German Sixth Army
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The German Sixth Army (German: 6.Armee Oberkommando) was a World War II field army and the protagonist of the tragic Battle of Stalingrad in 1942.
Western campaigns
The Sixth Army was formed on October 10, 1939 with Field Marshal Walther von Reichenau in command. Its primary mission was to guard the western defences of Germany against British and French attacks during the Polish campaign. During the invasion of the Low countries the Army saw active service linking up with paratroopers and destroying fortifications at Eben Emael, Lüttich, and Namur. The army was then involved in the breakthrough of the Paris defences on June 12, 1940, before acting as a northern flank for German forces along the Normandy coast.
Eastern campaigns
This army began its perfomance in Russian Campaign as spearhead of the Army Group South front attack. Von Reichenau died in an aircraft accident and was succeded by General Friedrich Paulus. Paulus led the Sixth Army to a major victory in Kharkov during the spring of 1942. This victory sealed the army's destiny because the OKW designated it for the attack to Stalingrad. The Sixth Army failed to obtain a quick victory. The winter came and with it Operation Uranus -- the massive attack of Soviet forces on the flanks of the German corridor between the Don and Volga rivers. The Sixth Army was isolated and the attempts at rescue failed (Operation Winter Storm). Paulus was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on January 31 1943. On that same day Von Paulus surrendered to the Soviet Forces, contrary to directives by Adolf Hitler. Hitler later ordered a new Sixth Army to be constituted on March 5 1943, commanded by General Karl Adolf Hollidt. The army fought in the Ukraine and Romania as part of Army Group Don.
Commanders
- Field Marshal Walther von Reichenau (October 10 1939 - December 29 1941)
- Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus (December 30 1941 - February 3 1942)
- General Karl Adolf Hollidt (March 5 1943 - April 7 1944)
- General Maximilian de Angelis (April 8 1944 - July 16 1944)
- Field Marshal Maximilian Fretter-Pico (July 17 1944 - December 22 1944)
- General Hermann Balck (December 23 1944 - May 8 1945)