Army Group E
On the 1st of January 1943, Army Group E emerged from the ashes of the 12th Army. This new command structure spread its reach across Albania, Greece, Serbia, and Croatia. Generalleutnant Wilhelm Kohler led the 11th Luftwaffe Field Division in Attica. General der Gebirgstruppe Karl von Le Suire commanded the 117th Jäger Division. The unit roster included Rhodes Assault Division and LXVIII Army Corps. Walter Krüger took charge of the 1st Panzer Division between June and October 1943. Hubert Lanz directed XXII Mountain Army Corps in western Greece. Hartwig von Ludwiger oversaw the 104th Jäger Division. Walter Stettner led the 1st Mountain Division. Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller commanded the 22nd Division. Fortress Crete stood as a key defensive point. Twenty-two penal fortress battalions bearing the number 999 operated under this command.
German troops engaged in brutal counter-insurgency campaigns throughout Greece and Yugoslavia during 1943 and 1944. The massacres at Kalavryta and Distomo marked some of the darkest moments for civilians in Greece. September 1943 brought the Cephallonia Massacre where over 5,000 Italian prisoners died after German disarmament orders. Chortiatis massacre occurred in September 1944 as part of these anti-partisan efforts. British forces attempted to seize the Dodecanese Islands but were repelled by Army Group E units. These operations created deep resentment among local populations while draining German resources. The harsh tactics aimed to suppress resistance movements that threatened supply lines across the Balkans. Thousands of lives ended in these scattered conflicts across mountainous terrain and coastal regions.
Summer 1944 saw fighting in Romania turn into a decisive German defeat. Army Group E began withdrawing from Greek islands and mainland territories immediately. The southern Balkan withdrawal proved successful despite heavy pressure. Autumn 1944 brought the Belgrade Operation when Soviet troops joined Yugoslav Partisans to conquer central Serbia. This forced Army Group E and 2nd Panzer Army through southwestern Serbia and northern Montenegro. They moved toward southeast Bosnia before reaching Croatia. Partisan attacks continued throughout this journey with occasional British assistance via Operation Floxo. The Bosnian border became a place where stable defensive positions could finally be established. Mountainous terrain slowed their progress but also provided natural barriers against pursuing forces. The retreat stretched over hundreds of miles through difficult geography.
Colonel General Alexander Löhr tried to hold the Independent State of Croatia against advancing People's Liberation Army forces. A major offensive beginning on the 12th of April 1945 drove German troops toward the Slovenian-Austrian border area. Some units escaped to Styria and Carinthia where they surrendered to British forces. Löhr reached a partial agreement allowing certain German units to accept surrender terms. By the 30th of April 1945, Army Group E contained LXIX Command, XV SS Cossacks, XXI Mountain Corps, and other formations. On the 8th of May 1945, most of the army group remained three day marches from Austria. Units managed to escape to Austria until the 15th of May when capture rates increased dramatically. One hundred fifty thousand German soldiers fell into Tito's hands during these final days. Seven German divisions, two Cossack divisions, and nine Croatian divisions made up the remaining force structure.
Two hundred twenty thousand members of Croatian forces fled to Austria alongside Army Group E in May 1945. The British extradited these individuals back to Tito partisans after their surrender. Several thousand of them died in what became known as the Bleiburg Massacre. This event marked one of the bloodiest consequences of the Balkan collapse. Families were separated as collaborators faced immediate execution upon return. The massacre occurred shortly after the formal surrender of Axis forces in the region. British authorities prioritized handing over suspected war criminals despite international outcry. The tragedy left deep scars on post-war Yugoslav society and Austrian relations with neighboring states. Thousands more disappeared without trace during the chaotic weeks following the war.
A member of Army Group E later rose to become Austrian president and United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. He served within the military administration of Thessaloniki during his time with the unit. His future prominence contrasted sharply with the brutal nature of his wartime service. Other commanders like Wilhelm Kohler and Karl von Le Suire led major divisions but faded from history. The legacy of Army Group E remains tied to both its strategic failures and human cost. Post-war trials examined some actions while others escaped scrutiny entirely. Historical records show how ordinary soldiers became complicit in larger atrocities. The unit's dissolution in 1945 marked the end of an era for German forces in the Balkans.
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Common questions
When was Army Group E formed and which territories did it cover?
Army Group E emerged on the 1st of January 1943 from the ashes of the 12th Army. This command structure spread its reach across Albania, Greece, Serbia, and Croatia.
What major massacres occurred under Army Group E during World War II?
German troops engaged in brutal counter-insurgency campaigns that included the massacres at Kalavryta and Distomo in Greece. September 1943 brought the Cephallonia Massacre where over 5,000 Italian prisoners died after German disarmament orders.
How did Army Group E withdraw from the Balkans in 1944?
Summer 1944 saw fighting in Romania turn into a decisive German defeat prompting an immediate withdrawal from Greek islands and mainland territories. The unit moved through southwestern Serbia and northern Montenegro before reaching Croatia while facing partisan attacks throughout the journey.
Who commanded Army Group E when it surrendered to British forces in May 1945?
Colonel General Alexander Löhr tried to hold the Independent State of Croatia against advancing People's Liberation Army forces until the end of the war. Units managed to escape to Austria until the 15th of May when capture rates increased dramatically and one hundred fifty thousand German soldiers fell into Tito's hands.
What happened to Croatian forces who fled with Army Group E to Austria in 1945?
Two hundred twenty thousand members of Croatian forces fled to Austria alongside Army Group E in May 1945 only to be extradited back to Tito partisans by British authorities. Several thousand of them died in what became known as the Bleiburg Massacre shortly after the formal surrender of Axis forces.