The 10. Armee was formed on 26 August 1939 from the staff of Heeresgruppenkommandos 4. It was redesignated 6. Armee on 10 October 1939.

The 10. Armee was reformed on 15 August 1943 in Italy from the staff of the Deutschen Generals beim Hauptquartier der italienischen Wehrmacht. It fought in Italy for the rest of the war and surrendered there on 2 May 1945.

Known war crimes

Soldiers of Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 818, attached to 10. Armee, killed 11 people in Falzano di Cortona June 1944 by shutting them in a farmhouse and blew up the building in retaliation for the killing of two German soldiers.
The battalion commander Herbert Stommel and the company commander Josef Scheungraber were found guilty for the crime in absentia in a trial held in La Spezia in September 2006. Scheungraber was put on trial in Munich for the crime in September 2008 and sentenced to life in jail on 11 August 2009. (1)

Commanders

Generalfeldmarschall Walter von Reichenau (26 Aug 1939 - 10 Oct 1939)
Generaloberst Heinrich von Viettinghoff genannt Scheel (15 Aug 1943 - 5 Nov 1943)
General der Panzertruppe Joachim Lemelsen (5 Nov 1943 - 31 Dec 1943)
Generaloberst Heinrich von Viettinghoff genannt Scheel (31 Dec 1943 - 24 Oct 1944)
General der Panzertruppe Joachim Lemelsen (24 Oct 1944 - 15 Feb 1944)
General der Panzertruppe Traugott Herr (15 Feb 1945 - 2 May 1945)

Chiefs of Staff

Generalmajor Friedrich Paulus (26 Aug 1939 - 10 Oct 1939)
Oberst Fritz Wentzell (15 Aug 1943 - 1 Nov 1944)
Generalmajor Dietrich Beelitz (1 Nov 1944 - 2 May 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberst Eduard Metz (26 Aug 1939 - 3 Oct 1939)
Oberstleutnant Anton-Reichard Freiherr von Mauchenheim genannt Bechtolsheim (3 Oct 1939 - 10 Oct 1939)
Oberst Hermann Berlin (15 Aug 1943 - 25 July 1944)
Oberstleutnant Horst Pretzell (25 July 1944 - 2 May 1945)

Area of operations

Poland (Sep 1939 - Oct 1939)
Italy (Aug 1943 - May 1945)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the German Cross in Gold (1)
- Berlin, Hermann, 11.04.1944, Oberst i.G., Ia AOK 10
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (2)
- Gablenz Freiherr von, Maximilian, 22.09.1944, Oberst, Kdt.e.P.Kdtr. I Korück 594 (AOK 10)
- Wagner, Carl, 28.06.1944, Oberst, Armee-Nachrichtenführer AOK 10
Holders of the Knight's Cross (3) (2 RK + 1 EL)
- Oakleaves
-- von Vietinghoff, gen. v. Scheel, Heinrich-Gottfried 16.04.1944 [456. EL] Generaloberst OB 10. Armee
- Knight's Cross
-- Reichenau von, Walter 30.09.1939 Generaloberst OB 10. Armee
-- Wentzell, Fritz 23.10.1944 Generalmajor Chef d. Gen.St. 10. Armee

Holders of high awards (Armee-Truppen)

Holders of the German Cross in Gold (1)
- Denzinger, Franz, 20.03.1944, Oberstleutnant, Kdr. Art.Rgts.Stab (mot) z.b.V. 553
Holders of the Knight's Cross (1)
- Denzinger, Franz 05.09.1944 Oberst Kdr Art.Rgts.Stab z.b.V. 553

Order of battle (27 Aug 1943)

XIV. Panzerkorps
- 15. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 16. Panzer-Division
- Panzer-Division “Hermann Göring”
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division (part)
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 26. Panzer-Division (most)
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division (most)

Order of battle (20 Nov 1943)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- Panzer-Division “Hermann Göring”
XIV. Panzerkorps
- 94. Infanterie-Division
- 15. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 26. Panzer-Division (most)
- 305. Infanterie-Division
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division + 26. Panzer-Division (part)
- 16. Panzer-Division (in transit)
- 65. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (14 Dec 1943)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 5. Gebirgs-Division (in transit)
XIV. Panzerkorps
- 94. Infanterie-Division
- 15. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister
- 305. Infanterie-Division
- Panzer-Division “Hermann Göring”
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 26. Panzer-Division
- 65. Infanterie-Division
- 90. Panzer-Grenadier-Division

Order of battle (14 Apr 1944)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 90. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
XIV. Panzerkorps
- 94. Infanterie-Division
- 71. Infanterie-Division
- 15. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister
- 5. Gebirgs-Division
LI. Gebirgs-Armeekorps
- 114. Jäger-Division
- 334. Infanterie-Division
- 305. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (15 June 1944)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 114. Jäger-Division (in transit)
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 334. Infanterie-Division
- Fallschirm-Panzer-Division “Hermann Göring”
- 15. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 94. Infanterie-Division
LI. Gebirgs-Armeekorps
- 305. Infanterie-Division
- Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister
- 5. Gebirgs-Division
- 71. Infanterie-Division (remnants)
- 278. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (15 Aug 1944)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
LI. Gebirgs-Armeekorps
- 715. Infanterie-Division
- 334. Infanterie-Division
- 305. Infanterie-Division
- Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister
- 114. Jäger-Division
- 15. Panzer-Grenadier-Division (in transit)
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 5. Gebirgs-Division
- 71. Infanterie-Division
- 278. Infanterie-Division
Befehlshaber Venetianisches Küstenland
- 162. (turk.) Infanterie-Division
- 98. Infanterie-Division + Festungs-Einheiten
Befehlshaber Operationszone Adriatisches Küstenland
- 3. Regiment “Brandenburg”
- 94. Infanterie-Division
- Sicherungs-Einheiten
Befehlshaber Operationszone Alpenvorland (Mil.Kdt. 1010)

Order of battle (16 Sep 1944)

LI. Gebirgs-Armeekorps
- 715. Infanterie-Division
- 305. Infanterie-Division
- Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister
- 114. Jäger-Division
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 278. Infanterie-Division
- 71. Infanterie-Division
- 98. Infanterie-Division
- 26. Panzer-Division
- 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 356. Infanterie-Division
- 20. Luftwaffen-Sturm-Division
Operationszone Venetianisches Küstenland (Korps Witthöft)
- 162. (Turk.) Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (26 Nov 1944)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 90. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 352. Infanterie-Division
I. Fallschirm-Korps
- 94. Infanterie-Division
- 16. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Reichsführer-SS”
- 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division
XIV. Panzerkorps
- 65. Infanterie-Division
- 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 42. Jäger-Division
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 334. Infanterie-Division
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 715. Infanterie-Division
- 305. Infanterie-Division
- 26. Panzer-Division + Kampfgruppe 20. Luftwaffen-Sturm-Division
- 278. Infanterie-Division
- 356. Infanterie-Division
LXXIII. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- 114. Jäger-Division
- 1 Regiment 162. (Turk.) Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (31 Dec 1944)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 26. Panzer-Division
- 157. Gebirgs-Division
- 98. Infanterie-Division
I. Fallschirm-Korps
- 94. Infanterie-Division
- 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division
XIV. Panzerkorps
- 65. Infanterie-Division
- 362. Infanterie-Division
- 42. Jäger-Division
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 334. Infanterie-Division
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 715. Infanterie-Division
- 90. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 29. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 278. Infanterie-Division
LXXIII. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- 356. Infanterie-Division
- 1 Regiment 162. (turk.) Infanterie-Division
- 16. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Reichsführer-SS”
- 114. Jäger-Division
- 710. Infanterie-Division (part)
LXXXXVII. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- 188. Reserve-Gebirgs-Division
- 237. Infanterie-Division
- 710. Infanterie-Division (most)

Order of battle (1 Mar 1945)

At the disposal of the 10. Armee
- 90. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
I. Fallschirm-Korps
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 334. Infanterie-Division
- 278. Infanterie-Division
- 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 26. Panzer-Division
- 98. Infanterie-Division
- 362. Infanterie-Division
- 42. Jäger-Division
- 162. (Turk.) Infanterie-Division
LXXIII. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- Alarm-Einheiten
LXXXXVII. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- 710. Infanterie-Division
- 188. Gebirgs-Division
- 237. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (12 Apr 1945)

I. Fallschirm-Korps
- 305. Infanterie-Division
- 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 278. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 26. Panzer-Division
LXXVI. Panzerkorps
- 98. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 362. Infanterie-Division
- 42. Jäger-Division
- 162. (turk.) Infanterie-Division
LXXIII. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- Alarm-Einheiten

General der Polizei Daluege, Generalmajor Karl Bodenschatz, General der Artillerie Walter von Reichenau and Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel during the campaign in Poland 1939

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Footnotes

1. "Le stragi nazifasciste in Toscana 1943-45: Guida archivistica alla memoria gli archivi tedeschi, Vol 2" by Carlo Gentile, German tried over Nazi war crime, BBC News 15 September 2008 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7617170.stm, Nazi war criminal jailed for life, BBC News 11 August 2009 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8194691.stm

Sources used

Research by Shawn Bohannon
Carlo Gentile - Le stragi nazifasciste in Toscana 1943-45: Guida archivistica alla memoria gli archivi tedeschi, Vol 2
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -