German Army Group Center
Army Group Centre () was the name of two distinct strategic German Army Groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created during the planning of Operation Barbarossa, Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, as one of the three German Army formations assigned to the invasion. After Army Group North was trapped in the Courland Pocket in mid-1944, it was renamed to Army Group Courland and the first Army Group Centre was renamed "Army Group North". The second iteration of Army Group Centre was formed by the redesignation of Army Group A as the replacement for the first Army Group Centre. Formation and Command The army group was officially created by Adolf Hitler when he issued Führer Directive 21 on 18 December 1940, ordering German forces to prepare for an attack on Soviet Russia in 1941. The first commanding officer of Army Group Centre was Field Marshal Fedor von Bock, who would lead it until he was relieved on 18 December 1941 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Heer - Decal For Helmet 1942
Heer may refer to: People * Ewald Heer (1930–2025), American aerospace engineer, author and academic * Jeet Heer, Indo-Canadian author and journalist * Jeffrey Heer (born 1979), American computer scientist and entrepreneur * Kamal Heer (born 1973), Indian singer and musician of Punjabi music * Oswald Heer (1809–1883), Swiss botanist and naturalist with the standard botanical author abbreviation Heer * Manmohan Waris or Manmohan Heer (born 1970), Indian singer and musician of Punjabi music * Sangtar or Sangtar Heer (born 1973), Indian composer and musician of Punjabi music Army * German Army, or ''Deutsches Heer'' (1956–present), for the Cold War Army of West Germany and the current Army of Germany * German Army (1935–1945), or ''Wehrmacht Heer'', for the Second World War Army of Nazi Germany * ''Reichswehr'', or ''Reichsheer'' (1920–35), for the interwar Army of the Weimar Republic * Imperial German Army, or ''Deutsches Heer'' (1871–1919), for Army of the German Emp ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ernst Busch (field Marshal)
Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch (6 July 1885 – 17 July 1945) was a German '' Generalfeldmarschall'' (field marshal) during World War II who commanded the 16th Army (as a ''Generaloberst'') and Army Group Centre. During World War I, Busch served as an infantry officer and was retained in the postwar army of the Weimar Republic. He steadily rose in seniority and by 1936 was a general and commander of the 23rd Infantry Division. During the invasion of Poland, he commanded VIII Army Corps. In 1940, he was appointed commander of the 16th Army; he led it during the 1940 Battle of France and Operation Barbarossa, the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. By October 1943, Busch was the commander of Army Group Centre but he was dismissed in June 1944 after the collapse of his command during the Red Army's Operation Bagration. He was later the commander of Army Group Northwest in the final months of the war and died as a prisoner of war in England. Early life and World War I Busch was bo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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267th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 267th Infantry Division () was a Nazi Germany, German division (military), division in World War II. Called the 'Horsehead' division because of its emblem, it took part in the Invasion of France (1940), Invasion of France in 1940, and Operation Barbarossa in 1941. The division was encircled and destroyed in July 1944. Operational history The division was formed on 26 August 1939 in Hanover. After mobilisation it was posted to the Siegfried Line, Westwall on the border with France. It took part in the Battle of France, invasion of France in 1940, advancing through Belgium. On 28 May 1940 soldiers of the division carried out the Oignies and Courrières massacre, Oignies massacre; the 487th Infantry Regiment used civilians as human shields during fighting near the village of Oignies in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Nord Pas-de-Calais, then rounded up and shot 80 French civilians in front of the town hall, as well as captured British, French, and Moroccan troops who were too severely wou ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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10th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 10th Infantry Division was created in October 1934 under the cover name ''Wehrgauleitung Regensburg'' (later ''Kommandant von Regensburg'') to hide its violation of the Treaty of Versailles. It was renamed the 10th Infantry Division when the establishment of the Wehrmacht was announced publicly in October 1935. The division participated in the Anschluss, annexation of Austria in March 1938, the invasion of Poland in September 1939, and the Battle of France, invasion of France in May 1940. Thereafter it was upgraded to the 10th Motorized Infantry Division. It was later redesignated 10th Panzergrenadier Division in June 1943. In August 1944 the division was destroyed in the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive, Jassy–Kishinev Offensive and ensuing defensive actions. It was partially reconstituted in Germany in October, and sent back to the front as an understrength ''Kampfgruppe'' ("battlegroup"). On 1 January 1945, the 10th Panzergrenadier Division, then under command of the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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4th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)
The 4th Panzer Division () was an Armored warfare, armored division (military unit), division in the German Army (1935–1945), Army of Nazi Germany. In World War II, it participated in the Polish September Campaign, 1939 invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, 1940 invasion of France, and the Operation Barbarossa, 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. It remained on the Eastern Front (WWII), Eastern Front, mainly under Army Group Centre, Army Group Center, until it was trapped on the coast at Courland in the summer of 1944. It was evacuated by sea and returned to the main front in West Prussia in January 1945. There it surrendered to the Red Army at the end of the war. History Formation The 4th Panzer Division was formed in Würzburg, Bavaria, on 10 November 1938 as the first of a second wave of new armored divisions in Germany following the creation of the original three tank divisions in 1935. Alongside the 4th Panzer Division the 5th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht), 5th was fo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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3rd Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)
The 3rd Panzer Division () was an armoured division in the German Army (Wehrmacht), German Army, the Wehrmacht, during World War II. The division was one of the original three tank divisions established by Germany in 1935. The division participated in the Invasions of Poland, Belgium, France and the Soviet Union. From 1941 to 1945 it continuously fought on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front. History Before World War II The 3rd Panzer Division was formed on 15 October 1935Battistelli 2007, p. 19. from elements of the 1st Cavalry Division (Reichswehr), 1st and 3rd Cavalry Division (Reichswehr), 3rd Cavalry Division as well as a variety of other military and police units, and was headquartered in the German capital Berlin. It was one of three tank divisions created at the time, the other two being the 1st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht), 1st and 2nd Panzer Division (Wehrmacht), 2nd Panzer Division.Battistelli 2007, p. 19. Germany had renounced the Treaty of Versailles ear ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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1st Cavalry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 1st Cavalry Division () was formed in October 1939. It fought in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front. It was officially transformed into the 24th Panzer Division in late 1941. Formation The division was formed on 25 October from the ''1. Kavallerie-Brigade'' and expanded on 20 November with the addition of ''Reiter-Regiments 21'' and ''22''. It was reconstituted in February 1940 when ''II\Reiter-Regiment 21'' was disbanded and distributed to other regiments. Operational history The campaign in Western Europe began in the Netherlands before it was assigned to the 4th Army (Wehrmacht), 4th Army and sent to France. The division crossed the Somme on 7 June and fought near Meulen. On 18–19 June, it fought around Saumur and attempted to capture a bridge across the Loire, but the attack failed when it was blown up with a patrol still on it. The division reached La Rochelle when the fighting in France ended. After the French ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Leo Geyr Von Schweppenburg
Leo Dietrich Franz Reichsfreiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg (2 March 1886 – 27 January 1974) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II, noted for his pioneering stance and expertise in the field of armoured warfare. He commanded the 5th Panzer Army (formalised as Panzer Group West) during the Invasion of Normandy, and later served as Inspector General, Inspector General of Armoured Troops. After the war he was involved in the development of the newly built German Army (Bundeswehr). Early life and career Freiherr von Geyr was born 1886 in Potsdam into the Prussian military aristocracy and descended from a family that produced two Prussian Field Marshals. His father was the retired colonel Karl Geyr von Schweppenburg (1840–1913), a close friend and chief stable master of William II of Württemberg. His mother, Elisabeth Karoline von Hülsen-Haeseler (1855–1887), was the daughter of Botho von Hülsen. He joined the German Army (German Empire), German Army in 190 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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XXIV Panzer Corps (Germany)
The XXIV Army Corps () was a unit of the German Army during World War II. The unit was re-designated several times; originally being ''Generalkommando der Grenztruppen Saarpfalz'', later ''Generalkommando XXIV. Armeekorps'', then ''XXIV. Armeekorps (mot.)'' and finally XXIV. Panzerkorps. History The ''Generalkommando der Grenztruppen Saarpfalz'' was created in October 1938 in Kaiserslautern in army sector XII under the command of General der Pioniere Walter Kuntze as one of three such general commands. On August 26, 1939, the corps was mobilized and on September 17 of the same year renamed to 24th Army Corps. At the start of World War II it contained several regiments of border infantry in addition to the three Infantry-Divisions. The corps was assigned to the 1st Army of Army Group C from the beginning of the Phoney War until the end of the Battle of France; and operated primarily defensively on the western border. In the final phase of the Battle of France, it participated i ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian (; 17 June 1888 – 14 May 1954) was a German general during World War II who later became a successful memoirist. A pioneer and advocate of the "blitzkrieg" approach, he played a central role in the development of the panzer division concept. After serving in the military since leaving school, including in World War I, in 1936, he became the Inspector of Motorized Troops. At the beginning of World War II, Guderian led an Panzer corps, armoured corps in the Invasion of Poland. During the Battle of France, Invasion of France, he commanded the armoured units that attacked through the Ardennes forest and overwhelmed the Allied defenses at the Battle of Sedan (1940), Battle of Sedan. He led the 2nd Panzer Army during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The campaign ended in failure after the German offensive Operation Typhoon failed to capture Moscow, and after a disagreement with Hitler, Guderian was dismissed. In early 1943, Adol ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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2nd Panzer Group
The 2nd Panzer Army () was a German armoured formation during World War II, formed from the 2nd Panzer Group on October 5, 1941. Organisation Panzer Group Guderian () was formed on 5 June 1940 and named after its commander, general Heinz Guderian. In early June 1940, after reaching the English Channel following the breakthrough in the Ardennes, the ''Panzergruppe Guderian'' was formed from the XIX Army Corps, and thrust deep into France, cutting off the Maginot Line. In November 1940, it was upgraded into ''Panzergruppe 2''. The 2nd Panzer Group () was formed in November 1940 from Panzer Group Guderian. In October 1941 it was renamed the 2nd Panzer Army. Panzer Group 2 played a significant role in the early stages of the German invasion of the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa in 1941 when it was a constituent part of Army Group Centre. Operational history 2nd Panzer Group was part of the Army Group Centre during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Uni ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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End Of World War II In Europe
The end of World War II in Europe occurred in May 1945. Following the Death of Adolf Hitler, suicide of Adolf Hitler on 30 April, leadership of Nazi Germany passed to Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz and the Flensburg Government. Soviet Union, Soviet troops Battle of Berlin, conquered Berlin on 2 May, and a number of German military forces surrendered over the next few days. On 8 May, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the German Instrument of Surrender, an unconditional surrender to the Allies of World War II, Allies, in Karlshorst, Berlin. This is celebrated as Victory in Europe Day, while in Russia 9 May is celebrated as Victory Day (9 May), Victory Day. Some fighting continued after the German surrender. Some battles continued on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front such as the Courland Pocket in western Latvia surrendering on 10 May, and the Prague offensive in Czechoslovakia ending on 11 May. On 25 May 1945, the Battle of Odžak ended in a Yugoslav Partisan victory. Fo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |