4. Armee on May 15th 1940

[Skarn]

Hello Feldgrauians !

Could someone help me to find what was the operational Order of Battle of this army on May 15th 1940 ?

I have the following :
- XV. Armeekorps (motorisiert) (aka Gruppe Hoth for a day) : 5. and 7. Panzer Divisionen.
- II. Armeekorps : 12. and 32. Infanterie Divisionen
- V. Armeekorps : 251. Infanterie Division
- VIII. Armeekorps : 8. and 28. Infanterie Divisionen

I don't know what was the subordination of the following units, even if I'm quite sure that they were in the 4. Armee area : 211., 263. and 267. Infanterie Divisionen.

Could someone correct me or add units if they're lacking ?

Thanks a lot !
Best regards,

Loïc

[Michael Avanzini]

- II. Armeekorps : 12. 32. and 263 Infanterie Divisionen
- V. Armeekorps : 251. Infanterie Division
- VIII. Armeekorps : 8. 28. 87, and 267 Infanterie Divisionen

211 Infanterie Divisionen assigned to 4.AOK

Regards
Michael

[Skarn]

Michael,

It looks like the 4. Armee Order of Battle on May 10th 1940, doesn't it ?
Are you sure that there was no change between May 10th and May 15th ?

I remember another unit I forgot to mention : 62. Infanterie Division.

Loïc

[Michael Avanzini]

Sorry Loic, I looked at the post and my eyes read it as May 10. I do not have the 15th OOB.

Michael

[Skarn]

No problem Michael,

It was kind of you to help me.

Regards from France,

Loïc

[genstab]

Loic,
Your O/B pretty well matches the one Tessin has for 10 May except he shows 2 ID in XV AK (mot), and 4, 87, 211, 263 and 267 ID in Army Reserve. The only source I have for the Battle of France is Taylor's "March of Conquest" and he doesn't mention any of these divisions. Besides the first OKH O/B on 8 June, the only further movement for any of the Reserve divisions I have is 87 ID, which in late May was In V AK, Pz Gr. Kleist (Guderian, "Panzer Leader"). Guderian also says 62 ID was in V AK in late May. But 15 May I don't have. "Die Geheimen Tagesberichte" only has maps for 10 May and 5 June. There are no doubt Army Group O/Bs buried in the US National Archives microfilms or at the Freiburg Bundesarchiv- some day I hope to get hold of those from September 1939 to June 1940. I have a fellow researcher going to the National Archives this summer. When I get hold of them I'll let you know. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[Skarn]

Well, thanks for your offer genstab, it would be a great help.

I made some researches about the German advance following the XV. Armeekorps (motorisiert) divisions towards the Meuse River, and I found that three of the infantry divisions participated in the expansion of the bridgehead May 15th-16th 1940 : 8. Infanterie Division (VIII. Armeekorps) on the north wing, 62. Infanterie Division in the center and 32. Infanterie Division (II. Armeekorps) in the south.

I try to ask an easier question now, because apparently, a complete OB is out of range : under which corps was the 62. Infanterie Division at this time (May 15th 1940) : VIII., XV. or II. Armeekorps ?

Thanks for any help provided.
Regards,

Loïc

[bill russ]

Hi Loic,
It's me, your old buddy William :-). I'm pretty sure I've got what you want for the 4th Army. I just need to dig it out of the files! Since I've gotten married, I have a lot less time to visit the Feldgrau forum to see how my friends are doing. Hopefully I can get to it before the end of the day.

Bill

[bill russ]

Hi Loic,
I found an OB for May 14th. This is the closest I could find. Here is what I found;

II Corps: 12, 32 & 62 Infantry Divisions
VIII Corps: 8, 28, 251 & 267 Infantry Divisions
V Corps; 87, 211, 263, 4* & 27* Infantry Divisions
XV Corps: 5 & 7 Panzer Divisions

*army group Reserves

Hope this helps.

Best regards, Bill

[Skarn]

Wonderful !

Hey, Kaiser Bill, this is a huge pleasure to see you here and to have news from you. And also to learn that you have gotten married ! Another one who felt in the trap, huh ?

Anyway, I didn't know that, and I want to tell you congratulations, even if it is late.

More in your private box.

Loïc