The Armeegruppe Felber was formed on 21 May 1942 from the LXXXIII Armeekorps.

On 11 November 1942, in response to Operation TORCH, the Allied amphibious landings in Morocco and Algeria, Adolf Hitler directed the implementation of Operation “Anton,” the occupation of Vichy France and the disbandment of its army to prevent that government from possibly casting its lot with the Allies. Armored and infantry elements of the 1. Armee and Armeegruppe Felber advanced into southern France while the Italian 4th Army occupied the French Riviera and the island of Corsica. On 27 November 1942, the Germans further consolidated their hold on Vichy France with Operation “Lila,” the occupation of Toulon and the attempted seizure of the French fleet lying in the port.

It was redesignated 19. Armee on 26 Aug 1943.

Commanders

General der Infanterie Hans-Gustav Felber (21 May 1942 - 15 Aug 1943)
General der Infanterie Georg von Sodenstern (15 Aug 1943 - 26 Aug 1943)

Chiefs of Staff

Oberstleutnant Johann von Heiterer-Schaller (21 May 1942 - Oct 1943)
Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich von Oertzen (Oct 1943 - 20 June 1943)
Oberst Walter Botsch (20 June 1943 - 26 Aug 1943)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Wilhelm von Rauchhaupt (21 May 1942 - 15 Apr 1943)
Oberst Friedrich Schulz (15 Apr 1943 - 26 Aug 1943)

Area of operations

Southern France (May 1942 - Aug 1943)

Order of battle (24 June 1942)

337. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (12 Aug 1942)

Division Nr. 165
257. Infanterie-Division (in transit)

Order of battle (15 Nov 1942)

½ 328. Infanterie-Division
335. Infanterie-Division
1 Regiment gep.Artillerie-Brigade 1

Order of battle (22 Dec 1942)

½ 338. Infanterie-Division
335. Infanterie-Division
326. Infanterie-Division
327. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (9 Apr 1943)

At the disposal of Armeegruppe Felber
- 60. Infanterie-Division (mot) (forming)
(Tactical components assigned directly to Armeegruppe Felber)
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 338. Infanterie-Division
- 356. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (1 June 1943, 21 June 1943, 25 July 1943)

At the disposal of Armeegruppe Felber
- Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Feldherrnhalle” (forming)
(Tactical components assigned directly to Armeegruppe Felber)
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 338. Infanterie-Division
- 356. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (5 Aug 1943)

At the disposal of Armeegruppe Felber
- 715. Infanterie-Division
- Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Feldherrnhalle” (forming)
(Tactical components assigned directly to Armeegruppe Felber)
- 356. Infanterie-Division
IV. Luftwaffen-Feldkorps
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 338. Infanterie-Division

Order of battle (14 Aug 1943)

At the disposal of Armeegruppe Felber
- 715. Infanterie-Division
- Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Feldherrnhalle” (forming)
- 10. SS-Panzer-Division “Karl der Große”
(Tactical components assigned directly to Armeegruppe Felber)
- 356. Infanterie-Division
IV. Luftwaffen-Feldkorps
- 326. Infanterie-Division
- 338. Infanterie-Division

General Hans-Gustav Felber, Oberst der Schutzpolizei Bernhard Griese and SS-Brigadeführer Carl Oberg (HSSPF Frankreich) talking during the deportation of Jews from Marseille

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

Sources used

Research by Shawn Bohannon
Jean Paul Pallud - “The French Navy at Toulon,” After the Battle, Number 76 (1992), pp. 1-29
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -