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The '''German Fourth Army''' (German: ''4. Armee Oberkommando'') was a field army that fought in [[World War II]].
The Fourth Army was activated on [[December 1]], [[1938]] with [[Field Marshal]] [[Günther von Kluge]] in command. The Fourth Army first went into action during the [[Polish Campaign]] of [[September]] [[1939]] as part of [[Army Group North]], which was under [[Field Marshal]] [[Feodor von Bock]]. It was tasked with capturing the [[Polish Corridor]] and thus re-linking mainland [[Germany]] with [[East Prussia]]. Under the brilliant Kluge, the Fourth Army completed its task without much difficulty. Part of the Fourth Army attacked south into [[Pomorze]] and joined other [[German]] forces at [[Warsaw]].
During the attack on the [[Low Countries]] and [[France]], the Fourth Army, as part of [[Field Marshal]] [[Gerd von Rundstedt]]'s [[Army Group A]], went into [[Belgium]] from the [[Rhineland]]. Along with other [[German]] armies, the Fourth Army penetrated the [[Dyle Line]] and completed the trapping of the [[Allied]] forces in [[France]]. [[Field Marshal]] [[Erwin Rommel]], who was under Kluge, contributed immensly to his victories. Kluge, who had been [[general of artillery]], was promoted to [[field marshal]] along with many others on [[July 19]], [[1940]].
The Fourth Army took part in [[Operation Barbarossa]] in [[1941]] as part of von Bock's [[Army Group Center]]. Its initial aim was to trap as many [[Soviet]] troops as possible around [[Minsk]]. The Fourth Army performed well and took part in the capture of [[Smolensk]]. However, bad roads contributed to the stalling of the army group and the Fourth Army. On [[December 19]], [[1941]], Kluge resigned along with von Bock and [[Field Marshal]] [[Walther von Brauchitsch]]. Kluge was replaced by [[General]] [[Ludwig Kübler]].
After the launching of [[Operation Blue]], the Fourth Army and the entire [[Army Group Center]] did not see much action, as troops were concentrated to the south. However, from 1943 on, as [[Army Group Center]] was in full retreat, the Fourth Army also had to move its troops backwards. Costly defeats took place during the [[Soviet]] [[Operation Bagration]], and the Fourth Army saw many commanders come and go. On [[April 27]], [[1945]], as the [[Red Army]] closed in on [[Berlin]], the Fourth Army was disbanded. Its last commander was [[General]] [[Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller]].
===Commanders===
* Field Marshal [[Günther von Kluge]] ([[December 1]], [[1938]] - [[December 19]], [[1941]])
* General of Mountain Troops [[Ludwig Kübler]] ([[December 19]], [[1941]] - [[January 20]], [[1942]])
* Colonel-General [[Gotthard Heinrici]] ([[January 20]], [[1942]] - [[June 6]], [[1942]])
* Colonel-General [[Hans von Salmuth]] ([[June 6]], [[1942]] - [[July 15]], [[1942]])
* Colonel-General [[Gotthard Heinrici]] ([[July 15]], [[1942]] - [[June]] ?, [[1943]]
* Colonel-General [[Hans von Salmuth]] ([[June]] ?, [[1943]] - [[July 31]], [[1943]])
* Colonel-General [[Gotthard Heinrici]] ([[July 31]], [[1943]] - [[June 4]], [[1944]])
* General of Infantry [[Kurt von Tippelskirch]] ([[June 4]], [[1944]] - [[June 30]], [[1944]])
* Lieutenant-General [[Vinzenz Müller]] ([[June 30]], [[1944]] - [[July 7]], [[1944]])
* General of Infantry [[Kurt von Tippelskirch]] ([[July 7]], [[1944]] - [[July 18]], [[1944]])
* General of Infantry [[Friedrich Hoßbach]] ([[July 18]], [[1944]] - [[January 29]], [[1945]])
* General of Infantry [[Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller]] ([[January 29]], [[1945]] - [[April 27]], [[1945]])
[[Category:German field armies|Fourth Army]]
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