| Njemen-Armee Army of the Niemen | |
|---|---|
 Eastern Front in the second half of 1915. | |
| Active | 26 May 1915 – 30 December 1915 |
| Country |  German Empire |
| Type | Army |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | A.O.K Njemen |
The Army of the Niemen (German : Njemen-Armee) was an army level command of the German Army in World War I.
The German offensive in Courland was intended to be a diversion while the main effort was made further south by the German 11th Army and Austro-Hungarian 4th Army in the Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive.
Armee-Abteilung Lauenstein (Army Detachment Lauenstein) was formed by upgrading XXXIX Reserve Corps of 10th Army [1] on 22 April 1915. [2] It was named for its commander, Generalleutnant Otto von Lauenstein, who retained simultaneous command of XXXIX Reserve Corps. It was directly under the command of OB East. [3] Due to its success, it was continuously reinforced until it was raised to the status of an army as the Army of the Niemen. Generalleutnant von Lauenstein remained as commander of XXXIX Reserve Corps.
The Army of the Niemen was formed on 26 May 1915 to control the troops in Courland. [4] The former commander of the 8th Army, General der Infanterie Otto von Below, along with his chief of staff, Generalmajor von Böckmann, assumed command.
In the meantime, the 8th Army got a deputy commander, General der Artillerie Friedrich von Scholtz, who was simultaneously commander of XX Corps. 8th Army was dissolved on 29 September 1915. [5]
On 30 December 1915 the Army of the Niemen was renamed as the 8th Army with von Below still in command. [6]
Otto Ernst Vinzent Leo von Below served as a Prussian general officer in the Imperial German Army during the First World War (1914–1918). He arguably became most notable for his command, along with the Austro-Hungarian commander Svetozar Borojević, during the victorious Battle of Caporetto in October–November 1917.
The XX Army Corps / XX AK was a corps level command of the German Army before and during World War I.
The 8th Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on mobilization in August 1914 from the I Army Inspectorate. The army was dissolved on 29 September 1915, but reformed on 30 December 1915. It was finally disbanded in 1919 during demobilization after the war.
The 1st Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on mobilization in August 1914 from the VIII Army Inspection. The army was dissolved on 17 September 1915, but reformed on 19 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. It was finally disbanded in 1919 during demobilization after the war.
The 6th Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on mobilization in August 1914 from the IV Army Inspectorate. The army was disbanded in 1919 during demobilization after the war.
The 9th Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed in September 1914 in Breslau to command troops on the southern sector of the Eastern Front. The army was dissolved on 30 July 1916, but reformed in Transylvania on 6 September 1916 for the Romanian Campaign. It was transferred to the Western Front on 19 June 1918 where it was finally dissolved on 18 September 1918.
The 11th Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed in March 1915 in Kassel originally to serve on the Western Front but was transported to Galicia for service on the Eastern Front. The army was dissolved on 8 September 1915, but reformed on 23 September 1915 for the Serbian Campaign. It was finally dissolved on 7 January 1919.
The 12th Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I formed in August 1915 by the redesignation of Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz. It served exclusively on the Eastern Front and was dissolved on 9 October 1916 when its commander, General der Infanterie Max von Fabeck, was transferred to 8th Army.
Armee-Abteilung Scholtz / Armee-Abteilung D was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It served on the Eastern Front throughout its existence.
Armee-Abteilung Strantz / Armee-Abteilung C was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It served on the Western Front throughout its existence.
Armee-Abteilung Gaede / Armee-Abteilung B was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It served on the Western Front throughout its existence and formed the extreme left wing.
Armee-Abteilung Falkenhausen / Armee-Abteilung A was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It served on the left (southern) wing of the Western Front throughout its existence.
The V Cavalry Corps was a formation of the German Army in World War I.
The VI Cavalry Corps was a formation of the German Army in World War I.
The Army of the Bug was an army level command of the German Army in World War I named for the Bug River. It was formed against Russia on 8 July 1915 and served exclusively on the Eastern Front. It was dissolved on 31 March 1918.
The South Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on 11 January 1915 to fight against Russia and served exclusively on the Eastern Front. It was dissolved on 25 January 1918.
Armee-Abteilung Gronau was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed from Armee-Gruppe Gronau on 18 September 1916 and was disbanded on 27 March 1918. It served on the Eastern Front throughout its existence.
The XXXIX Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The Guards Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Hermann Christian Wilhelm von Strantz was a Prussian officer, and later General of Infantry during World War I. He was a recipient of Pour le Mérite.
