German order of battle - October 1, 1938 (Fall Grün)

This article details the order of battle of the German army units invading Czechoslovakia in October 1938.

For the German invasion of Czechoslovakia with the codename Fall Grün (English - Case Green), they had at disposal in total 46 divisions: 38 infantry divisions, 3 armoured divisions, 3 mountain divisions and 2 light divisions.

The 46 divisions were divided into five armies: the 2nd, the 8th, the 10th, the 12th and the 14th.

Note that Reserve and Landwehr (Territorial Army) divisions were not taking part in the invasion, but acted as reserve units.

Forces for the Invasion
The invasion forces were under the command of the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH).

2. Armee
CO: GenObst. Gerd v. Rundstedt Chief of Staff: Gen.Maj. Hans v. Salmuth (Ia. Obstlt. Hasse) AOK 2 HQ: Cosel

The 2nd Army was based in Southern Silesia. It consisted of 9 infantry divisions, 1 armoured (panzer) division, 3 Landwehr divisions, 4 border defence commands and the motorised SS infantry regiment “Germania”.

8. Armee
CO: GenObst. Fedor v. Bock Chief of Staff: Gen.Maj. Hans Felber (Ia. Oberst Hauffe) AOK 8 HQ: Freiburg/Schlesien

The 8th Army was based in Southern Saxony. It consisted of 5 infantry divisions, one of them motorised.

10. Armee
CO: Gen.d.Art. Walther v. Reichenau Chief of Staff: Gen.Maj. Kurt Bernard (Ia. Oberst Dostler) AOK 10 HQ: Schwandorf

The 10th Army was based in Northern Bavaria. It consisted of 4 infantry divisions (2 of them motorised), 1 armoured (panzer) division, 1 light division and the motorised SS infantry regiment "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler".

12. Armee
CO: GenObst.z.V. Wilhelm v. Leeb Chief of Staff: Gen.Lt. Erich v. Manstein (Ia. Obstlt. Blumentritt) AOK 12 HQ: Passau

The 12th Army was based in Southern Bavaria and Niederösterreich. It consisted of 8 infantry divisions, 1 mountain division and a Landwehr division.

14. Armee
CO: Gen.d.Inf. Wilhelm List Chief of Staff: Gen.Lt. Richard Ruoff (Ia. Oberst Woehler) AOK 14 HQ: Wien

The 14th Army was based in Ostmark (Austria). It consisted of 2 infantry divisions (1 of them motorised), 1 armoured (panzer) division, 1 light division, 2 mountain divisions, 1 reserve division, 1 border defence command and the motorised SS infantry regiment "Deutschland".

3. Armee
CO: Gen.d.Art. Georg v. Küchler Chief of Staff: Gen.Maj. Karl Hollidt (Ia. Obstlt. Wagner) AOK 3 HQ: Königsberg

The 3rd Army was based in East Prussia, and had the task of defending it and the city of Königsberg. It consisted of 3 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry brigade, 3 Landwehr divisions and a reserve division.

4. Armee
CO: GenObst.z.V. Kurt v. Hammerstein-Equord Chief of Staff: Gen.Lt. Max v. Viebahn (Ia. Obstlt. Metz)

The 4th Army was based in Pomerania. It consisted of 1 infantry division, 2 Landwehr divisions and 3 border defence commands.

Facing the Western Frontier
Under the command of Heeresgruppen-Kommando 2.

CO: Gen.d.Inf. Wilhelm Adam Chief of Staff: Gen.d.Inf. Gustav v. Wietersheim (la. Obstlt. Muller) (Units below not activated – held in Reserve)

1. Armee
CO: Gen.d.Art. Ludwick Beck Chief of Staff: Gen.Lt. Georg v. Apell (Ia. Oberst v. Greiffenberg)

The 1st Army was based along the Western Front. It consisted of 3 infantry divisions, 3 Landwehr divisions, 4 reserve divisions and a border defence command.

5. Armee
CO: Gen.d.Inf. Curt Liebmann Chief of Staff: Gen.Maj. Georg von Sodenstern (Ia. Oberst Duvert)

The 5th Army was based along the Western Front. It consisted of 2 infantry divisions, 3 Landwehr divisions and two border defence commands.

7. Armee
CO: Gen.d.Inf. Hans Seutter v. Lotzen Chief of Staff: Gen.Maj. Walter Model (Ia. Oberst v. Witzleben)

The 7th Army was based along the Western Front, consisting mainly of the Grenztruppen Saarpfalz. It consisted of 1 infantry division and 3 Landwehr divisions.