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{{refimprove|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 15th Army Group
| unit_name = 15th Army Group
| image= US 15th Army Group.png
| image = US 15th Army Group.png
| image_size = 150
| image_size = 150
|caption= 15th Army Group formation badge.
| caption = Formation badge
|dates= 1943–45
| dates = 1943–45
|country= United Kingdom & United States, <br>numerous [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] attached
| country = United Kingdom & United States, with numerous [[Allies of World War II|allies]] attached
|allegiance= [[Allies of World War II]]
| allegiance = [[Allies of World War II]]
|branch=
| branch =
|type= [[Army group]]
| type = [[Army group]]
|role= Army Group [[Headquarters#Military|Headquarters]]
| role = Army Group [[Headquarters#Military|Headquarters]]
|size=300,000
| size = 1,200,000
|command_structure=
| command_structure =
|current_commander=
| current_commander =
|garrison=
| garrison =
|ceremonial_chief=
| ceremonial_chief =
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
|nickname=
| nickname =
|patron=
| patron =
|motto=
| motto =
|colors=
| colors =
|march=
| march =
|mascot=
| mascot =
|battles=
| battles =
|notable_commanders= [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]]<br>[[Mark W. Clark]]
| notable_commanders = [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]]<br>[[Mark W. Clark]]
|anniversaries=
| anniversaries =
}}
}}
The '''15th Army Group''' was an [[Army Group]] in [[World War II]], composed of the [[British Eighth Army|British Eighth]] and the [[U.S. Fifth Army|U.S. Fifth]] Armies, which apart from troops from the [[British Empire]] and [[United States|U.S.A.]], also had whole [[Unit (military)|units]] from other [[Allies of World War II|allied countries/regions]]; like two of their [[Corps (military)|Corps]] (from [[Free France]] and [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]]), one [[Division (military)|Division]] (from [[Brazil]]) and multiple separate brigades ([[Italy|Italian]] and [[Greeks|Greek]]), besides supporting and being supported by the local Italian [[Partisan (military)|partisans]]. It operated in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] between 1943-45.<ref>Doherty, 2015. Chapter 1</ref>
The '''15th Army Group''' was an [[army group]] in [[World War II]], composed of the [[British Eighth Army]] and initially the [[United States Army Central|Seventh United States Army]] (1943), replaced by the [[United States Army North|Fifth United States Army]] (from January 1944), which apart from [[Unit (military)|units]] from across the [[British Empire]] and [[United States]], also had entire units from other [[Allies of World War II|allied countries/regions]], including: one [[Corps (military)|corps]] from [[Free France]] and one from [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]]; one [[Division (military)|division]] from [[Brazil]]; multiple separate [[brigade]]s of [[Italy|Italians]] and [[Greeks]]; plus support to, and from, local Italian [[Partisan (military)|partisans]]. It operated in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] from 1943 to 1945.<ref>Doherty, 2015. Chapter 1</ref>


==History==
==History==
The 15th Army Group was activated in 1943 in [[Algiers]], [[North Africa]], to plan the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|invasion of Sicily]], codenamed [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Operation Husky]]. Its main forces for this job were the [[United States Army Central|U.S. Seventh Army]], under [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[George S. Patton|George Patton]], and the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], under [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]]. Following the capture of Sicily, the [[army group]] became responsible for the [[Allied invasion of Italy|invasion of mainland Italy]] for which the U.S. Seventh Army was replaced by the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]], under Lieutenant General [[Mark W. Clark|Mark Clark]]. In January 1944, the army group was re-designated successively '''Allied forces in Italy''' and then '''Allied Central Mediterranean Force'''.
The 15th Army Group was activated in 1943 in [[Algiers]], [[North Africa]], to plan the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|invasion of Sicily]], codenamed [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Operation Husky]]. Its main forces for this job were the [[United States Army Central|Seventh United States Army]], under [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[George S. Patton|George Patton]], and the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], under [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]]. Following the capture of Sicily, the [[army group]] became responsible for the [[Allied invasion of Italy|invasion of mainland Italy]] for which the U.S. Seventh Army was replaced by the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]], under Lieutenant General [[Mark W. Clark|Mark Clark]]. In January 1944, the army group was re-designated successively '''Allied forces in Italy''' and then '''Allied Central Mediterranean Force'''.<ref name=iwm>{{cite web|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30076685|title=Badge, Higher formation, British, Headquarters 15th Army Group & Headquarters Allied Armies Italy Campaign Badge|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>


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 [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Sir Harold Alexander]]. By late 1944, the army group had pushed [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|northward through Italy]], capturing [[Rome]], and driving the retreating [[Axis powers|Axis]] forces into Northern Italy. Despite and due to the rapid advance of the Allied forces in Italy in June–July 1944, after the liberation of Rome, the high allied command in Western Europe decided to take away from the Italian front the [[French Expeditionary Corps]] and the [[U.S. VI Corps]], reassigned for [[Operation Dragoon|landing in the South of France]] in support of the advance in the north of that country, and to liberate southern France, including the huge port complexes of Marseilles and Toulon, and bring into action the seven divisions of the French 1st Army (1st and 5th armored, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 9th infantry) that had been reequipped in French North Africa by the United States. The gap in the ranks of the U.S. Fifth Army caused by the withdrawal of seven divisions (three US Army, the 3rd, 36th, and 45th infantry divisions; and four French, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th divisions) was filled in 1944-45 by five US Army (10th Mountain, 85th, 88th, 91st, and 92nd infantry divisions) and one US-equipped Brazilian Army division (the 1st). Additional replacements and service elements were provided by conversion of the US Army's 2nd Cavalry Division, which had arrived in the theater in 1944.<ref>Ibidem, Doherty, 2015.</ref>
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 [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Sir Harold Alexander]]. By late 1944, the army group had pushed [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|northward through Italy]], capturing [[Rome]], and driving the retreating [[Axis powers|Axis]] forces into Northern Italy. Despite and due to the rapid advance of the Allied forces in Italy in June–July 1944, after the liberation of Rome, the high allied command in Western Europe decided to take away from the Italian front the [[French Expeditionary Corps]] and the [[U.S. VI Corps]], reassigned for [[Operation Dragoon|landing in the South of France]] in support of the advance in the north of that country, and to liberate southern France, including the huge port complexes of Marseilles and Toulon, and bring into action the seven divisions of the French 1st Army (1st and 5th armored, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 9th infantry) that had been reequipped in French North Africa by the United States. The gap in the ranks of the U.S. Fifth Army caused by the withdrawal of seven divisions (three US Army, the 3rd, 36th, and 45th infantry divisions; and four French, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th divisions) was filled in 1944-45 by five US Army (10th Mountain, 85th, 88th, 91st, and 92nd infantry divisions) and one US-equipped Brazilian Army division (the 1st). Additional replacements and service elements were provided by conversion of the US Army's 2nd Cavalry Division, which had arrived in the theater in 1944.<ref>Ibidem, Doherty, 2015.</ref>


In order to complicate the Allied ambitions in Italy, between October 1944 and March 1945, the available British forces were also weakened by breaking up the 1st Arnoured Division because of a lack of replacements for 8th Army's casualties, and the withdrawal and deployment to Greece of two British infantry divisions (4th and 46th), the British-controlled 4th Indian Division, the British 23rd Armoured Brigade, the British 2nd Parachute Brigade, and the Greek 3rd Mountain Brigade. In addition, the Canadian I Corps and the British 5th Infantry Division were withdrawn and redeployed to northwestern Europe in [[Operation Goldflake]], to make up for British and Canadian losses in France and Belgium in 1944. The British and Canadian divisions that were withdrawn to shore up 21st Army Group took advantage of the ports in southern France liberated by the US 7th and French 1st armies in [[Operation Dragoon]]. The new gaps on the Italian front was filled by four Italian "combat groups," each equivalent to a "light" (two brigade) division under the British table of organization and equipment, additional US troops (detached from the forces in France or converted from army-level cavalry and anti-aircraft units) and one additional brigade made up largely of infantry recruited in the British Mandate of Palestine.<ref>Doherty, 2015. pp16</ref>
In order to complicate the Allied ambitions in Italy, between October 1944 and March 1945, the available British forces were also weakened by breaking up the 1st Armoured Division because of a lack of replacements for 8th Army's casualties, and the withdrawal and deployment to Greece of two British infantry divisions (4th and 46th), the British-controlled 4th Indian Division, the British 23rd Armoured Brigade, the British 2nd Parachute Brigade, and the Greek 3rd Mountain Brigade. In addition, the Canadian I Corps and the British 5th Infantry Division were withdrawn and redeployed to northwestern Europe in [[Operation Goldflake]], to make up for British and Canadian losses in France and Belgium in 1944. The British and Canadian divisions that were withdrawn to shore up 21st Army Group took advantage of the ports in southern France liberated by the US 7th and French 1st armies in [[Operation Dragoon]]. The new gaps on the Italian front was filled by four Italian "combat groups," each equivalent to a "light" (two brigade) division under the British table of organization and equipment, additional US troops (detached from the forces in France or converted from army-level cavalry and anti-aircraft units) and one additional brigade made up largely of infantry recruited in the British Mandate of Palestine.<ref>Doherty, 2015. pp16</ref>


In December 1944, Alexander was made Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Headquarters responsible for all military operations in the Mediterranean theatre and Lieutenant General Mark Clark became the new commander and the army group was renamed 15th Army Group once again.<ref name=spart>{{cite web|url=https://spartacus-educational.com/2WWclarkM.htm|title=Mark Clark|publisher=Sparticus Educational|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> After the definitive break up of the [[Gothic Line]], the [[Gothic Line order of battle#German Army Group C|Axis forces in Italy]] were finally defeated in the 15th Army Group's [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|spring offensive]], with Axis forces surrendering on 2 May 1945. On 5 July, 15 Army Group was reorganized and redesignated the '''U.S. Occupational Forces Austria'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/pcha/PlunderRestitution.html/html/StaffChapter4.html |title=Plunder and Restitution: Findings and Recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States and Staff Report|date=1 December 2000|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
In December 1944, American Lieutenant General Mark Clark had became the new commander and the army group was renamed '''15th Army Group''' once again.

After the definitive break up of the [[Gothic Line]], the [[Gothic Line order of battle#German Army Group C|Axis forces in Italy]] were finally defeated in the army group's [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|spring offensive]], with their surrender taking place on 2 May.

On 5 July, 15 Army Group was reorganized and redesignated the '''U.S. Occupational Forces Austria'''. The Headquarters Company [[II Corps (United States)|II Corps]], [[11th Armored Division (United States)|11th Armored Division]], [[42nd Infantry Division (United States)|42nd Infantry Division]] and [[65th Infantry Division (United States)|65th Infantry Division]], previously assigned to [[United States Army Central|U.S. Third Army]] and [[Twelfth United States Army Group|12th Army Group]], were assigned on 6 July to the newly formed U.S. Occupational Forces Austria, the [[Commanding officer|commanding general]] of which was General Mark Clark.


==Order of battle==
==Order of battle==
'''Order of Battle for 15th Army Group, August 1944-April 1945'''
'''Order of Battle for 15th Army Group, August 1944-April 1945'''
* [[File:US 15th Army Group.png|22px]] 15th Army Group - ([[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Sir Harold Alexander]])

*[[File:US 15th Army Group.png|22px]] 15th Army Group - ([[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Sir Harold Alexander]])
** [[File:British Eighth Army SSI.svg|22px]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]] - ([[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Oliver Leese|Sir Oliver Leese]])
**[[File:British Eighth Army SSI.svg|22px]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]] - ([[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Oliver Leese|Sir Oliver Leese]])
*** [[File:V corps.svg|22px]] [[V Corps (United Kingdom)|British V Corps]] (Lieutenant-General [[Charles Keightley]])
***[[V Corps (United Kingdom)|British V Corps]] (Lieutenant-General [[Charles Keightley]])
**** [[File:British 1st Armoured Division WW2 2nd pattern.svg|22px]] [[1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|British 1st Armoured Division]] - ([[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Richard Hull]])
****[[File:1ukdiv.svg|22px]] [[1st (United Kingdom) Division|British 1st Armoured Division]] - ([[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Richard Hull]])
**** [[File:4 inf div -vector.svg|22px]] [[4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 4th Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Alfred Dudley Ward]])
****[[File:4th UK Infantry Division.svg|22px]] [[4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 4th Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Alfred Dudley Ward]])
**** [[File:4th indian infantry div.svg|22px]] [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4th Indian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Arthur Holworthy]])
**** [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4th Indian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Arthur Holworthy]])
**** [[File:46 inf div -vector.svg|22px]] [[46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 46th Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[John Hawkesworth (British Army officer)|John Hawkesworth]])
****[[File:46 inf div -vector.svg|22px]] [[46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 46th Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[John Hawkesworth (British Army officer)|John Hawkesworth]])
**** [[File:56 inf div -vector.svg|22px]] [[56th (London) Infantry Division|British 56th Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[John Yeldham Whitfield]])
****[[File:56 inf div -vector.svg|22px]] [[56th (London) Infantry Division|British 56th Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[John Yeldham Whitfield]])
**** [[File:25th Army Tank Brigade Formation Badge (2nd pattern).svg|22px]] [[25th Army Tank Brigade (United Kingdom)|British 25th Tank Brigade]]
*** [[File:I Canadian Corps formation patch.png|22px]] [[I Canadian Corps]] - ([[Lieutenant-general (Canada)|Lieutenant-General]] [[E. L. M. Burns]])
⚫
****[[25th Army Tank Brigade|British 25th Tank Brigade]]
***[[File:I Canadian Corps formation patch.png|28px]] [[I Canadian Corps]] - ([[Lieutenant-general (Canada)|Lieutenant-General]] [[E. L. M. Burns]])
**** [[File:1 Canadian Infantry Division patch.svg|22px]] [[1st Canadian Division|1st Canadian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Christopher Vokes]])
****[[File:1 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png|25px]] [[1st Canadian Division|1st Canadian Infantry Division]] - ([[Major General (Canada)|Major-General]] [[Christopher Vokes]])
**** [[File:2nd NZ.svg|22px]] [[2nd New Zealand Division]] - (Lieutenant-General [[Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg]])
**** [[2nd New Zealand Division]] - (Lieutenant-General [[Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg]])
**** [[File:5 Canadian Armoured Division patch.png|22px]] [[5th Canadian Division|5th Canadian Armoured Division]] - (Major-General [[Bert Hoffmeister]])
⚫
**** [[3rd Greek Mountain Brigade]] - (Lieutenant General [[Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos]])
⚫
****[[File:5 Canadian Armoured Division patch.png|25px]] [[5th Canadian Division|5th Canadian Armoured Division]] - (Major-General [[Bert Hoffmeister]])
⚫
**** [[File:21st armoured brigade.svg|22px]] [[21st Army Tank Brigade (United Kingdom)|British 21st Tank Brigade]]
⚫
**** [[3rd Greek Mountain Brigade]]
*** [[File:Odznaka 2 KP PSZ.jpg|22px]] [[II Corps (Poland)|II Polish Corps]] - (Lieutenant General [[Władysław Anders]])
**** [[21st Army Tank Brigade|British 21st Tank Brigade]]<ref>[http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=3692&Tab=Sup&Titl=21 Army Tank] Brigade</ref>
***[[File:Odznaka 2 KP PSZ.jpg|20px]] [[II Corps (Poland)|II Polish Corps]] - (Lieutenant General [[Władysław Anders]])
**** [[File:Oznaka3dsk.png|22px]] [[3rd Carpathian Rifle Division (Poland)|3rd Carpathian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Bolesław Bronisław Duch|Bronisław Duch]])
****[[File:PB DSK CoA.png|20px]] [[3rd Carpathian Rifle Division (Poland)|3rd Carpathian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Bronisław Duch]])
**** [[File:Zubr 2.png|22px]] [[5th Kresowa Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Nikodem Sulik-Sarnowski|Nikodem Sulik]])
****[[File:Zubr 2.png|22px]] [[5th Kresowa Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Nikodem Sulik]])
**** [[File:2wdpanc 1.svg|22px]] [[2nd Armoured Brigade (Poland)|2nd Armoured Brigade]]
*** [[File:X Corps.png|22px]] [[X Corps (United Kingdom)|British X Corps]] - (Lieutenant-General [[Richard McCreery|Sir Richard McCreery]])
⚫
****[[File:2wdpanc 1.svg|27px]] [[2nd Armoured Brigade (Poland)|2nd Armoured Brigade]]
***[[File:X Corps.png|23px]] [[X Corps (United Kingdom)|British X Corps]] - (Lieutenant-General [[Richard McCreery|Sir Richard McCreery]])
**** [[File:10th Indian Division ww2.svg|22px]] [[10th Indian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Denys Whitehorn Reid|Denys Reid]])
⚫
**** [[File:9th Armoured.svg|22px]] [[9th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|British 9th Armoured Brigade]]
**** [[10th Indian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Denys Whitehorn Reid|Denys Reid]])
*** [[File:Flag of Italy (1860).svg|22px]] [[Italian Co-belligerent Army]] - (Lieutenant General [[Paolo Berardi]])
**** [[9th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|British 9th Armoured Brigade]]
*** [[Italian Co-belligerent Army]] - (Lieutenant General Paolo Berardi)
** [[File:United States Army North CSIB.svg|22px]] [[United States Army North|US Fifth Army]] - ([[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Mark W. Clark]])
**[[File:United States Army North CSIB.svg|25px]] [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]] - ([[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Mark W. Clark]])
*** [[File:II Corps.patch.gif|22px]] [[II Corps (United States)|US II Corps]] - ([[Major general (United States)|Major General]] [[Geoffrey Keyes]])
***[[File:II Corps.patch.gif|24px]] [[II Corps (United States)|U.S. II Corps]] - ([[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[Geoffrey Keyes]])
**** [[File:34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[Charles L. Bolte]])
****[[File:34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[Charles L. Bolte]])
**** [[File:88th Infantry Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[88th Infantry Division (United States)|88th Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[Paul Wilkins Kendall|Paul W. Kendall]])
****[[File:88th Infantry Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[88th Infantry Division (United States)|88th Infantry Division]] - (Major General John E. Sloan)
**** [[File:US 91st Infantry Division.svg|22px]] [[91st Division (United States)|91st Infantry Division]] - (Major General William G. Livesay)
****[[File:US 91st Infantry Division.svg|22px]] [[91st Division (United States)|91st Infantry Division]] - (Major General William G. Livesay)
*** [[File:US IV Corps SSI.svg|22px]] [[IV Corps (United States)|US IV Corps]] - (Major General [[Willis D. Crittenberger]])
***[[File:US IV Corps SSI.svg|23px]] [[IV Corps (United States)|U.S. IV Corps]] - (Major General [[Willis D. Crittenberger]])
**** [[File:6TH SA ARMD DIV FLASH.svg|22px]] [[6th South African Armoured Division]] - (Major General [[Evered Poole]])
****[[File:6TH SA ARMD DIV FLASH.svg|22px]] [[6th Armoured Division (South Africa)|6th South African Armoured Division]] - (Major General [[Evered Poole]])
**** [[File:85th Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[85th Infantry Division (United States)|85th Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[John B. Coulter]])
****[[File:85th Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[85th Infantry Division (United States)|85th Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[John B. Coulter]])
**** [[File:US 92nd Infantry Division SVG.svg|22px]] [[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|92nd Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[Edward Almond]])
****[[File:US 92nd Infantry Division SVG.svg|22px]] [[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|92nd Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[Edward Almond]])
***** [[File:COA 442nd InfReg.svg|22px]] [[442nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|442nd Regimental Combat Team]] - (Colonel [[Virgil R. Miller]])
**** [[File:Brazilian Expeditionary Forces insignia (smoking snake).svg|22px]] [[Brazilian Expeditionary Force|1st Brazilian Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[João Baptista Mascarenhas de Morais|Mascarenhas de Morais]])
*****[[File:COA_442nd_InfReg.svg|22px]] [[442nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|442nd Regimental Combat Team]] - (Colonel [[Virgil R. Miller]])
****[[File:Brazilian Expeditionary Forces insignia (smoking snake).svg|22px]] [[Brazilian Expeditionary Force|1st Brazilian Infantry Division]] - (Major General [[Mascarenhas de Morais]])
**** [[File:10th Mountain Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]] - (Major General [[George Price Hays]])
****[[File:10th_Mountain_Division_SSI.svg|22px]] [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]] - (Major General [[George Price Hays]])
*** [[File:XIII corps.svg|22px]] [[XIII Corps (United Kingdom)|British XIII Corps]] - (Lieutenant-General [[Sidney Kirkman]])
***[[XIII Corps (United Kingdom)|British XIII Corps]] - (Lieutenant-General [[Sidney Kirkman]])
**** [[File:1st Infantry Division sign WW2.svg|22px]] [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|British 1st Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Charles Loewen]])
****[[File:British 1st Division Insignia.png|22px]] [[1st Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 1st Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Charles Loewen]])
**** [[File:6th Armoured Division flash.svg|22px]] [[6th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|British 6th Armoured Division]] - (Major-General [[Horatius Murray]])
****[[File:6th Armoured Division flash.svg|22px]] [[6th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|British 6th Armoured Division]] - (Major-General [[Horatius Murray]])
**** [[File:8th indian infantry division.svg|22px]] [[8th Infantry Division (India)|8th Indian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Dudley Russell]])
⚫
*** Army Group Reserve
**** [[8th Infantry Division (India)|8th Indian Infantry Division]] - (Major-General [[Dudley Russell]])
⚫
**** [[File:United States Army 1st Armored Division CSIB.svg|22px]] [[1st Armored Division (United States)|US 1st Armored Division]] - (Major General [[Vernon Prichard]])
⚫
***Army Group Reserve
** [[File:Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg|22px]] [[Italian resistance movement]]
****[[File:1st US Armored Division SSI.svg|22px]] [[1st Armored Division (United States)|U.S. 1st Armored Division]] - (Major General [[Vernon Prichard]])
***[[Italian resistance movement]]


== Bibliography ==
== Bibliography ==
*Doherty, Richard. "Victory in Italy, 15th Army Group's Final Campaign 1945" Pen & Sword Books Ltd 2015 {{ISBN|9781783462988}}
* Doherty, Richard. "Victory in Italy, 15th Army Group's Final Campaign 1945" Pen & Sword Books Ltd 2015 {{ISBN|9781783462988}}
*Vigneras, Marcel "Rearming the French" CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 {Library of Congress-CMH_Pub_11-6}
* Vigneras, Marcel "Rearming the French" CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 {Library of Congress-CMH_Pub_11-6}
*Fisher, Ernest F "Cassino to the Alps" CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 {Library of Congress-CMH_Pub_6-4-1}
* Fisher, Ernest F "Cassino to the Alps" CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 {Library of Congress-CMH_Pub_6-4-1}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/15ag.htm GlobalSecurity: 15th Army Group]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/15ag.htm GlobalSecurity: 15th Army Group]
*[http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/6SAdiv.htm British & Commonwealth Orders of Battle - 6 SA Armoured Div]
* [http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/6SAdiv.htm British & Commonwealth Orders of Battle - 6 SA Armoured Div]
*[://history.army.mil/html/books/011/11-6/index.html Rearming the French]
* [://history.army.mil/html/books/011/11-6/index.html Rearming the French]
*[://history.army.mil/html/books/006/6-4-1/index.html Cassino to the Alps]
* [://history.army.mil/html/books/006/6-4-1/index.html Cassino to the Alps]
{{British armies, commands, and corps during the Second World War}}

{{US Army navbox}}
{{US Army navbox}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Army groups of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Army groups of the United States Army]]

Latest revision as of 08:11, 14 July 2024

15th Army Group
Formation badge
Active1943–45
LandUnited Kingdom & United States, with numerous allies attached
AllegianceAllies of World War II
TypArmy group
RoleArmy Group Headquarters
Size1,200,000
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Harold Alexander
Mark W. Clark

The 15th Army Group was an army group in World War II, composed of the British Eighth Army and initially the Seventh United States Army (1943), replaced by the Fifth United States Army (from January 1944), which apart from units from across the British Empire and United States, also had entire units from other allied countries/regions, including: one corps from Free France and one from Poland; one division from Brazil; multiple separate brigades of Italians and Greeks; plus support to, and from, local Italian partisans. It operated in the Italian Campaign from 1943 to 1945.[1]

History

[edit]

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 Seventh United States 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.[2]

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. Despite and due to the rapid advance of the Allied forces in Italy in June–July 1944, after the liberation of Rome, the high allied command in Western Europe decided to take away from the Italian front the French Expeditionary Corps and the U.S. VI Corps, reassigned for landing in the South of France in support of the advance in the north of that country, and to liberate southern France, including the huge port complexes of Marseilles and Toulon, and bring into action the seven divisions of the French 1st Army (1st and 5th armored, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 9th infantry) that had been reequipped in French North Africa by the United States. The gap in the ranks of the U.S. Fifth Army caused by the withdrawal of seven divisions (three US Army, the 3rd, 36th, and 45th infantry divisions; and four French, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th divisions) was filled in 1944-45 by five US Army (10th Mountain, 85th, 88th, 91st, and 92nd infantry divisions) and one US-equipped Brazilian Army division (the 1st). Additional replacements and service elements were provided by conversion of the US Army's 2nd Cavalry Division, which had arrived in the theater in 1944.[3]

In order to complicate the Allied ambitions in Italy, between October 1944 and March 1945, the available British forces were also weakened by breaking up the 1st Armoured Division because of a lack of replacements for 8th Army's casualties, and the withdrawal and deployment to Greece of two British infantry divisions (4th and 46th), the British-controlled 4th Indian Division, the British 23rd Armoured Brigade, the British 2nd Parachute Brigade, and the Greek 3rd Mountain Brigade. In addition, the Canadian I Corps and the British 5th Infantry Division were withdrawn and redeployed to northwestern Europe in Operation Goldflake, to make up for British and Canadian losses in France and Belgium in 1944. The British and Canadian divisions that were withdrawn to shore up 21st Army Group took advantage of the ports in southern France liberated by the US 7th and French 1st armies in Operation Dragoon. The new gaps on the Italian front was filled by four Italian "combat groups," each equivalent to a "light" (two brigade) division under the British table of organization and equipment, additional US troops (detached from the forces in France or converted from army-level cavalry and anti-aircraft units) and one additional brigade made up largely of infantry recruited in the British Mandate of Palestine.[4]

In December 1944, Alexander was made Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Headquarters responsible for all military operations in the Mediterranean theatre and Lieutenant General Mark Clark became the new commander and the army group was renamed 15th Army Group once again.[5] After the definitive break up of the Gothic Line, the Axis forces in Italy were finally defeated in the 15th Army Group's spring offensive, with Axis forces surrendering on 2 May 1945. On 5 July, 15 Army Group was reorganized and redesignated the U.S. Occupational Forces Austria.[6]

Order of battle

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Order of Battle for 15th Army Group, August 1944-April 1945

Bibliography

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  • Doherty, Richard. "Victory in Italy, 15th Army Group's Final Campaign 1945" Pen & Sword Books Ltd 2015 ISBN 9781783462988
  • Vigneras, Marcel "Rearming the French" CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 {Library of Congress-CMH_Pub_11-6}
  • Fisher, Ernest F "Cassino to the Alps" CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 {Library of Congress-CMH_Pub_6-4-1}

References

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  1. ^ Doherty, 2015. Chapter 1
  2. ^ "Badge, Higher formation, British, Headquarters 15th Army Group & Headquarters Allied Armies Italy Campaign Badge". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  3. ^ Ibidem, Doherty, 2015.
  4. ^ Doherty, 2015. pp16
  5. ^ "Mark Clark". Sparticus Educational. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Plunder and Restitution: Findings and Recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States and Staff Report". 1 December 2000. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
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