The North Army (german: Nordarmee / Armeeoberkommando Nord / A.O.K. Nord) was an
army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
level command of the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
that existed briefly at the outbreak of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
History
The North Army was formed (on the outbreak of the war) in
Schleswig
The Duchy of Schleswig ( da, Hertugdømmet Slesvig; german: Herzogtum Schleswig; nds, Hartogdom Sleswig; frr, Härtochduum Slaswik) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km ...
to defend the German North Sea Coast in case of British landings. It was dissolved by the end of August 1914 as its major units had been transferred away.
Structure
On formation, North Army consisted of
*
IX Reserve Corps
::with 25 infantry battalions, 5 machine gun companies (30 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns), 4 heavy batteries (16 guns), a Field Airship Detachment and 7 pioneer companies. It was transferred to the
Western Front, joining
1st Army in late August.
* "Higher ''Landwehr'' Commander 1" (''Höherer Landwehr-Kommandeur 1'')
::with 24 infantry battalions, 6 cavalry squadrons and 4 field artillery batteries (24 guns). Initially referred to as the ''Landwehr'' Division Goltz, after its commander; later renamed
1st ''Landwehr'' Division. By 27 August, it had joined the
8th Army on the
Eastern Front and participated in the battles of
Tannenberg and
2nd Masurian Lakes.
* Coastal Protection
** IV Battalion, 75th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
** IV Battalion, 76th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
** V Battalion, 76th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
*North Sea Islands (5 infantry battalions, 9 heavy batteries (36 heavy howitzers), 2 pioneer companies)
**
Borkum
Borkum ( nds, Borkum, Börkum) is an island and a municipality in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany. It is situated east of Rottumeroog and west of Juist.
Geography
Borkum is bordered to the west by the Westerems strait ...
***I and II Battalions, 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment
***2nd ''
Abteilung
''Abteilung'' (; abbrv. ''Abt.'') is a German word that is often used for German or Swiss military formations and depending on its usage could mean detachment, department or battalion; it can also refer to a military division. In German, it is ...
'', 2nd Foot Artillery Regiment
***1st Reserve Battery, 2nd Foot Artillery Regiment
***1st ''Landwehr'' Pioneer Company of
X Corps District
**
Sylt
Sylt (; da, Sild; Sylt North Frisian, Söl'ring North Frisian: ) is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian ...
***I and II Battalions, 85th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
***a Battery of 1st ''Abteilung'', 2nd Foot Artillery Regiment
***2nd Reserve Battery, 2nd Foot Artillery Regiment
***1st ''Landwehr'' Pioneer Company of
IX Corps District
**
Pellworm
( da, Pelvorm; North Frisian ''Polweerm'') is a municipality in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
The municipality is located on the island of Pellworm – one of the North Frisian Islands on the North Sea coast of ...
***III Battalion, 85th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
***a Battery of 1st ''Abteilung'', 2nd Foot Artillery Regiment
***3rd Reserve Battery, 2nd Foot Artillery Regiment
Glossary
*''Armee-Abteilung'', or Army Detachment, in the sense of "something detached from an Army". It is not under the command of an Army so is, in itself, a small Army.
*''Armee-Gruppe'', or Army Group, in the sense of a group within an Army and under its command; generally formed as a temporary measure for a specific task.
*''Heeresgruppe'', or
Army Group
An army group is a military organization consisting of several field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area. An army group is the largest field organization handled by ...
, in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander.
See also
*
Order of battle at Tannenberg
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
{{German Empire Armies
N
Military units and formations established in 1914
Military units and formations disestablished in 1914