8th Army (Germany)

The 8th Army (German: "8. Armee Oberkommando") was a World War I and World War II field army.

World War I

At the outbreak of World War I, the 8. Armee was stationed in East Prussia to defend against the expected Russian Attack, Plan XIX. After the scrappy Battle of Gumbinnen, 8. Armee commander Generaloberst Maximilian von Prittwitz ordered a retreat. This movement resulted in his replacement by Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg, with Erich Ludendorff as the Army's chief of Staff.

Under its new command, the Army was responsible for the victories at the Battle of Tannenberg (1914) and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes.

Commanders

* Maximilian von Prittwitz (1913-1914)
* Paul von Hindenburg (1914)
* Fritz von Below (1914-1916)

World War II

The 8th Army was activated on August 1, 1939 with General Johannes Blaskowitz in command. First seeing service in Poland participated in heavy fights during Battle of Bzura, the army was later reorganised into the 2nd Army (Germany) for the invasion of France, before later being reactivated as being part of the Ostfront in Russia. The army was involved in the defence of Hungary and Austria before finally surrendering.

Commanders

* General Johannes Blaskowitz (August 1 1939 - October 20 1939)
* "General der Infanterie" Otto Wöhler (August 22 1943 - December 27 1944)
* General Hans Kreysing (December 28 1944 - May 8 1945)