12th Army (German Empire)

German army group on the Eastern Front of World War I July 2014 August 2024 12. Armee12th Army Stab eines Armeeoberkommandos.svg 200 Flag of the Staff of an Armee Oberkommando (1871–1918) 7 August 1915 – 9 October 1916 German Empire Army World War I A.O.K. 12 Abbreviation The 12th Army (de 12. Armee / Armeeoberkommando 12 / A.O.K. 12) was an army level command of the German Army in World War I formed in August 1915 by the redesignation of de Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz.Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz had been formed on 18 March 1915 under command of General der Artillerie Max von Gallwitz It served exclusively on the Eastern Front and was dissolved on 9 October 1916 when its commander, General der Infanterie Max von Fabeck, was transferred to 8th Army.Cron 2002 81–82 History thumb|left|Russian withdrawal in 1915 On 9 February 1915 Guards Reserve Corps was redesignated Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz. Its commander was raised to the status of an Army Commander on 18 March 1915 and his Armee-Gruppe was redesignated as 12th Army on 7 August 1915. On 22 July, the armies of Central Powers crossed the Vistula river. In August, the Russian Fourth Army left the Ivangorod fortress. With the continuing Russian retreat, Warsaw became isolated, and the 12th Army seized the opportunity and conquered it on 4–5 August. Commanders Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz was redesignated as 12th Army on 7 August 1915 with von Gallwitz remaining in command.Cron 2002 397 The 12th Army was dissolved on 9 October 1916 when its commander was transferred to 8th Army. +12th Army From Commander Previously Subsequently, 7 August 1915 General der Artillerie Max von Gallwitz Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz 11th Army 22 September 1915 General der Infanterie Max von Fabeck 1st Army 8th Army Glossary Armee-Abteilung or Army Detachment in the sense of "something detached from an Army". It is not under the command of an Army so is in itself a small Army.Cron 2002 84 Armee-Gruppe or Army Group in the sense of a group within an Army and under its command, generally formed as a temporary measure for a specific task. Heeresgruppe or Army Group in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander. See also Germany 12th Army (Wehrmacht) for the equivalent formation in World War II Great Retreat (Russian) References Bibliography Cron Hermann 2002 Imperial German Army 1914–18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle [first published: 1937] Helion & Co 1-874622-70-1 Ellis John Cox Michael 1993 The World War I Databook Aurum Press Ltd 1-85410-766-6 12 Category:Military units and formations established in 1915 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1916