4th Army (Wehrmacht): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:14, 25 March 2005

Revision as of 20:16, 25 March 2005

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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]]. HeKluge 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]].