10th Army (German Empire)
The 10th Army was an army level command of the German Army during World War I. It was formed on 26 January 1915 and dissolved on 8 January 1919. Its primary area of operations was on the Eastern Front.
Formation and Initial Command
The army was formed to reinforce the Eastern Front during the winter of 1915. It was initially commanded by Generaloberst Hermann von Eichhorn.
Key Campaigns and Battles
- Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes (Winter Battle of Masuria): The 10th Army played a significant role in this offensive, aimed at encircling Russian forces in the Masurian Lakes region.
- Courland Offensive: The 10th Army was involved in operations aimed at securing the Courland region (present-day Latvia).
- Nara River Operations: Participated in defensive actions and positional warfare along the Nara River.
Subordinate Units
The composition of the 10th Army varied throughout the war depending on the operational requirements, but typically included several corps, often detached from other armies as needed. The exact composition of the army at any given point is subject to historical record variations and specific operational orders.
Later Commanders
- General der Infanterie Erich von Falkenhayn (from August 1916 to January 1917)
- General der Infanterie Hermann von François (January 1917 to December 1917)
- General der Infanterie Günther von Kirchbach (December 1917 to August 1918)
- General der Infanterie Erich von Falkenhayn (August 1918 to November 1918)
Dissolution
Following the armistice in November 1918, the 10th Army was demobilized and formally dissolved in January 1919. Its personnel and equipment were absorbed into other formations or demobilized as part of the broader German Army downsizing after the war.