1st Army (German Empire)

Military unit of the German Army in World War I July 2014 April 2026 1. Armee1st Army Stab eines Armeeoberkommandos.svg Flag of the Staff of an Armee Oberkommando (1871–1918) 2 August 1914 – 17 September 191519 July 1916 – 24 January 1919 German Empire Army World War I Battle of the Frontiers Siege of Antwerp (part) Battle of Mons Battle of Le Cateau First Battle of the Marne First Battle of the Aisne Battle of Arras (1914) Battle of the Somme Second Battle of the Aisne A.O.K. 1 Abbreviation The 1st Army (de 1. Armee / Armeeoberkommando 1 / A.O.K. 1) was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on mobilization in August 1914 from the VIII Army Inspectorate.Cron 2002 392 The army was dissolved on 17 September 1915, but reformed on 19 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.Cron 2002 79 It was finally disbanded in 1919 during demobilization after the war. History First formation The 1st Army during World War I, fought on the Western Front and took part in the Schlieffen Plan offensive against France and Belgium in August 1914. Commanded by General Alexander von Kluck, the 1st Army's job was to command the extreme right of the German forces in attacking the left flank of the French Army and encircling Paris, bringing a rapid conclusion to the war. His army had the greatest striking power of the offensive, a density of about 18,000 men per mile of front (about 10 per metre). The First Army captured Brussels on 20 August and was almost successful in defeating France but was halted just 13 miles outside the French capital in the First Battle of the Marne that took place in early September. Von Kluck was replaced in 1915 after being seriously wounded in the leg. With 10 army level commands (1st to 7th Armies plus three Armee-Abteilungen), the German Supreme Command felt able to dispense with 1st Army. Its units were distributed amongst neighbouring armies and the army was dissolved on 17 September 1915.Cron 2002 49 Second formation 2nd Army bore the brunt of the Allied attack in the Battle of the Somme. It had grown to such an extent that a decision was made to divide it. The 1st Army was reformed on 19 July 1916 from the right (northern) wing of the 2nd Army. The former commander of 2nd Army, General der Infanterie Fritz von Below, took command of 1st Army and 2nd Army got a new commander General der Artillerie Max von Gallwitz. Von Gallwitz was also installed as commander of Heeresgruppe Gallwitz – Somme to co-ordinate the actions of both armies on the Somme.Cron 2002 49 At the end of the war it was serving as part of Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz.Ellis Cox 1993 187 Order of Battle, 30 October 1918 By the end of the war, the 1st Army was organised as: Organization of 1st Army on 30 October 1918Ellis Cox 1993 187 Army Corps Division 1st Army VII Reserve Corps 1st Division 50th Reserve Division 8th Bavarian Reserve Division 17th Division parts of Guards Cavalry Rifle Division VI Reserve Corps 80th Reserve Division Guards Cavalry Rifle Division (less elements) XXIV Reserve Corps 51st Reserve Division 7th Division Commanders The original 1st Army had the following commanders until it was dissolved 17 September 1915:Cron 2002 392 +1st Army From Commander Previously Subsequently, 2 August 1914 Generaloberst Alexander von Kluck VIII Army Inspectorate (VIII. Armee-Inspektion) Wounded, 27 March 1915 28 March 1915 General der Infanterie Max von Fabeck 11th Army 12th Army A "new" 1st Army was formed from the right (northern) wing of the 2nd Army during the Battle of the Somme.Cron 2002 392 +"New" 1st Army From Commander Previously Subsequently, 19 July 1916 General der Infanterie Fritz von Below 2nd Army 9th Army 9 June 1918 General der Infanterie Bruno von Mudra Armee-Abteilung A 17th Army 12 October 1918 General der Infanterie Otto von Below 17th Army Homeland Defence West 8 November 1918 General der Infanterie Magnus von Eberhardt 7th 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 1st Army (Wehrmacht) for the equivalent formation in World War II German Army order of battle (1914) German Army order of battle, Western Front (1918) Order of battle at Mons Order of battle, 1st Battle of the Marne Schlieffen Plan References Bibliography Cron Hermann 2002 1937 Imperial German Army 1914–18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle 2nd Eng. trans. Helion 1-874622-70-1 Ellis John Cox Michael 1993 The World War I Databook Aurum Press 1-85410-766-6 Further reading Tuchman Barbara W. 1962 1994 The Guns of August Ballantine Books New York 0-345-38623-X y 01 Category:Military units and formations established in 1914 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1915 Category:Military units and formations established in 1916 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1919