H.S. Number

981PA.5 (D.5)

981SOM(Dl72)

981SOM{D208)

981AGpG(Dl)

I

981SOM(Dl48)

981SOM(D94)

XX:I

Document

Fifth Panzer .Ax.my , Appendices to W. D. 9 Aug - 9 Sep 44

Corps

88 Corps, W.D. 1 Jul - 31 Dec 44

88 Corps, W.D. 1 Jul - 31 Dec 44 , Vol "B" of Apps

88 Corps, W.D. 1 Jul - 31 Dec 44, Vol :r cn of Apps

B. Secondary Sources

Blauensteiner, 2 Para Corps, 19 Sep 44 - 10 Mar 4.5

Hammer, Report on 190 I nf Div

von Mellenthin, A Gp G1 20 Sep - 8 Nov 44

Schramm, Der Westen 1

(sea: Primary Sources)

Student, Supplement to Report by Col Geyer

Zimmermann, O.B. Wost from Atlantic Wall to Siegfried Lino, "A Study in Command 11

Para -28f

33, 3.5,

14lf

36

.58

65f

34

llf 6.5f

XXII

Books

U.S. Army, Military IntelligGnce Division, Washington, 1945, Order of Battle of thG German .A:rmy

14f

Westphal, Siegfried 93 The German Army in thG West

Wilmot, Chester 30f The Struggle for Europe

33,

A1rnendix "A" to H.s. Report No • . 77

Prig.eipal Appointments in the West

(Autumn l944)

Ref: para 7

Appendix "B" to H.s. Report No. 77

O.B. West

Order of Battle

1,5 Aug 44

•

981. 04.5 (Dl)

'

Ref: para 10

Appendix "C" to H:.s.. Report No. 77

Ftth.rer Order

to hold or destroy Paris

23 Aug 44

981AGpB(D2)

Ref: para 17

Appendix "D" to H.S. Report No. 77

F'tfhrer Order

of

2,5 Sep 44

981.AGpB(D2)

•

Ref: para 70

~ndi.x "F" o . JS1 Report No• 77

OKW/WFSt

Directive to O.B. West

29 Oot 44

981HC·N { Dl 6)

Raf: para 102

Appendix "A" to H;S• Report No. 77

ERDIC.lP AL APP,OIN'I;MENTS .JN T~. WEST

(for period under review)

O.B. 'WEST (until 8 Nov 44 also known as A Gp D}

3 Jul 44 ~ 17 Aug 44 17 Aug 44 - 4 Sep 44

4 Sep 44 - 10 Mar 4.5

G:FM Guenther von Kluge GFM Walter Model GFM Gerd von Rundstedt

ARMY GROUPS

1~ Grou12 B

31 Dec 43*-. 17 Aug 44 GFM Erwin Rommel 17 Aug 44 - 17 Apr 4.5 GFM Walter Model

~¥:ms Group G

10 May 44 ·- 21 Sep 44 Col Gen Johannes Blaskowitz 21 Sep 44 - 23 Dec 44 Gen Pz Tps Hermann Balck

Arml Grou12 Studen {~rov) I

31 Oct 44 - 10 Nov 44 Col Gen Kurt Student

A:rmy Grou12 H

10 Nov 44 - 28 Jan 4.5 Col Gen Kurt Student

. E,trst Army

2 Jun 44 ... 6 Sep 44 ·-

29 Oct 44 '-1 Deo 44 -

6. Sep 44 29 Oct 44

1 Dec 44 22 Mar 4.5

ARMIES

Gen Inf Kurt von der Ohevallerie Gen Pz Tps Otto von Knobelsdorff Gen Inf Kurt von Tippelskiroh Gen I nf Hans von Obstf elder

* · ·Date on which upgraded from a working staff to command (under O.·B. West): 88 Corps {Netherlands), Fifteenth .A:r:my and Seventh Army.

· I ,

- 2 -

S~venth A:£m.y

29 Jun 44 ~ 23 Aug 44 24 Aug 44 " 31 Aug 44 31 Aug 44 - 19 Feb 45

Fifteenth Army

15 Aug 43 ~ 23 Aug 44 23 Aug 44 - 17 Apr 45

·N,_ineteenth Army

SS Gen Paul Hausser Gen Pz Tps Heinrich Eberbach G€n Pz Tps Erich Brandenberger

Col G€n Hans von Salmuth G€n Inf Gustav von Zangen

29 Jun 44 - 15 Deo 44 Gen Inf Friedrich Wiese

Fifth Panzer .A:pa;; . 9 Aug 44 ~ 10 Sep 44 · SS Col Gen

10 Sep 44 ~ Early 1945 Gen Pz Tps

Sixth Panzer Army

Sepp Dietrich Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel

13 Sep 44 - May 1945 SS 601 Gen Sepp Dietrich

First Parachute Army

· 4 Sep 44 " 31 Oct 44 Col Gen Kurt Student 31 Oct 44 - 28 Mar 45 Gen Para Tps Alfred Schlemm

Armed Forces Commander Netherlands

1 Sep 44 - 26 J an 45 Gen G.A,F, Karl Friedrich Christiansen

,. -· ..

FUkCt.S

u

3471 719, Com latfen-SS

70 (165 Bea) I 712

It. 7, 18-C xxx) 1 4.9xxx, 182 Res

Jl..8, 24-5, 226, 5 Securi ty ~gt

711, ]lt.6, 212, Kl.ta 710

851 12 SS Pz, 89

271• 277, 276, El.ta 21 Pz, 326

21 h" .. , 9 SS Pz, 3 Par a

nta Pz Lehr, 353 + El ts 1 SS Pz Battle Gp 36} + Blta 3ll Battle Gp 243, 84., Battle t;p 17 SS Pz Gren, Battle Gp 275, lUts 10 SS Ps lO SS pz••••

708, 8 •nta 5 Para, lU ta 9 Pa, 2 SS Ps

116 ft, Kl.ta 9 Pz, 2 Pz, Remnants Pz Lehr•• .. l Pa Rewnanta 9 Pa

.}}1 , Ba ttl.e Gp 6 Para, •• ta lS2

1'(1'8 ... ) , Blocking Pormation Haeclcel, 1.59 Baa

1 Kl ta 189 Rea, 2J+4.

CORPS

88

P E . I u D I C A L S ~ H E i ~ A i I C (J. JEkS OF B, TTLE

GERMAN Aff .Y

(Comd ot German Tpa in the. Ketherlanda)

89 82

7 86

f SS PZ 74

') SS 91

'- '-

PA·HA 84

58 PZ 47 PZ

81 64

4 F· 8S ... 62

• .. ... ....

15 l.j6•••

5Pz

7

I

19

ARMEEGRUPPE

G PNiwilllp s~ DiTiai• (._.t i.paa) +

ll .. , 157 •• , .3J8an

r. : Ge Mil Air Poroe Plelcl in Aaf'8t : in prooeu ot tbr-.tian .. Y. : tor Spealal Sllplo,_at; .. : ..m...,

B Q 80 and 66 OoJh

15 AUG 44 OIW

OIW

Portre• St Jiil•

(Col ~ Al.eek)

Jteeenta n ~ta91

&lta .5 Para

Portreu !r!t! )laiJl Beq ,..,,

Bementa 2 Para Bl.ta 266

Portreaa Lerieni

25 C.rpa Bl ta '-":ta 2'.5

Portresa St. -.s&i.re

Bl.ts Rem.ants 265

Lll3Q) : z Sa 11111 s.. ...., in proo••• ot reorp.ni•ti• I ==t= • o • WIST SICTICll ot ceor --u..-. .... - I m ill • •

ms Sa • in prooaa ot nt•u-. +

[hheime

Appendix "D" to H.S~ Report No. 77

Ftllirer Order of 25 Sep 44

(TranslatiO'n)

The enemy has transferred the main weight of his attacks to the Dutch area and the forefield of the Northern Vosges. In the South the available forces have been committed on· the whole, but in England he has still large fornations -including airborne divisions - to exploit and expand success in Southern Holland by further landings from the air and frNn the sea in western and northern Holland, or possibly even in Gerrlany between Wilhelm.shaven and :E:mden.

The centre of gravity of our counter-measures must therefore be transferred to the northern area of the western · front, to hold the Netherlands and make possible the completion of the West Wall extension, .thereby protecting the Ruhr area. ·

My orders are:

2.

4.

5.

The enemy in the Arnhem - Nijmegen area is to be destroyed by concentric attack. The f ooal point of this attack must be between Waal and Maas in order to take the Nijmegen-Grave road, thereby preventing a further reinforcing of the enemy north of the Maas.

The southern front of Fifteenth .A:rmy and the western front of First Parachute }\xrn.y must be held at present lines. The enemy bridgehead across the canal south of Helmond is to be eliminated or securely sealed-off at least.

The gap at the inner wings of Fifteen~h .A:rmy and First Parachute Army at Veghel is to be closed by means of a concentric attack in order to meet the preliminary re quirement for the destruction of the enew..y north of the Maas.

A:rmy Group G will stand fast forward of the Vosges pos-ition thereby winning by fighting the time required for the completion of that position as well as of t he Vosges Battle-position. The long and unprepared triangle of the Western position from south of Metz via Falkenberg, Pttttlingen to Blamont is completely unsuitable for defence. In order to be- able to conduct mobile operations in the area Duss - Nomeny - .Luneville all panzer and panzer grenadier divisions as well as the panzer brigades presently under the ~11.i:rmy Group are to remain with it. The assembly of a mobile reserve also behind the Nineteenth 'i..rmy is necessary (sic).

For the attack of First Parachute .Anny between Waal and Maas, 108 Pz Bde 1 741 ~y A Tk Bn and 506 Tiger Bn are to be moved-·in, further.i.1lore also 116 and 9 Pz Divs, the latter two to be relieved by Fortress Bns and, if necessary, by moving-in 246 Inf Div • . ·

•

- 2

6. The Chief of A:rmy Eq_ui:p.ment and Commander of the Replacement Training lJ:my has been instructed to move strong forces into the area WilhelmS'haven Leeuwarden - Apelaoorn - Rheine~ Orders concerning this and further work: on the western Position and the West Wall will follow.

7£ Operational Intentions and Dispositions are to be reported.

Adolf Hitler

..

•

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D-Bl _ ! er~ c '7ei

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• Tor ...... -.. ~

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t•bh ._...._ _. ••r Cea wiwr •

•n ""' d•• te....ila t • 1.) over•'i

. '6elt au •• •

ARMED F~CES HIGH CClitUAND PERIOOI Cit SCHBIATI C ORDERS OF BATTLE OF GERM~ ~I ES.

DI"llSlONS

64¢, "10¢, 85t , B~ttle Gp 345¢, 711~, ?19~

24~¢' 59~.

Battle Group 712~ H.,. 344

363 V.Gr.

9 Pz, 3attle Group 9 3S Pz, Battle ~roup 10 SS Fa

D1Y. i•o. 406xx, 3a ttle Group 84, Div No.lOQx:i - -- -

Battle ~roup ·Malter (107 Pz Bde), Div.No. 180, Div. i o. 176xx

183 V.J.:-, !b.=.ts 49J@, 116 Pz, 108 Pz Bde I -- . 246 v.Gr, 12 V.Gr. I 275~, 89 , Bettle Group 347¢'if

0 iecta l SS Pz, Remts 12 SS Pz, D1v.No.172x~. Battle Group ~ ~ l-z, Bat t l e Gro up 2 rz

- - ----- --Remts 35~, 36 V.GI@

Beats 265'1

41 , 19 V.Gr, 462

17 SS Pz Gr, Remts 553 V.Gr, 559 V.Gr, ta --11 l'z, 15 l-z. Gr -----21 Pz, ie v.'JiA

198~

---------- -- -

106 Pz Bde

com-~

61 88

89 12 SS

2 SS PZ I 2 PARA

86

1 SS PZ

81

71'

66

._80_ - ~

Z5 82

15 SS 5" PZ ill PZ

" II LIFD .

85 tor special employment.

I static, ~ without Assl t Gun Bn I 1·., Fd - German Air lore 11elcl

.~"1:.S ARMY GaCJlf.t'S

·15

B PARA 31'1.

-----: t v. no: ~6

3 ~ara 5 • 5 •

wider going rehab111ttttion

7 256 v .er. ~61 V.Gr.

~ k Z ~ren lcooing) D

__. simultaneo'.l~lJ

- O.B I 5 PZ WESl

G 19

ra S3 Gren Di y '1Slial1 No. l)

v .ar. - Volk• are dier ta • Bemnsnts

zz ~i~191ons ~~th t he prefix •No.• were ~ae1n::atd1v1s1onen 1.e. bo111 dlv1stoll8, not ret t&illy manned, tr~1~E d or e ~~tpped'

•

..

•

O. B. WEIT-<A 6P 0 J r SECT I ON OF CHNH. r • ,.....,..__, _r-.r r -...r_r-/

•

0

K

Appendix "F". __ toE:.s. Report No. 77

OKW/WFSt Dire.ctive. to O,B.;. West

(29 Oct 44)

r. The Ffilirer expects Fifteenth Army to stand tast with all its power in the present main line of resistance along the line Bergen op Zoom ~

Breda - t s·.:..Hertogenbosch - south of the Maas.

2·. Should new and deep penetrations resulting from further enemy attacks place elements of the foroes in danger of being destroyed, the Fifteenth Army would then have to hold on at least in large bridgeheads south of the Maas. In that case the right wing of the .t'l.rm.Y would have to wheel around towards the West to block the crossings to the Scheldt islands and thus prevent a breaking-up of the Scheldt defences from the East.

3• The defence of the Scheldt Estuary depends on the heavy batteries on the island of Walcheren• Therefore this island is to be defended fanatically• Should in the long run 70 Inf Div no longer be able to hold on to South Beveland, the forces committed there must be withdrawn to North Beveland and Walcheren. .After the last heavy batteries of the Breskens bridgehead had been lost, that bridgehead was of little further value for the blocking of the Scheldt Estuary. It is to be reported whether at this time there are still well founded prospects of transferring substantial eler:ients of 64 Inf Div to Walcheren. If not, 64 Inf Div in the bridgehead will also have to stand fa st to the last.

4. The conduct of the operations of Fifteenth and .First Para chute Armies is to be coordinated forthwith under Col Gen Student. The arrival of the Army Group headquarters staff is not to be waited for. For the tL~e being the most necessary elements of the command apparatus are to be placed at the disposal of Col Gen Student by the .Arned Forces Commander Netherlands, Fifteenth i\.r.m.y and First Parachute .A:r.m.y.

5. In order to make possible the s~eedy replacement of the casualties suffered by Fifteenth A:r.m.y in its hard struggle, the ·aotivation of the 8th, 9th and 10th Parachute Divisions is to be renounced for the present, The units and transfer battalions (including those still in the Home Defence .c\rea) which have been organize a. for these divisions, are to be despatched to the Fifteenth Army by the Inspector General of the Parachute Army as required by Oo-1 Gen Student. Numerical strength and location of the units are to be reported forthwith to Col Gen Student, O.B. West and mew.

- 2 -

3rd 1 5th; 6th and 7th Parachute Divisions, ·including the replacea ents earmarked for them, will not be drawn upon.

6~ To strengthen Fifteenth ~"lrray with regard to materiel, beginning on 30 Oct seventeen assault howitzers will be des patched to the Army. Additional heavy materiel and weapons for Fifteenth .A:rmy are to be drawn from Army Group B's own stocks~ Gaps ~hereby created in the materiel of other form.a 1;ions \fill be filled by means of higher allocations in November. The numbers of weapons transferred are to be reported.

OKW/WFSt/Ops No •• 773955/44, Top Secret

(Note: The foregoing is a translation of the text of OKW signal OICW/Vl/FSt/Ops No. 773955/44, as passed on by the Operations Section of the Naval Operations Staff to the other section of that staff in the form of a certified copy bearing the number l.Skl.B. No. 3416/44 7 Top Secret, 29 Oct 44.)

'

•

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