeneralfeldmarschallFedor von Bock 1880 1945 27 August 193920 June 19411 year 297 days2 Leeb Wilhelm GeneralfeldmarschallWilhelm Ritter von Leeb 1876 1956 20 June 194117 January 1942211 days3 Kuchler Georg GeneralfeldmarschallGeorg von Kuchler 1881 1968 17 January 19429 January 19441 year 357 days4 Model Walter GeneralfeldmarschallWalter Model 1891 1945 9 January 194431 March 194482 days5 Lindemann Georg GeneraloberstGeorg Lindemann 1884 1963 31 March 19444 July 194495 days6 Friessner Johannes GeneraloberstJohannes Friessner 1892 1971 4 July 194423 July 194419 days7 Schorner Ferdinand GeneralfeldmarschallFerdinand Schorner 1892 1973 23 July 194427 January 1945188 days8 Rendulic Lothar GeneraloberstLothar Rendulic 1887 1971 27 January 194512 March 194544 days9 Weiss Walter GeneraloberstWalter Weiss 1890 1967 12 March 19452 April 194521 daysSee also EditArmy Group South Army Group Centre German order of battle for Operation Fall Weiss Police Regiment NorthNotes and references Edit Kirchubel Robert 2012 Operation Barbarossa 1941 2 Army Group North Osprey p 18 ISBN 9781782004264 Bibliography EditFrieser Karl Heinz Schmider Klaus Schonherr Klaus Schreiber Gerhard Ungvary Kristian Wegner Bernd 2007 Die Ostfront 1943 44 Der Krieg im Osten und an den Nebenfronten The Eastern Front 1943 1944 The War in the East and on the Neighbouring Fronts Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg Germany and the Second World War in German Vol VIII Munchen Deutsche Verlags Anstalt ISBN 978 3 421 06235 2 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Army Group North amp oldid 1119478093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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