The 15. Armee was formed on 15 January 1941 in France. It surrendered on 16 April 1945 in the Ruhr Pocket (General von Zangen, having lost control of his subordinate units, surrendered with his staff on 13 April 1945 to the U.S. 7th Armored Division).

Under the German deception maneuver preparatory to the Ardennes Offensive, the 25. Armee was given the cover name 15. Armee during the period 16 November 1944-16 December 1944. Concurrently, the actual 15. Armee, which had transferred from the Netherlands and taken over the Aachen sector from the 5. Panzerarmee, was given the cover name Armeegruppe von Manteuffel. The 5. Panzerarmee, transferred east of the Roer, adopted the cover name Feldjägerkommando z.b.V.

Commanders

Generaloberst Curt Haase (15 Feb 1941 - 1 Dec 1942)
Generaloberst Heinrich von Viettinghoff genannt Scheel (1 Dec 1942 - 1 Aug 1943)
Generaloberst Hans von Salmuth (1 Aug 1943 - 23 Aug 1944)
General der Infanterie Gustav-Adolf von Zangen (23 Aug 1944 - 13 Apr 1945)

Chiefs of Staff

Oberst Maximilian Grimmeiß (15 Jan 1941 - 21 Nov 1941)
Generalmajor Heinz Ziegler (9 Dec 1941 - 1 Apr 1942)
Generalmajor Rolf Wuthmann (1 Apr 1942 - 30 Apr 1942)
Generalleutnant Rudolf Hofmann (1 May 1942 - 6 Nov 1944)
Oberst Wolf von Kahlden (6 Nov 1944 - 10 Mar 1945)
Oberst Walter Reinhard (15 Mar 1945 - 13 Apr 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberst Werner Ehrig (15 Jan 1941 - 15 Nov 1942)
Oberstleutnant Werner Wolff (15 Nov 1942 - 24 Oct 1943)
Oberst Georg Metzke (24 Oct 1943 - 10 Jan 1945)
Oberst Hans-Heinrich Kuban (18 Jan 1945 - 5 Mar 1945)
Oberst Albert Jaster (5 Mar 1945 - 13 Apr 1945)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the German Cross in Gold (1)
- Hofmann, Rudolf, 09.11.1944, Generalleutnant, Chef d. Gen.St. AOK 15
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (3)
- Bordihn, Adolf, 30.10.1943, Generalleutnant, Armee-Pionierführer AOK 15
- Knauff, Walter, 12.02.1945, Oberst i.G., OQu AOK 15
- Schumacher, Raoul, 29.01.1945, Generalintendant, Armeeintendant Stb./Gruppe von Manteuffel [cover name]
Holders of the Knight's Cross (1)
- Oakleaves
-- Zangen von, Gustav-Adolf 05.11.1944 [647. EL] General der Infanterie Fhr [m.d.F.b.] 15. Armee

Holders of high awards (Armee-Truppen)

Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- Loelf, Heinrich, 16.05.1942 (128), Obergefreiter, 1./He.Küst.Art.Abt. 770 / AOK 15

Order of battle (22 June 1941)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 711. Infanterie-Division
Höheres Kommando z.b.V. LX
- 323. Infanterie-Division
- 83. Infanterie-Division
- 216. Infanterie-Division
- 319. Infanterie-Division
Höheres Kommando z.b.V. XXXII
- 336. Infanterie-Division
- 302. Infanterie-Division
- 225. Infanterie-Division
- 332. Infanterie-Division
- 716. Infanterie-Division
Höheres Kommando z.b.V. XXXVII
- 320. Infanterie-Division
- 304. Infanterie-Division
- 321. Infanterie-Division
- 340. Infanterie-Division
- 208. Infanterie-Division
- 306. Infanterie-Division
- 227. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (15 Nov 1942)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 26. Panzer-Division
- 38. Infanterie-Division
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 65. Infanterie-Division
LXXXII. Armeekorps
- 321. Infanterie-Division
- 306. Infanterie-Division
- 106. Infanterie-Division
- 304. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 302. Infanterie-Division
- 332. Infanterie-Division
- 711. Infanterie-Division
- 348. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (15 May 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 19. Feld-Division (L)
- 182. Reserve-Division
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 346. Infanterie-Division
- 84. Infanterie-Division (forming)
- 85. Infanterie-Division (forming)
- 331. Infanterie-Division (forming)
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 165. Reserve-Division
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 48. Infanterie-Division
LXXXII. Armeekorps
- 18. Feld-Division (L)
- 47. Infanterie-Division
- 49. Infanterie-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- 344. Infanterie-Division
- 348. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 17. Feld-Division (L)
- 711. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (15 June 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- LXIV. Reserve-Korps
- 1. SS-Panzer-Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler” (refitting)
- 182. Reserve-Division
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 331. Infanterie-Division (forming)
- 85. Infanterie-Division
- 84. Infanterie-Division
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 165. Reserve-Division
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 48. Infanterie-Division
LXXXII. Armeekorps
- 18. Feld-Division (L)
- 47. Infanterie-Division
- 49. Infanterie-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- 344. Infanterie-Division
- 348. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 17. Feld-Division (L)
- 711. Infanterie-Division
- 346. Infanterie-Division
- 21. Panzer-Division (part)

Order of battle (15 July 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- Divisionsstab z.b.V. 136
- 363. Infanterie-Division
- 331. Infanterie-Division
- 85. Infanterie-Division
- 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- 116. Panzer-Division
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 84. Infanterie-Division
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 165. Reserve-Division
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 48. Infanterie-Division
LXXXII. Armeekorps
- 18. Feld-Division (L)
- 47. Infanterie-Division
- 49. Infanterie-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- 344. Infanterie-Division
- 348. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 17. Feld-Division (L)
- 89. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (31 Aug 1944)

LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 70. Infanterie-Division
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
- 64. Infanterie-Division
- 182. Reserve-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 226. Infanterie-Division
- 17. Feld-Division (L)

Order of battle (16 Sep 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 226. Infanterie-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division (part)
- 70. Infanterie-Division
- 245. Infanterie-Division (part)
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division (most)
- 64. Infanterie-Division
LXXXVI. Armeekorps
- 59. Infanterie-Division (most)
- 712. Infanterie-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- 711. Infanterie-Division
- Kampfgruppe 346. Infanterie-Division + 17. Feld-Division (L) (remnants) + 331. Infanterie-Division (remnants) + 344. Infanterie-Division (remnants)

Order of battle (28 Sep 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 226. Infanterie-Division
- 331. Infanterie-Division
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- 64. Infanterie-Division
- 70. Infanterie-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- Kampfgruppe 346. Infanterie-Division + 344. Infanterie-Division (remnants)
- 719. Infanterie-Division
- 711. Infanterie-Division
LXXXVIII. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
- Kampfgruppe 85. Infanterie-Division
- Kampfgruppe 712. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (13 Oct 1944)

LXVII. Armeekorps
- 65. Infanterie-Division
- 70. Infanterie-Division
- 85. Infanterie-Division
- Kampfgruppe 346. Infanterie-Division
- 711. Infanterie-Division
- 719. Infanterie-Division
LXXXVIII. Armeekorps
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
LXXXIX. Armeekorps
- Kampfgruppe 712. Infanterie-Division
- Stab 344. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (5 Nov 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- Kampfgruppe 226. Infanterie-Division
- Stab 331. Infanterie-Division
- 70. Infanterie-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- Kampfgruppe 85. Infanterie-Division
- Kampfgruppe 346. Infanterie-Division
- 245. Infanterie-Division
- 719. Infanterie-Division
- 711. Infanterie-Division
LXXXVIII. Armeekorps
- 256. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
- 1 Regiment 10. SS-Panzer-Division “Frundsberg”

Order of battle (26 Nov 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 719. Infanterie-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division (in transit)
XXX. Armeekorps z.b.V.
- Kampfgruppe 346. Infanterie-Division
LXXXVIII. Armeekorps
- 711. Infanterie-Division
- 712. Infanterie-Division
- 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division

Order of battle (31 Dec 1944)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 10. SS-Panzer-Division “Frundsberg”
XII. SS-Armeekorps
- 176. Infanterie-Division
- 183. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 363. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 47. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 353. Infanterie-Division
LXXIV. Armeekorps
- 85. Infanterie-Division
- 272. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 326. Volks-Grenadier-Division
LXVII. Armeekorps
- 277. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 246. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 89. Infanterie-Division
- 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division

Order of battle (21 Jan 1945)

At the disposal of the 15. Armee
- 27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “Langemark”
- 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “Wallonien”
- 12. Volks-Grenadier-Division
XII. SS-Armeekorps
- 176. Infanterie-Division
- 183. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 363. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 353. Infanterie-Division
- 85. Infanterie-Division
LXXIV. Armeekorps
- 272. Infanterie-Division
- 62. Volks-Grenadier-Division

Order of battle (1 Mar 1945)

XII. SS-Armeekorps
- 176. Infanterie-Division (most)
- 183. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 338. Infanterie-Division
- Panzer-Lehr-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- 11. Panzer-Division
- 59. Infanterie-Division
- 363. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 9. Panzer-Division
- Division Nr. 476
LVIII. Panzerkorps
- 3. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- 12. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 353. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (12 Apr 1945)

LXXIV. Armeekorps
- 272. Volks-Grenadier-Division
- 3. Panzer-Grenadier-Division (most)
- Gruppe Meissner
- Panzer-Lehr-Division
- 338. Infanterie-Division
- 176. Infanterie-Division
LXXXI. Armeekorps
- Panzer-Brigade 106
- Gruppe Würtz
- Kamfgruppe Scherzer

Sources used

Research by Shawn Bohannon
Charles B. MacDonald - The Last Offensive: The United States Army in World War II: The European Theater of Operations
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -