Westheer
 |
The Westheer (Western Army) is the name given to the
German Army fighting on the Western Front after 1941. The Oberbefehlshaber West
was the largest command structure for the Westheer.
History
It was composed of
Panzer Group West, under the command of General der Panzertruppe Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg
.
Most of Westheer's divisions were static
which were currently refitting in France at D-day. At D-day, the Westheer had around 58 divisions organized into four armies.It was commanded by
Operation Overlord. Hitler's refusal to release the armored reserve until 1430 hours on D-day prevented the Germans from eliminating the allied beachheads while they were lightly held. Thus, the Westheer was embroiled in a battle of attrition which it could not win. Particularly difficult was the surrounding bocage of the Norman countryside, which seriously hampered armored operations and the allied bombing, which prevented the Germans from receiving reinforcements in strength. After Operation Cobra, the Westheer's order of battle was decimated by the destruction of the Falaise pocket
, which consisted primarily of Army Group B.
Although the Westheer regrouped after Falaise to fight in the
Battle of Hurtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge, it never exhibited the strength that they had in the summer of 1944. Most of its divisions at that time were understrength in personnel and equipment. The remnants of the Westheer disintegrated after the American breakthrough in the Battle of Remagen
.
Most units of the Westheer surrendered in the last weeks of
Ruhr Pocket
.
References
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