14th Army (Wehrmacht)
| 14th Army | |
|---|---|
| German: 14. Armee | |
.svg) Army insignia | |
| Active | 1 August – 13 October 1939 5 November 1943 – 2 May 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  German army ( Wehrmacht) |
| Size | Field army |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Wilhelm List Eberhard von Mackensen Joachim Lemelsen |
The 14th Army (German: 14. Armee) was a World War II field army of the German Army.
History[edit]
Poland[edit]
The 14th Army was activated on 1 August 1939 with General Wilhelm List in command and saw service in Poland until the end of the Polish campaign on 13 October 1939.
Italy[edit]
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The 14th Army was reactivated for the defence of Italy in late 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. 14th Army was initially responsible for the defence of Rome and dealing with any amphibious landings the Allies might make to the rear of the German 10th Army, which was fighting on the defensive lines south of Rome.[1]
The 14th 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 finally surrendered on 2 May 1945 after being defeated during the Allies' Spring offensive.[2]
Commanders[edit]
| No. | Portrait | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generaloberst Wilhelm List (1880–1971) | 1 August 1939 | 13 October 1939 | 73 days | |
| 2 | Generaloberst Eberhard von Mackensen (1889–1969) | 5 November 1943 | 4 June 1944 | 212 days | |
| 3 | General der Panzertruppe Joachim Lemelsen (1888–1954) | 5 June 1944 | 15 October 1944 | 132 days | |
| 4 | General der Panzertruppe Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin (1891–1963) | 15 October 1944 | 24 October 1944 | 9 days | |
| 5 | General der Artillerie Heinz Ziegler (1894–1972) | 24 October 1944 | 22 November 1944 | 29 days | |
| 6 | General der Panzertruppe Traugott Herr (1890–1976) | 24 November 1944 | 16 December 1944 | 22 days | |
| 7 | General der Infanterie Kurt von Tippelskirch (1891–1957) | 16 December 1944 | 17 February 1945 | 63 days | |
| (3) | General der Panzertruppe Joachim Lemelsen (1888–1954) | 17 February 1945 | 2 May 1945 | 74 days |
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See also[edit]
- 14th Army (German Empire) for the equivalent formation in World War I
Notes[edit]
- ^ Carver, Field Marshal Lord (2001). The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Italy 1943-1945. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0-330-48230-0., p. 92
- ^ James Holland, Italy's Sorrow. A Year of War, 1944-1945, London, 2008, Harper Press. ISBN 978-0007176441