Army Group East (Italy)

Army Group East (German: Heeresgruppe Ost) was a short-lived command formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It existed solely for the purpose of commanding German forces in Italy in the immediate aftermath of Italy's armistice with the Allies in September 1943.

The Army Group's primary task was to disarm and neutralize Italian forces following the Italian surrender. It was formed rapidly as the situation in Italy deteriorated for the Axis. Its commander was Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel.

Due to disagreements between Rommel and Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring over the future strategy in Italy (Rommel favored a withdrawal to the northern Apennines while Kesselring wanted to hold a line further south), Army Group East was dissolved in November 1943. Rommel was reassigned and Kesselring assumed overall command in Italy. Kesselring's command was restructured into Army Group C, which then continued to direct German forces in the Italian Campaign for the remainder of the war. Therefore, Army Group East's operational lifespan was brief, its purpose essentially transitional.