19th Army (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 19th Army was a World War II
field army
of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer).
from Armeegruppe Felber (the LXXXIII. Armeekorps), the 19th Army defended southern France, the Vosges Mountains
, Alsace
, Baden
and southern Württemberg
during the Allied invasion of southern France
and other large Allied military operations that had as their goal the liberation of southern France and the invasion of southern Germany. The 19th Army was largely destroyed during the battle for the Colmar Pocket
in January and February 1945. Rebuilt largely from Volkssturm
and hastily trained replacement troops in early 1945, the 19th Army proved unable to parry the thrusts of its constant foe, the French First Army
. Split by deep French armored thrusts into Baden, the Black Forest
, and Württemberg, the 19th Army was destroyed in the area of Stuttgart
and Münsingen
in late April 1945, with remnants of the army surrendering as late as 8 May 1945. Formal surrender was accepted by Maj. General Edward H. Brooks
, Commander of the U.S. Army's VI Corps.
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....
of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer).
History
Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from Armeegruppe Felber (the LXXXIII. Armeekorps), the 19th Army defended southern France, the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
and southern Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
during the Allied invasion of southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
and other large Allied military operations that had as their goal the liberation of southern France and the invasion of southern Germany. The 19th Army was largely destroyed during the battle for the Colmar Pocket
Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket ; in Alsace, France, was the site of an operation during the Second World War, between 20 January and 9 February 1945, where the French First Army and the U.S...
in January and February 1945. Rebuilt largely from Volkssturm
Volkssturm
The Volkssturm was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was founded on Adolf Hitler's orders on October 18, 1944 and conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard.-Origins and...
and hastily trained replacement troops in early 1945, the 19th Army proved unable to parry the thrusts of its constant foe, the French First Army
French First Army
The First Army was a field army of France that fought during World War I and World War II. It was also active during the Cold War.-First World War:...
. Split by deep French armored thrusts into Baden, the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
, and Württemberg, the 19th Army was destroyed in the area of Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
and Münsingen
Münsingen, Germany
Münsingen is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 23 km southeast of Reutlingen, and 37 km west of Ulm.-History:...
in late April 1945, with remnants of the army surrendering as late as 8 May 1945. Formal surrender was accepted by Maj. General Edward H. Brooks
Edward H. Brooks
Edward Hale Brooks was a decorated officer in the United States Army and a veteran of World War I, World War II and the Korean War...
, Commander of the U.S. Army's VI Corps.
Commanders
- Aug 1943 - Jun 1944 General der Infanterie Georg von SodensternGeorg von SodensternGeorg von Sodenstern was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 19. Armee. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
- Jun 1944 - Dec 1944 General der Infanterie Friedrich WieseFriedrich WieseFriedrich Wiese was a German general who commanded the 19. Armee during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
- Dec 1944 - Feb 1945 General der Infanterie Siegfried RaspSiegfried RaspSiegfried Rasp was a German general of infantry, serving during World War II. Born in Munich, Rasp became an officer aspirant on September 6, 1915 and earned his commission as a Leutnant on June 24, 1916 in the 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment.He was promoted to Oberst in July 1941, Generalmajor in...
- Feb 1945 - Feb 1945 General der Infanterie Hermann FoertschHermann FoertschHermann Foertsch was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held commands at the divisional, corps and army levels. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme...
- Feb 1945 - Mar 1945 General der Infanterie Hans von ObstfelderHans von ObstfelderHans von Obstfelder was a German general of infantry, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- Mar 1945 - Apr 1945 General der Panzertruppe Erich BrandenbergerErich BrandenbergerAdolf Robert Erich Brandenberger was a German General der Panzertruppe. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves....
15 August 1944
- IV. Luftwaffenkorps
- 716. Infanterie-Division
- 198. Infanterie-Division
- 189. Infanterie-Division
- LXXXV. Armeekorps
- 338. Infanterie-Division
- 244. Infanterie-Division
- LXII. Reservekorps
- 242. Infanterie-Division
- 148. Infanterie-Division
19 February 1945
- Direct control of Army HQ
- 16. Volksgrenadier-Division
- XVIII. SS Korps
- 159. Infanterie-Division
- Brigade 1005
- Division Nr 805
- LXIV. ArmeekorpsLXIV Corps (Germany)The LXIV Corps was a corps-level command of the German Army on the Western Front during World War II.Created on September 24, 1942, in Military Region VIII as the LXIV Reserve Corps with the mission of supervising reserve divisions assigned to OB West, the German high command in the west...
- Division Nr 405
- 198. Infanterie-Division
Further reading
- Tessin, Georg (1976). "Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945" (Volume IV), Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück. ISBN 3-7648-1083-1.