U.S. 12th Army Group
Encyclopedia
The Twelfth United States Army Group
was the largest and most powerful United States Army
formation ever to take to the field. It controlled the majority of American forces on the Western Front
in 1944 and 1945. It was commanded by General Omar Bradley
with its headquarters established in London on 14 July 1944.
The units that formed Twelfth Army Group occupied the right flank of the Allied lines during the Battle of Normandy
, though until July when they were sufficiently built up they were controlled by 21st Army Group under General Montgomery
.
After the breakout from the beach-head at Normandy, the Twelfth Army Group occupied the center of the Western Front. To the north was the British-led 21st Army Group and, to the south, after their breakout from the Mediterranean coast, was the Sixth United States Army Group. As the Twelfth advanced through Germany in 1945, it controlled four field armies: First United States Army, Third United States Army, Ninth United States Army and Fifteenth United States Army. By V-E Day, the Twelfth Army Group was a force that numbered over 1.3 million men.
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...
was the largest and most powerful United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
formation ever to take to the field. It controlled the majority of American forces on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
in 1944 and 1945. It was commanded by General Omar Bradley
Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
with its headquarters established in London on 14 July 1944.
The units that formed Twelfth Army Group occupied the right flank of the Allied lines during the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, though until July when they were sufficiently built up they were controlled by 21st Army Group under General Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
.
After the breakout from the beach-head at Normandy, the Twelfth Army Group occupied the center of the Western Front. To the north was the British-led 21st Army Group and, to the south, after their breakout from the Mediterranean coast, was the Sixth United States Army Group. As the Twelfth advanced through Germany in 1945, it controlled four field armies: First United States Army, Third United States Army, Ninth United States Army and Fifteenth United States Army. By V-E Day, the Twelfth Army Group was a force that numbered over 1.3 million men.