South Army (German Empire)
The South Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on 11 January 1915 to fight against Russia and served exclusively on the Eastern Front. It was dissolved on 25 January 1918.
History
The South Army was formed in Breslau, on 11 January 1915, by the transformation of II Corps for the Hungarian Carparthian Front. II Corps commander, General der Infanterie Alexander von Linsingen took over the new army command. On 8 July 1915, von Linsingen transferred as commander of the new Army of the Bug. In his place, General der Infanterie Felix Graf von Bothmer of II Bavarian Reserve Corps took command of the South Army. With the Russians withdrawing from the war and the run down of German forces on the Eastern Front, the army was dissolved on 25 January 1918.The headquarters of the army was located in Mukachevo, Stryi, Berezhany, Khodoriv and Chortkiv.
Commanders
The South Army had the following commanders during its existence:| From | Commander | Previously | |
| 11 January 1915 | General der Infanterie Alexander von Linsingen | II Corps | Army of the Bug |
| 8 July 1915 | General der Infanterie Felix Graf von Bothmer | II Bavarian Reserve Corps | 19th 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.
- 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.