OB West

High Commander in the West (Oberbefehlshaber West (German: initials OB West)) was the overall commander of the Westheer, the German Armed Forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to German Armed Forces High Command. The area under the command of the OB West varied as the war progressed. At its farthest extent it reached the French Atlantic coast. By the end of World War II in Europe it was reduced to commanding troops in Bavaria.

Commanders

No. NameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Rundstedt, GerdGeneralfeldmarschall
Gerd von Rundstedt
(1875–1953)
10 October 19401 April 1941173 days
2
Witzleben, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall
Erwin von Witzleben
(1881–1944)
1 May 194115 March 1942348 days
(1)
Rundstedt, GerdGeneralfeldmarschall
Gerd von Rundstedt
(1875–1953)
15 March 19422 July 19442 years, 109 days
3
Kluge, GüntherGeneralfeldmarschall
Günther von Kluge
(1882–1944)
2 July 194417 August 194446 days
-
Model, WalterGeneralfeldmarschall
Walter Model
(1891–1945)
Acting
17 August 19443 September 194417 days
(1)
Rundstedt, GerdGeneralfeldmarschall
Gerd von Rundstedt
(1875–1953)
3 September 194411 March 1945189 days
4
Kesselring, AlbertGeneralfeldmarschall
Albert Kesselring
(1885–1960)
11 March 194522 April 194542 days

Order of battle from June 1944 to January 1945

OB West
Army Group BPanzer Group West Army Group G Army Group HArmy Group D
Seventh ArmyFifteenth ArmySixth SS Panzer Army (Dec 1944 – Jan 1945)Fifth Panzer ArmyFirst ArmyNineteenth Army1st Parachute Army25th ArmyStructure of the OB West
LXXXIV CorpsLXXXVIII CorpsI SS Panzer CorpsI SS Panzer CorpsXII CorpsLXII CorpsII Parachute CorpsXXX Corps
II Parachute CorpsLXXXVIII CorpsII SS Panzer CorpsXLVII Panzer CorpsXXIV CorpsLXXXV CorpsLXXXVI Corps
LIII Corps (dec. 1944)LXXXVI CorpsLXVII CorpsII SS Panzer CorpsXXIV CorpsLXXXV CorpsLXXXVI Corps

References

http://niehorster.org/011_germany/44-oob/44-06-01_neptune/__OB_WEST.htm

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