German First Army

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The German First Army (German: 1.Armee Oberkommando) was a World War I and World War II field army.

1 First World War
- 1.1 Commanders
2 Second World War
- 2.1 Commanders
3 References

[edit] First World War

The German First Army during World War I, fought on the Western Front and took part in the Schlieffen Plan offensive against France and Belgium in August 1914. Commanded by General Alexander von Kluck, the First Army's job was to command the extreme right of the German forces in attacking the left flank of the French Army and encircling Paris, bringing a rapid conclusion to the war. His army had the greatest striking power of the offensive, a density of about 18,000 men per mile of front (about 10 per meter). The First Army captured Brussels on August 20 and was almost successful in defeating France but was halted just 13 miles outside the French capital in the First Battle of the Marne that took place in early September. Von Kluck was replaced in 1915 after getting seriously wounded in the leg.

[edit] Commanders

General Alexander von Kluck (1914–1915)
General Max von Fabeck (1915–1916)
General Fritz von Below (1916–1918)

[edit] Second World War

The First Army was activated on August 26, 1939 with General Erwin von Witzleben in command. Its primary mission was to guard the western defences of Germany against Allied forces along the Maginot Line. The army participated in the final breach of the line's defences and spent the rest of the war protecting the Atlantic coast of France from a possible seaborne incursion. Following the Normandy invasion in 1944, the army made an ordered withdrawal to the Danube River before surrendering near the Alps.