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{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name =Army Group E
| unit_name = Army Group E
| native_name =Heeresgruppe
| native_name = {{langx|de|Heeresgruppe E}}
| image = Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe.svg
| image =
| alt =
| alt =
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| dates =1 January 1943 – 8 May 1945{{sfn|Tessin|1980|pp=62–64}}
| dates = 1 January 1943 – 8 May 1945{{sfn|Tessin|1980|pp=62–64}}
| country ={{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| country = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| countries =
| countries =
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| branch = [[File:Heer - decal for helmet 1942.svg|16px]] [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Heer]] ([[File:Balkenkreuz.svg|16px]] [[Wehrmacht]])
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| disbanded =8 May 1945
| disbanded = 8 May 1945
<!-- Commanders -->
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1 = [[Alexander Löhr]]
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| commander1 =[[Alexander Löhr]]
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{{refimprove|date=March 2013}}


'''Army Group E''' (''Heeresgruppe E'') was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[Army group|Army Group]] active during [[World War II]].
'''Army Group E''' ({{langx|de|Heeresgruppe E}}) was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[Army group|Army Group]] active during [[World War II]].


Army Group E was created on 1 January 1943 from the [[12th Army (Wehrmacht)|12th Army]]. Units from this Army Group were distributed throughout the [[Mediterranean Sea|Eastern Mediterranean]] area, including [[Albania]], [[Greece]], the [[Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia]], and the [[Independent State of Croatia]].
Army Group E was created on 1 January 1943 from the [[12th Army (Wehrmacht)|12th Army]]. Units from this Army Group were distributed throughout the [[Mediterranean Sea|Eastern Mediterranean]] area, including [[Albania]], [[Greece]], the [[Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia]], and the [[Independent State of Croatia]].
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*[[Fortress Crete]]
*[[Fortress Crete]]
**[[22nd Air Landing Division (Wehrmacht)|22nd Division]] - ''General der Infanterie'' [[Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller]]
**[[22nd Air Landing Division (Wehrmacht)|22nd Division]] - ''General der Infanterie'' [[Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller]]
*Also within the Army Group command were 22 penal "fortress battalions" of the "999" series.
*Also within the Army Group command were 22 [[Penal military unit|penal]] "fortress battalions" of the "999" series.


==Service history==
==Service history==
The Army Group participated in [[anti-partisan operations]] in [[Greece in World War II|Greece]] and [[World War II in Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. During the course of these operations, several atrocities were committed, including the massacres of [[Massacre of Kalavryta|Kalavryta]] and [[Massacre of Distomo|Distomo]] in Greece. Furthermore, during the disarmament of the Italian army in September 1943, German troops executed over 5,000 Italian prisoners of war in the [[Cephallonia Massacre]]. At the same time, the Army Group [[Dodecanese Campaign|successfully repelled]] the British attempt to seize the Italian-occupied [[Dodecanese Islands]].
The Army Group participated in [[anti-partisan operations]] in [[Greece in World War II|Greece]] and [[World War II in Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. During the course of these operations, several atrocities were committed, including the massacres of [[Massacre of Kalavryta|Kalavryta]] and [[Massacre of Distomo|Distomo]] in Greece. Furthermore, during the disarmament of the Italian army in September 1943, German troops executed over 5,000 Italian prisoners of war in the [[Cephallonia Massacre]]. At the same time, the Army Group [[Dodecanese Campaign|successfully repelled]] the British attempt to seize the Italian-occupied [[Dodecanese Islands]].
Army Group troops were also involved in the [[Chortiatis massacre]] (September 1944).


=== Retreat from Greece ===
Army Group troops were involved in the [[Chortiatis massacre]].
When the fighting in Romania developed into a [[Battle of Romania|German defeat]] in the summer of 1944, Army Group E began to withdraw from the Greek islands and the mainland. The withdrawal from the southern Balkans was successful. By the end of 1944, the army group had succeeded in repelling the attacks of Soviet and Bulgarian troops as well as the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army. On the Bosnian border, it was able to establish a stable defensive position. In the autumn of 1944, the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, together with the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army, conquered central Serbia as part of the [[Belgrade Operation]]. The Soviet troops were then taken to the Hungarian theatre of war. This forced the Army Group E and the [[2nd Panzer Army]] to set off through the very mountainous terrain of southwestern Serbia, northern Montenegro and finally southeast Bosnia towards Croatia. Throughout the journey they were left exposed to the Yugoslav Partisans' firepower, sometimes with the Allies' assistance of [[Floydforce]].

In the spring of 1945, during the retreat of the Wehrmacht forces from the Balkans, this Army Group withdrew to [[Hungary]], with some units moving to Austria and southern Germany. During the 1945 retreat the fortress units were amalgamated into the LXXXXI Army Corps.


Army Group E was joined with what was left of [[Maximilian von Weichs]]' [[Army Group F]]. That army group had been dissolved on 25 March 1945.
Army Group E was joined with what was left of [[Maximilian von Weichs]]' [[Army Group F]]. That army group had been dissolved on 25 March 1945.
In the spring of 1945, some troops were sent to [[Hungary]], with some units moving to Austria and southern Germany. During the 1945 retreat the fortress units were amalgamated into the [[LXXXXI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|LXXXXI Army Corps]].


=== Last fight in Croatia ===
A member of Army Group E who later rose to prominence was [[President of Austria|Austrian president]] and [[United Nations]] [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|General Secretary]] [[Kurt Waldheim]], who served in the military administration of [[Thessaloniki]].

Colonel General Alexander Löhr tried to hold the Independent State of Croatia against the People's Liberation Army. A major offensive by the People's Liberation Army, which began on 12 April 1945, drove the German troops together in the Slovenian-Austrian border area. A few units escaped and eventually surrendered to British forces that had occupied Styria and Carinthia. Alexander Löhr reached a partial agreement with the British Commander-in-Chief to accept the German units.

On 30 April 1945, Army Group E contained the [[LXIX Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|LXIX Command]] (StuG Brigade South East), [[XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps|XV SS Cossacks]] ([[2nd Cossack Cavalry Division|2nd Cossacks]], [[1st SS Cossack Cavalry Division|1st Cossacks]], [[11th Luftwaffe Field Division|11th LFD]]), [[XXI Mountain Corps (Wehrmacht)|XXI Mountain Corps]] ([[22nd Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)|22nd Volksgrenadiers]], [[369th (Croatian) Infantry Division|369th Croatian]], [[7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen|7th SS]], [[181st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|181st]], [[41st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|41st]]), [[XV Mountain Corps (Wehrmacht)|XV Mountain Corps]] ([[373rd (Croatian) Infantry Division|373rd Croatian]], 639th Security Regiment), [[LXXXXI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|LXXXXI Command]] ([[104th Jäger Division|104th Jägers]], 20th Jäger Regiment) and [[LXXXXVII Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|LXXXXVII Command]] ([[237th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|237th]], [[188th Reserve Mountain Division (Wehrmacht)|188th Mountain]], remains of [[392nd (Croatian) Infantry Division|392nd Croatian]]).<ref name="KTB OKW I">{{Cite book |title=Kriegstagebuch des OKW: 1940–1941, Teilband 2 |publisher=Verlagsgruppe Weltbild GmbH |year=2005 |isbn=3828905250 |editor-last=Schramm, Percy E. |location=Augsburg}}</ref>{{Rp|page=1145}}

On the day of the surrender, 8 May 1945, the mass of the Army group was still three day marches away from the Austrian border. Until 15 May, numerous units managed to escape to Austria. 150,000 German soldiers of the Army group were captured by Tito's forces. At that time, Army Group E consisted of seven German divisions, two Cossack divisions of the [[XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps]] and nine Croatian divisions. 220,000 members of the Croatian forces who fled to Austria with Army Group E were extradited by the British to the Tito partisans after their surrender. Several thousand of them were subsequently killed in the [[Bleiburg Massacre]].

A member of Army Group E who later rose to prominence was [[President of Austria|Austrian president]] and [[United Nations]] [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] [[Kurt Waldheim]], who served in the military administration of [[Thessaloniki]].


== Commanders ==
== Commanders ==
{{Officeholder table start
* 31 December 1942 to 8 May 1945 - Generaloberst [[Alexander Löhr]] ([[Luftwaffe]])<ref>D 3, Hogg</ref>
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| officeholder_title = Commander
| showtermlenght = y
| showparty = n
| showdefencebranch = n
| showref = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 1
| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1969-041-30, Alexander Löhr.jpg
| military_rank = ''Generaloberst ''
| officeholder = [[Alexander Löhr]]
| officeholder_sort = Löhr, Alexander
| born_year = 1885
| died_year = 1947
| term_start = 31 December 1942
| term_end = 8 May 1945
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1943|01|01|1945|05|08}}
| ref = <ref>D 3, Hogg</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
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|title=Die Landstreitkräfte: Namensverbände / Die Luftstreitkräfte (Fliegende Verbände) / Flakeinsatz im Reich 1943–1945
|title=Die Landstreitkräfte: Namensverbände / Die Luftstreitkräfte (Fliegende Verbände) / Flakeinsatz im Reich 1943–1945
|trans-title=Ground forces: Named units and formations / Air forces (Flying units and formations) / Anti–aircraft service in the Reich 1943–1945
|trans-title=Ground forces: Named units and formations / Air forces (Flying units and formations) / Anti–aircraft service in the Reich 1943–1945
|work= Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen–SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945
|series= Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen–SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945
|volume=14
|volume=14
|publisher=Biblio
|publisher=Biblio
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{{Army Groups Germany}}
{{Army Groups Germany}}
{{Subject bar
| portal1=Military of Germany
| portal2=World War II
}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Army groups of the German Army|E]]

[[Category:Army groups of the German Army in World War II|E]]
[[Category:German occupation of Greece during World War II]]
[[Category:German occupation of Greece during World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]

Latest revision as of 13:26, 21 October 2024

Army Group E
German: Heeresgruppe E
Active1 January 1943 – 8 May 1945[1]
Disbanded8 May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Heer ( Wehrmacht)
Commanders
Current
commander		Alexander Löhr

Army Group E (German: Heeresgruppe E) was a German Army Group active during World War II.

Army Group E was created on 1 January 1943 from the 12th Army. Units from this Army Group were distributed throughout the Eastern Mediterranean area, including Albania, Greece, the Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia, and the Independent State of Croatia.

Composition

[edit]

Its principal units were:[2]

Service history

[edit]

The Army Group participated in anti-partisan operations in Greece and Yugoslavia. During the course of these operations, several atrocities were committed, including the massacres of Kalavryta and Distomo in Greece. Furthermore, during the disarmament of the Italian army in September 1943, German troops executed over 5,000 Italian prisoners of war in the Cephallonia Massacre. At the same time, the Army Group successfully repelled the British attempt to seize the Italian-occupied Dodecanese Islands. Army Group troops were also involved in the Chortiatis massacre (September 1944).

Retreat from Greece

[edit]

When the fighting in Romania developed into a German defeat in the summer of 1944, Army Group E began to withdraw from the Greek islands and the mainland. The withdrawal from the southern Balkans was successful. By the end of 1944, the army group had succeeded in repelling the attacks of Soviet and Bulgarian troops as well as the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army. On the Bosnian border, it was able to establish a stable defensive position. In the autumn of 1944, the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, together with the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army, conquered central Serbia as part of the Belgrade Operation. The Soviet troops were then taken to the Hungarian theatre of war. This forced the Army Group E and the 2nd Panzer Army to set off through the very mountainous terrain of southwestern Serbia, northern Montenegro and finally southeast Bosnia towards Croatia. Throughout the journey they were left exposed to the Yugoslav Partisans' firepower, sometimes with the Allies' assistance of Floydforce.

Army Group E was joined with what was left of Maximilian von Weichs' Army Group F. That army group had been dissolved on 25 March 1945. In the spring of 1945, some troops were sent to Hungary, with some units moving to Austria and southern Germany. During the 1945 retreat the fortress units were amalgamated into the LXXXXI Army Corps.

Last fight in Croatia

[edit]

Colonel General Alexander Löhr tried to hold the Independent State of Croatia against the People's Liberation Army. A major offensive by the People's Liberation Army, which began on 12 April 1945, drove the German troops together in the Slovenian-Austrian border area. A few units escaped and eventually surrendered to British forces that had occupied Styria and Carinthia. Alexander Löhr reached a partial agreement with the British Commander-in-Chief to accept the German units.

On 30 April 1945, Army Group E contained the LXIX Command (StuG Brigade South East), XV SS Cossacks (2nd Cossacks, 1st Cossacks, 11th LFD), XXI Mountain Corps (22nd Volksgrenadiers, 369th Croatian, 7th SS, 181st, 41st), XV Mountain Corps (373rd Croatian, 639th Security Regiment), LXXXXI Command (104th Jägers, 20th Jäger Regiment) and LXXXXVII Command (237th, 188th Mountain, remains of 392nd Croatian).[3]: 1145 

On the day of the surrender, 8 May 1945, the mass of the Army group was still three day marches away from the Austrian border. Until 15 May, numerous units managed to escape to Austria. 150,000 German soldiers of the Army group were captured by Tito's forces. At that time, Army Group E consisted of seven German divisions, two Cossack divisions of the XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps and nine Croatian divisions. 220,000 members of the Croatian forces who fled to Austria with Army Group E were extradited by the British to the Tito partisans after their surrender. Several thousand of them were subsequently killed in the Bleiburg Massacre.

A member of Army Group E who later rose to prominence was Austrian president and United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, who served in the military administration of Thessaloniki.

Commanders

[edit]
No. Portrait Commander Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1
Alexander Löhr
Löhr, AlexanderGeneraloberst
Alexander Löhr
(1885–1947)		31 December 19428 May 19452 years, 127 days[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tessin 1980, pp. 62–64.
  2. ^ p.24, Thomas
  3. ^ Schramm, Percy E., ed. (2005). Kriegstagebuch des OKW: 1940–1941, Teilband 2. Augsburg: Verlagsgruppe Weltbild GmbH. ISBN 3828905250.
  4. ^ D 3, Hogg

Sources

[edit]
  • Hogg, Ian V., German Order of Battle 1944: The regiments, formations and units of the German ground forces, Arms and Armour Press, London, 1975
  • Tessin, Georg (1980). Die Landstreitkräfte: Namensverbände / Die Luftstreitkräfte (Fliegende Verbände) / Flakeinsatz im Reich 1943–1945 [Ground forces: Named units and formations / Air forces (Flying units and formations) / Anti–aircraft service in the Reich 1943–1945]. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen–SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 (in German). Vol. 14. Osnabrück: Biblio. ISBN 3-7648-1111-0.
  • Thomas, Nigel, (Author), Andrew, Stephen, (Illustrator), The German Army 1939-45 (2) : North Africa & Balkans (Men-At-Arms Series, 316), Osprey Publishing, 1998 ISBN 978-1-85532-640-8


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