German Fourteenth Army
Encyclopedia
The 14th Army was a World War II
field army
.
The 14th Army was activated on August 1, 1939 with General Wilhelm List in command and saw service in Poland until the end of the campaign in Poland October 13, 1939. The army was reactivated for the defence of Italy
in 1943 when its headquarters was created using the headquarters personnel of Army Group B which had been abolished when Albert Kesselring
was given command of all Axis troops in Italy. Fourteenth Army was initially responsible for the defense of Rome and dealing with any amphibious landings the Allies might make to the rear of Tenth Army which was fighting on the defensive lines south of Rome.
The Fourteenth Army faced the Allied amphibious landings at Anzio
in January 1944 and after the Allied breakthrough in May 1944 took part in the fighting retreat to the Gothic Line
. The German armies in Italy surrendered on 2 May 1945 after being defeated during the Allies Spring offensive
.
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 14th Army was activated on August 1, 1939 with General Wilhelm List in command and saw service in Poland until the end of the campaign in Poland October 13, 1939. The army was reactivated for the defence of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1943 when its headquarters was created using the headquarters personnel of Army Group B which had been abolished when Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring
Albert 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...
was given command of all Axis troops in Italy. Fourteenth Army was initially responsible for the defense of Rome and dealing with any amphibious landings the Allies might make to the rear of Tenth Army which was fighting on the defensive lines south of Rome.
The Fourteenth Army faced the Allied amphibious landings at Anzio
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
in January 1944 and after the Allied breakthrough in May 1944 took part in the fighting retreat to the Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
. The German armies in Italy surrendered on 2 May 1945 after being defeated during the Allies Spring offensive
Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
The Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, codenamed Operation Grapeshot, was the Allied attack by Fifth United States Army and British 8th Army into the Lombardy Plain which started on 6 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of German forces in Italy....
.
Commanders
- General Wilhelm List (August 1, 1939 - October 13, 1939)
- General Eberhard von MackensenEberhard von MackensenFriedrich August Eberhard von Mackensen was a German general who served in World War II, and one of 882 German recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(November 5, 1943 - June 4, 1944) - General Joachim LemelsenJoachim LemelsenJoachim Hermann August Lemelsen was a German general during the Second World War. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(June 5, 1944 - May 2, 1945)