15th Army Group
15th Army Group | |
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![]() 15th Army Group Shoulder Insignia
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Active | 1943–45 |
Country | United Kingdom & United States, numerous Allies attached |
Allegiance | Allies of World War II |
Type | Army group |
Role | Army Group Headquarters |
Size | 2 Field Armies |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Harold Alexander Mark W. Clark |
The 15th Army Group was an army group of British and American field armies that included corps, divisions and brigades from numerous Allied forces (Canada, Indian, Poland, South Africa, Greece, Brazil and New Zealand) in World War II.
History
The 15th Army Group was activated in 1943 in Algiers, North Africa, to plan the invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky. Its main forces for this job were the U.S. Seventh Army, under Lieutenant General George Patton, and the British Eighth Army, under General Bernard Montgomery. Following the capture of Sicily the army group became responsible for the invasion of mainland Italy for which the U.S. Seventh Army was replaced by the U.S. Fifth Army, under Lieutenant General Mark Clark. In January 1944 the army group was re-designated successively Allied forces in Italy and then Allied Central Mediterranean Force.
In March 1944 the army group was renamed Allied Armies in Italy. Throughout this period the army group was under command of the British General Sir Harold Alexander. By late 1944 the army group had pushed northward through Italy, capturing Rome, and driving the retreating Axis forces into Northern Italy. In December, American Lieutenant General Mark Clark became the new commander and the army group was renamed 15th Army Group once again. The Axis forces in Italy were finally defeated in the army group's Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, their surrender taking place in May.
On 5 July 15 Army Group was reorganized and redesignated the U.S. Occupational Forces Austria. The Headquarters Company II Corps, 11th Armored Division, 42nd Infantry Division and 65th Infantry Division, previously assigned to U.S. Third Army and 12th Army Group, were assigned on 6 July to the newly formed U.S. Occupational Forces Austria, the commanding general of which was General Mark Clark.
Order of Battle
Order of Battle for 15th Army Group, August 1944
15th Army Group - (General Sir Harold Alexander)
British Eighth Army - (Lieutenant-General Oliver Leese)
- British V Corps (Lieutenant-General Charles Keightley)
- 22px British 1st Armoured Division - (Major-General Richard Hull)
- 22px British 4th Infantry Division - (Major-General Dudley Ward)
- 22px 4th Indian Infantry Division - (Major-General Arthur Holworthy)
British 46th Infantry Division - (Major-General John Hawkesworth)
British 56th Infantry Division - (Major-General J.Y. Whitfield)
- British 25th Tank Brigade
I Canadian Corps - (Lieutenant-General E. L. M. Burns)
II Polish Corps - (Lieutenant General Władysław Anders)
- 20px 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division - (Major-General Bronisław Duch)
5th Kresowa Infantry Division - (Major-General Nikodem Sulik)
2nd Armoured Brigade
British X Corps - (Lieutenant-General Sir Richard McCreery)
10th Indian Infantry Division - (Major-General Denys Reid)
- British 9th Armoured Brigade
- British V Corps (Lieutenant-General Charles Keightley)
- 25px U.S. Fifth Army - (Lieutenant General Mark Clark)
U.S. II Corps - (Major General Geoffrey Keyes)
34th Infantry Division - (Major General Charles L. Bolte)
88th Infantry Division - (Major General John E. Sloan)
91st Infantry Division - (Major General Livesay)
U.S. IV Corps - (Major General Willis D. Crittenberger)
6th South African Armoured Division - (Major General Evered Poole)
85th Infantry Division - (Major General John B. Coulter)
92nd Infantry Division - (Major General Edward M. Almond)
442nd Regimental Combat Team - (Colonel Virgil R. Miller)
1st Brazilian Division - (Major General Mascarenhas de Morais)
10th Mountain Division - (Lieutenant General George Price Hays)
- British XIII Corps - (Lieutenant-General Sidney Kirkman)
British 1st Infantry Division - (Major-General Charles Loewen)
British 6th Armoured Division - (Major-General Horatius Murray)
- 22px 8th Indian Infantry Division - (Major-General Dudley Russell)
- Army Group Reserve
U.S. 1st Armored Division - (Major General V. E. Prichard)