11th Army (German Empire)
As 11 armies / army high command 11 (AOK 11) were referred to a number of large organizations and the associated command authorities of the German Army during the First World War ( 1914-1918). They each included several Army or Reserve Corps and numerous special troops.
- 2.1 External links
- 2.2 Literature
- 2.3 Notes and references
History
First installation
- Infantry General Max von Fabeck (9 March 1915)
- Colonel-General August von Mackensen ( from 16 April 1915)
- Colonel Hans von Seeckt ( from 9 March 1915)
On February 22, 1915 struck Colonel Ernst von Wrisberg as chief of the Army Department of the Prussian Ministry of War to create an operational reserve, by the divisions of the Western Front should ever release their fourth regiment. The proposal was very well received and by the end of March 1915 produced in this way, 14 new divisions with kriegserfahrenem staff. These new forces originally wanted Infantry General Erich von Falkenhayn in the west of the chief of the General Staff, but in early April the decision was made to bring these reserves on the Eastern Front used.
To perform this, the command to set up a new army high command with the number 11 (AOK 11) for the special use of the High Command was already issued on March 3, 1915. On March 9th Infantry General Max von Fabeck was determined to his commander and Colonel Hans von Seeckt, chief of staff. On March 11, members of the new AOK 11 met together in Kassel, and then move to Maubeuge on March 15. In the next few weeks, it had the task to explore the area north of Arras for an offensive. General of Fabeck was transferred on March 28, 1915 as the new commander of the 1st Army to replace the wounded Colonel General Alexander there von Kluck. The management of the AOK 11 therefore initially were vested in Colonel von Seeckt. On April 16, only the Army High Command was informed of his proposed transfer to the Eastern Front and its use in an offensive there. At the same time Colonel-General August von Mackensen was appointed as the new commander of the 11th Army. The following day the transfer began, and on April 19 there was the Army High Command in Cieszyn and then in New Sandetz.
On April 21, the first transports of eight German divisions, and on 25 April, the new commander arrived. The end of April ordered the 11th Army troops on the following:
- XLI. Reserve Corps
- Guard Corps
- X. Army Corps
- VI. k.u.k. Army Corps
- "Combined Corps "
Overall, this was eight German and two Austro-Hungarian divisions. On May 2, 1915 began with the attack of the 11th Army and the operational imputed 4 kuk Army, the four -day battle of Gorlice - Tarnów, which ended with an operating break through the Russian lines. In the following weeks the army pursued the retreating Russian troops and made by the end of June 1915, more than 250,000 prisoners. In the following weeks, it was possible (→ Big retreat ) push back far more offensive operations by the Russian troops. After these successes, however, a regrouping had to be done in order to do more to mobilize troops against Serbia can. For this reason, the command of the 11th Army was disbanded 18 September 1915, and his staff for the preparation of the General Staff of the Army Group Mackensen used.
Second line-up
- Artillery General Max von Gallwitz (from September 23, 1915 )
- Lieutenant General Arnold von Winckler ( as of 24 March 1916)
- General of Infantry Kuno von Steuben (from June 5, 1917 )
- Colonel Marquard (from September 23, 1915 )
- Lieutenant Colonel Völkers ( ex. March 24, 1916 )
- Lieutenant Colonel Walther Reinhardt ( from November 22, 1916 )
- Lieutenant Colonel Kirch ( Starting February 10, 1917)
- Lieutenant Colonel Lämmerhirt ( from 17 June 1918)
- Lieutenant Colonel Kirch ( from 30 September 1916)
In the field of k.u.k. Monarchy, in the Banat, were provided German troops for an offensive against Serbia in autumn 1915. These included the following organizations:
- IV Reserve Corps
- X. Reserve Corps
- III. Army Corps
Already on September 30, 1915 there was a reorganization of the governing bodies. The Army High Command 12 under Artillery General Max von Gallwitz was separated from the eastern front to lead intended for the offensive against Serb troops. At the same time it was renamed the Army High Command 11.
Together with the 3 k.u.k. Army and the Bulgarian 1st Army she was standing in the forthcoming offensive against Serbia, the " Army Group Mackensen ". This began on October 6, 1915, and led to the end of November 1915 to the defeat of Serbian forces and the occupation of the country. After a Umgruppierungsphase the 11th Army secured from February / March 1916 border with Greece, where the 2nd Army of the Allies had landed. Here the army remained still in use.
The headquarters of the Army High Command was from January 31, 1916 in Veles and then from October 5, 1916 in Prilep. Since 21 September 1918, moved gradually over Jagodina to Szolnok (Hungary). From there it was moved to Olsztyn in East Prussia on 7 December 1918.