This order of battle tracks the formation of the field headquarters that controlled the German ground forces in World War II. Only actual field HOs of some permanent duration are tracked in this OB, scratch groupings and other temporary headquarters are ignored.

The OB lists HQs when they were first formed. In some instances, particularly for some SS and Luftwaffe corps, the HQs became operational some time after their official formation dates. Unlike other Europa OBs, this OB tracks its forces only by month and not by turn.

HQ Size Symbols
XXXXXX Theater
XXXXX Army Group
XXXX Army, Army Detachment
XXX Corps

Terms used in the OB are:

Activate: The HQ was activated for the first time in the indicated month.
Deactivate: The HQ was deactivated, disbanded, or otherwise administratively removed from command of field units.
Reactivate: The HQ was activated with the same identification (ID) as that of a former HQ of the same size. Typically, corps and army HQs were reactivated to replace HQs destroyed in combat.
Reorganize: The HQ was reorganized in some fashion, such as changing unit type, size, or ID.
Destroyed: The HQ was destroyed in combat or surrendered to the enemy.
Not Shown: This section notes items and events of marginal importance to the OB.

Initial HQs and Corps Markers

Sep 39

3x XXXXX HQ C, Nord, Sud
8x Inf XXXX HQ 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14
5x Pz XXX HQ 14, 15, 16, 19, 22
19x Inf XXX HQ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 21, 26, 27, 30

Note: 26th Corps was designated "zbV" Corps (with no number) until Oct 39. ("zbV" was the German abbreviation for the words "zur besonderen Verwendung," meaning "for special purposes.")

3x Border XXX HQ Eif, Saar, OR

Not Shown: Army Detachment A existed temporarily along the German-Dutch border.

Oct 39

Activate:
3x Inf XXXX HQ 6, 12, 16
6x Inf XXX HQ 32,33,34,35,36, 37

Reorganize:
2x XXXXX HQ Sud, Nord to: 2x XXXXX HQ A, B

Reorganize:
3x Border XXX HQ Eif, Saar, OR to: 3x Inf XXX HQ 23,24,25

Deactivate:
5x Inf XXXX HQ 3, 5, 8, 10,14

Note: The German Army at this time followed a territorial scheme for activating and deactivating army headquarters. Thus, when the campaign in Poland was over, "eastern" army HQs were deactivated, while new army HQs were activated in the west. The Germans soon abandoned this scheme and simply transferred army HQs between fronts as needed.

Nov 39

Activate:
2x Inf XXXX HQ 2, 18
1x Inf XXX HQ 31

Jan 40

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 39
3x Inf XXX HQ 38,40,42

Feb 40

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 41

Mar 40

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 45

Reorganize: 1 x Inf XXX HQ 21 to:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 21

Note: 21st Corps HQ was selected to control the invasion of Norway. It was effectively (although not officially) an army HQ controlling several corps HQs. It was called "Group 21 " at this time.

Apr 40

Activate:
2x Inf XXX HQ 43,44

May 40

Activate:
2x Inf XXX HQ 28,29

Jun 40

Activate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 9

Not Shown:

The Germans intended to activate 46th, 47th, and 48th Infantry Corps and 49th Mountain Corps around this time, as part of the planned expansion of the Army. The overwhelming victory in France, however, led to the cancellation of the expansion. Later, the 49th was formed as a mountain corps, while the 46th, 47th, and 48th were formed as panzer corps.

Jul 40

Activate:
1x Mtn XXX HQ 19

Note: The 19th Mountain Corps was originally designed Mountain Corps Norwegen [Norway] until October 1942, when it reused the ID of the then-deactivated 19th Panzer Corps.

Sep 40

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 40 to: 1x Pz XXX HQ 40

Oct 40

Activate:
1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. West
1x XXXXX HQ D
1x Inf XXXX HQ 11
1x Pz XXX HQ 46
1x Mtn XXX HQ 49
5x Inf XXX HQ 20,50,52,59,60

Nov 40

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 47
1x Inf XXX HQ 51

Reorganize:
3x Pz XXX HQ 22, 19, 15 to: 3x Pz XXXX HQ 1,2,3

Note: These were officially "panzer groups" and were redesignated "panzer armies" in 1941-42.

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 24 to: 1x Pz XXX HQ 24

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 18 to: 1x Mtn XXX HQ 18

Dec 40

Activate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 17
1x Pz XXX HQ 48

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 21 to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ Nor

Jan 41

Activate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 15
1x Inf XXX HQ 55

Feb 41

Activate:
3x Pz XXX HQ 56, 57, DAK
1x Inf XXX HQ 53

Reorganize:
1x Pz XXX HQ 16 to: 1x Pz XXXX HQ 4

Mar 41

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 3 to: 1x Pz XXX HQ 3

May 41

Activate:
2x Inf XXX HQ 65,70

Jun 41

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 54

Reorganize:
3x XXXXX HQ B, C, A to: 3x XXXXX HQ Mitte, Nord, Sud

Note: The Nord and Sud IDs were reactivated while the Mitte ID was new.

Sep 41

Activate:
1 x Pz XXXX HQ Afr

Note: In late 1942, this was redesignated the "German- Italian Panzer Army." This later designation is ignored in the OB.

Nov 41

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 36 to: 1x Mtn XXX HQ 36

Dec 41

Activate:
1 x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Sud

Jan 42

Activate:
1x Mtn XXXX HQ 20

Note: This HQ was called "Army Lappland" until June 1942.

Deactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 34

Feb 42

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 89

Note: This was initially designated Corps Schelde until October 1942.

Disband:
1x Inf XXX HQ 65

Mar 42

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 71

May 42

Reorganize:
5x Inf XXX HQ 31, 32, 37, 45, 60 to: 5x Inf XXX HQ 80,81,82,83,84

Jun 42

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 88

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 83 to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ 19

Note: This HQ was known as "Army Grouping Felber" (but functioned as an army detachment, not an army grouping) until it was redesignated 19th Army HQ in September 1943.

Jul 42

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 2SS(SS)

Note: This HQ was initially the SS Panzer Corps (with no numeric ID), until June 1943.

Reactivate:
1x XXXXX HQ A

Reorganize: 1x XXXXX HQ Sud to: 1x XXXXX HQ B

Note: The B ID was reactivated.

Sep 42

Activate:
5x Res XXX HQ 61,62,64,66,67

Oct 42

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 87

Note: This HQ was initially designated Nordbretagne [North Brittany] until November.

1x Inf XXX HQ 2 (LW)

Nov 42

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 86

Reorganize:
1 x Inf XXXX HQ 11 to: 1x XXXXX HQ Don

Note: This army group was activated in response to the Stalingrad encirclement and given the mission of relieving the German 6th Army.

Dec 42

Activate: 1x Pz XXXX HQ 5

Note: This HQ was actually activated in November as the 90th Corps HQ but became the 5th Panzer Army HQ in December.

2x Inf XXX HQ Frs, Mth
1x Inf XXX HQ 4 (LW)

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 17 to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ Holl

Note: This was an army detachment.

Jan 43

Activate:
1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Sudost
1x Inf XXX HQ Raus

Note: This was known as Corps Cramer until March 1943.

2x Inf XXX HQ 1, 3 (LW)

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 12 to: 1x XXXXX HQ E

Not Shown:
30th Corps HQ temporarily became Army Detachment Fretter-Pico, reverting to a corps HQ again the next month.

Feb 43

Reactivate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 8

Note: This HQ was activated as Army Detachment Lanz, then redesignated Army Detachment Kempf, all in February. It officially became 8th Army HQ in September.

Reorganize:
1x Pz XXXX HQ Afr to: 1x XXXXX HQ Af r

Reorganize:
1x XXXXX HQ Don to: 1x XXXXX HQ Sud
Note: The Sud ID was reactivated.

Destroyed at Stalingrad:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 6
1x Pz XXX HQ 14
4x Inf XXX HQ 4,8, 11,51

Mar 43

Reactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 8

Note: This was initially designated Corps Hoehne and later redesignated 8th Corps.

Apr 43

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 3(SS)

Note: This was sometimes known as the 3rd (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps, as it controlled (some) units raised from "Germanic" nations, such as from Norway and Denmark.
1x Inf XXX HQ 68

Reactivate
1x Pz XXX HQ 14

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXXX HO. Holl to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ 6

Note: The 6th Army I D was reactivated.

May 43

Destroyed in Africa:
1x XXXXX HQ Afr
1x Pz XXXX HQ 5
1x Pz XXX HQ DAK

Jul 43

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 1 (SS)

Note: This was sometimes known as the 1st (Leibstandarte) SS Panzer Corps, due to its connection with 1st Leibstandarte-Adolf Hitler SS Panzer Division.
1x Mtn XXX HQ 5(SS)
1x Pz XXX HQ 76
1x Inf XXX HQ 74
1x Res Pz XXX HQ 58
1x Res XXX HQ 69

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ Mth to: 1x Inf XXX HQ 4

Note: The 4th Corps ID was reactivated.

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ Raus to: 1x Inf XXX HQ 11

Note: The 11th Corps ID was reactivated.

Aug 43

Activate:
1x XXXXX HQ F
3x Mtn XXX HQ 15,21,22

Note: These HQs reused the same IDs as the deactivated 21st Infantry, 15th Panzer, and 22nd Panzer Corps.

Reactivate
1x Inf XXXX HQ 10

Not Shown:
The 4th SS Panzer Corps HQ was planned to form at this time but actually did not do so.

Sep 43

Activate:
1x Mtn XXX HQ 51

Note: This HQ reused the same ID as the disbanded 51st Infantry Corps.

Oct 43

Activate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 4(SS)

Note: This began forming in October as the 7th SS Panzer Corps and was redesignated the 4th SS Panzer Corps in June 1944. (It finally became operational in August 1944.)
1x Inf XXX HQ 85

Note: This was called Corps Kniess until July 1944.
1x Inf XXX HQ 6(SS)

Note: This was also known as the 6th (Latvian) Armed Corps of the SS, for its association with the Latvian- personnel SS units.

Nov 43

Reactivate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 14

Reorganize:
1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Sud to: 1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Sudwest

Deactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ Frs

Not Shown:
The 65th Corps HQ was also formed this month. This was not an HQ tor control field combat units, however, as it was for V-weapon units. Hence, it is not included in this OB.

Dec 43

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 75
Note: This was temporarily known as General Command Walkurie [Valkyrie], until January 1944.

Deactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 3 (I-W)

Jan 44

Reactivate:
1x Pz XXXX HQ 5

Note: This HQ was known as Panzer Group West until redesignated 5th Panzer Army in August.

Reorganize:
2x Inf XXX HQ 2, 1 (I-W) to: 2x Para-Inf XXX HQ 1, 2 (I-W)

Reorganize:
2x Res XXX HQ 67, 69 to: 2x Inf XXX HQ 67,69

Feb 44

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 72

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 54 to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ N rw

Note: This army detachment was later called Army Detachment Grasser (in October) and then Army Detachment Kleffel (in November).

Deactivate:
1x Res XXX HQ 61

Mar 44

Activate:
1x Cav XXX HQ 1

Note: This was initially activated as the 78th Corps. It was redesignated the "Cavalry Corps" (with no numeric ID) in May, and finally the 1st Cavalry Corps in February 1945.

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 87 to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ Lig

Note: This was called Army Detachment Zangen until August, when it became Army Ligurien.

Destroyed in Korsun Pocket:
1x Inf XXX HQ 42

Apr 44

Activate:
1x XXXXX HQ G
1x Para-Inf XXXX HQ 1 (I-W)
1x Inf XXX HQ 97

Reactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 42

Reorganize:
2x XXXXX HQ Sud, A to: 2x XXXXX HQ NU, SU

May 44

Destroyed in the Crimea:
1x Mtn XXX HQ 49
1x Inf XXX HQ 5

Jun 44

Reactivate:
1x Mtn XXX HQ 49

Destroyed in Belorussia:
1x Pz XXX HQ 41
4x Inf XXX HQ 12,27,35,53

Jul 44

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 16

Note: This HQ was called Corps Kleffel until October, when it was issued the ID of the previously deactivated 16th Panzer Corps.

Reactivate
1x Inf XXX HQ 53

Note: This was called Corps Rothkirch until November.

Activate:
1x Mtn XXX HQ 9(SS)
1x Inf XXX HQ 11(SS)

Reorganize:
1x Res Pz XXX HQ 58 to: 1x Pz XXX HQ 58

Aug 44

Activate:
2x Inf XXX HQ 91, Lmb
2x Inf XXX HQ 12,13(SS)

Reactivate:
1x Pz XXX HQ 41
1x Inf XXX HQ 27

Reorganize:
3x Res XXX HQ 62, 64, 66 to: 3x Inf XXX HQ 62,64,66

Destroyed in Normandy:
1x Para-Inf XXX HQ 2 (I-W)
1x Inf XXX HQ 84

Destroyed in southern France:
1x Inf XXX HQ, 62

Destroyed in eastern Europe or the Ukraine:
6x Inf XXX HQ 4, 7, 13, 30, 44, 52

Sep 44

Activate:
1x Inf XXX HQ FId

Reorganize:
2x XXXXX HQ SLI, NU to: 2x XXXXX HQ Sud, A

Note: The Sud and A I Ds were reactivated.

Not Shown:

1) The Germans activated three "high command" HQs, Niederrhein, Oberrhein, and Saarpfalz, in the emergency arising from the Allied drive to Germany's western borders. These do not appear to have operated as field HQs and hence are ignored.

2) The Germans activated Army Detachment Serbien [Serbia] this month, but deactivated it the next month.

Oct 44

Activate:
1x Pz XXXX HQ 6(SS)
2x Pz XXX HQ FH, GD

Note: Feldherrnhalle was originally activated as the 4th Panzer Corps (reusing the ID of the destroyed 4th Infantry Corps) but was redesignated in December.

1x Pz XXX HQ HG Fs (LW)
1x Inf XXX HQ 63

Note: The 63rd Corps HQ was called General Command Dehner until November.

Reactivate:
1x Para-Inf XXX HQ 2 (LW)
2x Inf XXX HQ 13, 30

Note: High Command Vosegen [Vosges] (which was also known as Corps Felber) was formed this month and was redesignated 13th Corps HQ in January 1945. The 65th Corps HQ, formerly controlling the V-Weapons, was used to reform the 30th Corps HQ.

Nov 44

Activate:
1x XXXXX HQ H
1x Inf XXX HQ 73
1x Inf XXX HQ 10 (SS)

Note: This was originally activated as the 14th SS Corps HQ, being redesignated the 10th in January. Reactivate:

1x Inf XXX HQ 34

Reorganize: 1x Mtn XXX HQ 19 to:
1x Inf XXXX HQ Nrvk

Note: This was an army detachment. Reorganize: 1x Inf XXX HQ 4 (I-W) to:

1x Inf XXX HQ 90

Not Shown:
The Germans also formed a bogus army HQ, the 24th, to deceive Allied intelligence. In 1945, it was also called "Fortress Alps," to lead the Allies to believe that the Germans were building an Alpine redoubt.

Dec 44

Activate:
1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Oberrhein
1x Pz XXX HQ 7

Note: This HQ reused the ID of the previouslydestroyed 7th Infantry Corps.

1x Inf XXX HQ 18(SS)

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXXX HQ Nrw to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ 25

Deactivate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ Nor
Note: This HQ was absorbed into 20th Mountain Army, as the 20th had retreated from Finland into Norway by this time.

Jan 45

Activate:
1x XXXXX HQ WS1
1x Fort XXX HQ Brs

Reactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ 5

Deactivate:
1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Oberrhein

Reorganize:
3x XXXXX HQ Nord, Mitte, A to: 3x XXXXX HQ Kur, Nord, Mitte
Note: This was a general name swapping, reflecting the situation that had developed for the Germans on the eastern front. (The former Nord had been cut off in Courland for some time, while the former Mitte had become the northern army group on the main front.)

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXX HQ 38 to. 1x Pz XXX HQ 38

Destroyed in Poland:
1x Pz XXX HQ 56
1x Inf XXX HQ 42

Feb 45

Activate:
3x Inf XXX HQ 101, Oder, Tet
1x Cav XXX HQ 15(SS)

Reactivate:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 11
Note: This HQ was also known as the 11th SS Panzer Army.

1x Pz XXX HQ 56

Destroyed at Budapest:
1x Mtn XXX HQ 9(SS)

Not Shown:
The 28th Corps HQ became Army Detachment Samland this month, only to revert to being the 28th Corps HQ the next month.

Mar 45

Activate:
1x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Sud

Note: Ob. Sud was activated in late March over the southern portion of the western front, which was becoming detached from the rest of the front due to the Allied offensive there.

Deactivate:
1x XXXXX HQ F

Destroyed in Pomerania:
1x Inf XXX HQ 10(SS)

Not Shown:
The Serbian Volunteer SS Corps (Serbisches Freiwilligen-SS-korps) was also formed this month, over five Serbian SS regiments. This HQ hardly seems to be a real corps HQ and is ignored in the OB.

Apr 45

Activate:
1 x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Nordwest
Note: Ob. Nordwest was activated to control the forces in "Fortress Holland."

Reactivate:
2x Inf XXXX HQ 12,21
2x Inf XXX HQ 12,32

Reorganize:
1x XXXXX HQ Sud to: 1x XXXXX HQ OM

Reorganize:
1x Inf XXXX HQ 2 to: 1x Inf XXXX HQ OP

Deactivate:
1x Inf XXX HQ Oder
Note: This was merged into an existing corps HQ on the German eastern front. Destroyed in the Ruhr Pocket.

1x XXXXX HQ B
1x Pz XXXX HQ 5
1x Inf XXXX HQ 15
1x Pz XXX HO. 47
1x Inf XXX HQ 12(SS)

Note: The 89th Corps HQ was possibly destroyed this month, and perhaps other corps HQs. If not actually destroyed, many HQs were hardly functioning by the end of this month.

Not Shown:
1) Army Detachment Luttwitz was formed in the Ruhr pocket from 47th Panzer Corps HQ and then surrendered there in the same month.
2) General Command Ems was formed in the west. This is ignored.

May 45
Note: All remaining HQs surrendered or were destroyed.

German Higher HQs Listing

See the earlier listing for corps HQs.

German Army

6x XXXXXX HQ Ob. Nordwest, Ob. Oberrh-ein, Ob. Sud,Ob. Suclost, Ob. Sudwest, Ob. West

18x XXXXX HQ A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, Afr, Don, Kur, Mitte, Nord, NU, OM, Sud, SU, Wsl

6x Pz XXXX HQ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Afr 1x Mtn XXXX HQ 20

26x Inf XXXX HQ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 25, Holl, Lig, Nrvk, Nrw, Nor, OP

Names:
Afr Afrika [Africa]
Ob. Oberbefehlshaber [Theater]
Don [River in southern Russia]
Holl Hollidt [Commander's name]
Kur Kurland [Courland, traditional name of a region in Latvia]
Lig Ligurien [Liguria, a region in northern Italy]
Mitte [Center]
Nor Norwegen [Norway]
Nord [North]
Nordwest [Northwest]
NU Nordukraine [North Ukraine]
Nrvk Narvik [important port in Norway]
Nrw Narwa [Narva, an Estonian town on an important communications route between Estonia and Leningrad]
Oberrhein [Upper Rhine]
OM Ostmark ["Eastern Mark," a name sometimes used for a region embracing the area in and around Austria. It was used to avoid using "Austria" and its connotations of independent statehood.]
OP Ostpreussen [East Prussia]
SU Suclukraine [South Ukraine]
Sud [South]
Sudost [Southeast]
Sudwest [Southwest]
West [West]
Wsl Weichsel [Vistula, a river in Poland]

Luftwaffe:
1x Para-Inf XXXX HQ 1

SS:
1x Pz XXXX HQ 6

Inside Europa WWII German Field Command Headquarters

Historical Background
Europa Order of Battle: German Field HQs
Special Stacking Side