OB West (original) (raw)

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WW2 German military command on the Western Front

Oberbefehlshaber West (German: initials OB West), German for "Commander-in-Chief in the West") was the overall commander of the Westheer, the German armed forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (the German armed forces High Command). The area under the command of the OB West varied as the war progressed. At its farthest extent it reached the French Atlantic coast. By the end of World War II in Europe it was reduced to commanding troops in Bavaria.

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Rundstedt, Gerd_Generalfeldmarschall_Gerd von Rundstedt(1875–1953)	10 October 1940	1 April 1941	173 days
2		Witzleben, Erwin_Generalfeldmarschall_**Erwin von Witzleben**(1881–1944)	1 May 1941	15 March 1942	348 days
(1)		Rundstedt, Gerd_Generalfeldmarschall_**Gerd von Rundstedt**(1875–1953)[a]	15 March 1942	2 July 1944	2 years, 109 days
3		Kluge, Günther_Generalfeldmarschall_**Günther von Kluge**(1882–1944)[b]	2 July 1944	17 August 1944	46 days
–		Model, Walter_Generalfeldmarschall_**Walter Model**(1891–1945)Acting[c]	17 August 1944	3 September 1944	17 days
(1)		Rundstedt, Gerd_Generalfeldmarschall_**Gerd von Rundstedt**(1875–1953)[d]	3 September 1944	11 March 1945	189 days
4		Kesselring, Albert_Generalfeldmarschall_**Albert Kesselring**(1885–1960)	11 March 1945	22 April 1945	42 days

Order of battle from June 1944 to January 1945

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_OB West[_citation needed]

1. ^ Officially reported as retiring due to age and ill-health.
2. ^ Committed suicide on 19 August 1944 after being recalled to Berlin.
3. ^ Temporary replacement, continued as commander of Army Group B.
4. ^ Replaced after Allies crossed the Rhine.

• Oberbefehlshaber West, German Army, 06.06.1944