High Command of Coastal Defence

As a supreme command of the coastal defense a major formation and the associated command authority of the German Army during the First World War (1914-1918) was called. They each included several Army or Reserve Corps and numerous special troops.

History

• Colonel General Ludwig von Falkenhausen ( from 15 April 1916)
• Colonel General Josias von Heeringen (from August 29, 1916 )
• Without commander ( from 19 September 1918)

• Colonel of Derschau ( from 15 April 1916)
• Colonel von Zitzewitz (10 July 1918)

Organizations were contracted to meet a feared landing of troops of the Entente in Schleswig -Holstein Already on 2 August 1914. This was the increased IX in the first place. Reserve Corps under General der Infanterie Max von Boehn, which was also referred to as the " northern army ". After about three weeks, the associations were, however, laid on 23 August 1914 the Western Front.

With the Most High Cabinet Order of 14 April 1916, a coastal defense was organized again, since the threat of seaward side appeared grown. New commander in the " High Command of the coastal defense" was appointed Colonel-General Ludwig von Falkenhausen. When his official residence Hamburg was determined. The high command consisted of a full bar with a chief of staff, a Quartermaster-General ( until March 5, 1918), a general of the Foot Artillery (until 30 June 1917) and a General of the pioneers ( to 24 October 1917).

The High Command was awarded the contract, the defense plant on the coast to keep in abwehrbereitem state and to take all measures in the event of an Allied threat to pull together an army. There had control over the adjoining sea corps districts I, XXVII, II, IX, X, VII and VIII, the border protection against Denmark and all the troops in the service of coastal protection. From time to time were under the supreme command of subordinate and closed associations, such as the divisions Altona and Stettin ( 1 July to 10 October 1916) or the 251st, 252nd and 253rd Infantry Division (10 January 1917-25 February. , 1918 ). At times, were also the General Command 65 and the General Command of the XXXIX. Reserve Corps in the formation of task forces subordinated to the High Command. The collaboration with the Imperial Navy should be coordinated.

On 18 September 1918, the office of the commander in chief for budgetary reasons, has been deleted. On November 1, 1918, the High Command was even declared immobile and finally dissolved on 24 November 1918.

References

→ Main article: Army ( German Empire )