U.S. 6th Army Group
Encyclopedia
The Sixth United States Army Group was an Army Group
of the Allies
during World War II
, and as contained armies from both the United States Army
and the French Army
it is also referred to as the Southern Group of Armies.
, France (specifically activated on 1 August 1944) to consolidate the combined French
and American forces that were planning to invade southern France in Operation Dragoon
. The Army Group was commanded by Lieutenant General
Jacob L. Devers
. It consisted of the French First Army
(before 25 September 1944 it was called French Army B) commanded by Général
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
and the US Seventh Army commanded by Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch
.
The 6th Army Group remained subordinate to AFHQ in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
under Henry Maitland Wilson during the invasion and in the weeks immediately afterwards. At about the time the 6th Army Group met the Twelfth United States Army Group, which had broken out of the Normandy bridgehead
, near Dijon
, France, in mid-September, the 6th Army Group was assigned to the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower
, the SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces).
Its area of operation extended from the southern coast of France, progressing up the Rhone Valley where, at Montelimar
, a hastily put together American armored command Task Force Butler and elements of the 36th Infantry Division over several days of hard fighting came close to cutting off the retreat of the entire German 19th Army
. The Army Group later advanced along the Swiss Border, then through Bavaria
, and eventually into western Austria
. The 63rd Infantry Division was the first Seventh Army unit to cross the Siegfried Line
, and the first to get an entire division through it. The 3rd Infantry Division suffered the highest casualty count of all US divisions with over 27,000 casualties. In the Brenner Pass
, the 6th Army Group linked up with the 5th US Army coming up from Italy
on 5 May 1945.
After the end of the war, part of the 6th Army Group, the U.S. Seventh Army, remained as an occupation and defensive force in southern Germany for many decades. It also occupied part of Austria until that country was released from occupation in the mid 1950s.
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...
of the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
during World War II
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...
, and as contained armies from both the 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...
and the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
it is also referred to as the Southern Group of Armies.
History
The Sixth Army Group was created in CorsicaCorsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, France (specifically activated on 1 August 1944) to consolidate the combined French
Military of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
and American forces that were planning to invade southern France in Operation Dragoon
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...
. The Army Group was commanded by Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Jacob L. Devers
Jacob L. Devers
General Jacob "Jake" Loucks Devers , commander of the 6th Army Group in Europe during World War II. He was the first United States military officer to reach the Rhine after D-Day.-Biography:...
. It consisted of 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:...
(before 25 September 1944 it was called French Army B) commanded by Général
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, GCB, MC was a French military hero of World War II and commander in the First Indochina War.-Early life:...
and the US Seventh Army commanded by Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch
Alexander Patch
General Alexander McCarrell "Sandy" Patch was an officer in the United States Army, best known for his service in World War II. He commanded Army and Marine forces during the invasion of Guadalcanal, and the U.S...
.
The 6th Army Group remained subordinate to AFHQ in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
under Henry Maitland Wilson during the invasion and in the weeks immediately afterwards. At about the time the 6th Army Group met the Twelfth United States Army Group, which had broken out of the Normandy bridgehead
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...
, near Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France, in mid-September, the 6th Army Group was assigned to the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, the SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces).
Its area of operation extended from the southern coast of France, progressing up the Rhone Valley where, at Montelimar
Montélimar
Montélimar is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.-History:...
, a hastily put together American armored command Task Force Butler and elements of the 36th Infantry Division over several days of hard fighting came close to cutting off the retreat of the entire German 19th Army
19th Army (Germany)
The 19th Army was a World War II field army of the German Army .-History:Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern France from Armeegruppe Felber The 19th Army (German: 19. Armee) was a World War II field army of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer).-History:Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern...
. The Army Group later advanced along the Swiss Border, then through Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, and eventually into western Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. The 63rd Infantry Division was the first Seventh Army unit to cross the Siegfried Line
Siegfried Line
The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916–1917 in northern France during World War I...
, and the first to get an entire division through it. The 3rd Infantry Division suffered the highest casualty count of all US divisions with over 27,000 casualties. In the Brenner Pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
, the 6th Army Group linked up with the 5th US Army coming up from 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...
on 5 May 1945.
After the end of the war, part of the 6th Army Group, the U.S. Seventh Army, remained as an occupation and defensive force in southern Germany for many decades. It also occupied part of Austria until that country was released from occupation in the mid 1950s.
Further reading
- Harry Yeide, Mark Stout, First to the Rhine: The 6th Army Group in World War II, Zenith Press, 2007 ISBN 0-7603-3146-4
- Decision at Strasbourg by David Colley. In November 1944, the 6th Army Group reached the Rhine river at Strasbourg, France. Lt. General Jacob Devers wanted to cross the Rhine into Germany but the plan was nixed by General Eisenhower. http://www.armchairgeneral.com/decision-at-strasbourg-book-review.htm
- How World War II Wasn’t Won – Op Ed NY Times, David Colley http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/opinion/23colley.html