German Orders of Battle October 1943

The German Orders of Battle from October 4, 1943, after the surrender and occupation of Italy.

Orders of Battle from 4 October 1943

The German Orders of Battle and distribution of the divisions of the Wehrmacht and subordinated units of allies after the capitulation of Italy, 8 September 1943, and the following disarmament of the Italian troops and take over of their positions by German units.

The Orders of Battle includes also shattered divisions (marked as remnant) as well as divisions under preparation.
Fortress divisions are officially designated ‘not mobile’ divisions, designated for the defense of coastal sections in the west.
Luftwaffe field divisions were raised from surplus ground crews and anti-aircraft soldiers of the Air Force to reinforce the army, but they were of little combat value because it’s soldiers and officers had little experience in ground warfare.
Security divisions were used for the guarding and defense of bridges, railway lines and other important objects against partisans. Jaeger divisions were light and mobile units for difficult terrain and were especially active in the fight against partisans.

It is noteworthy that many divisions at the southern and central sector of the Eastern Front have fallen far below their organization strength since the Battle of Kursk (July 1943), because nearly all German reserves were needed for the disarmament of the Italian army and the take-over of the Italian occupation zones, and to fight against the Anglo-Americans in Southern Italy. During this period, the headquarters of the German Wehrmacht expected also a further invasion at the Balkans, mainly in Greece. A successful Allied landing there would have probably resulted in the surrender of also Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria and their change into the camp of the Western allies.

Schematic layout of the German Wehrmacht from October 4, 1943

Army Group A:

Army Group South:

Army Group Center:

Army Group North:

Subordinated to OKW (Headquarter of the Wehrmacht):

Army Group D, Commander of the West:

Army Group B:

Supreme Commander South:

Army Group F, Commander South East:

Army Group E (subordinated to Army Group F):

Reserve Army and Commander of the army armament:

Overview of fully established and operational divisions of the Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe, Reserve Army and allied units:

Sum 353 divisions (326 without allies, 274 without reserve divisions)

Pz = Panzer (tank); PzGr = Panzer-Grenadier (motorized infantry); Inf = infantry; Jag = Jaeger (light infantry); Mt = Gebirgsjäger (Mountain troops); Sec = Security; Res = Training, Reserves or Replacement divisions; Lw = Luftwaffe-Feld- and Airborne divisions; Ax = allied Axis units under operational control.

See also: Germany Army Unit Organization 1942-45.

The Italian surrender

In September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allied forces. The most important events leading up to the surrender were:

10 July 1943: The Allies launch Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in order to gain a foothold in Europe and throw Italy out of the war.

25 July 1943: Following the successful Allied invasion of Sicily and the bombing of Rome, the Grand Council of Fascism passed a vote of no confidence in Benito Mussolini. King Victor Emmanuel III dismissed and arrested Mussolini and appointed Pietro Badoglio as the new Prime Minister.

3 September 1943: The new Italian government secretly signs the Armistice of Cassibile with the Allies, agreeing to cease hostilities.

8 September 1943: Eisenhower unilaterally announces the armistice. German forces in Italy, who had anticipated this move, quickly disarm and intern the Italian forces. They also occupied key positions in Italy to stop the Allies from advancing.

9 September 1943: The Italian royal family and the Badoglio government fled Rome and eventually established a new government in the southern city of Brindisi, which was under Allied control.

Italy’s surrender did not end the fighting in the country. The German army continued to fight the Allies in Italy, while Mussolini, who had been rescued by the Germans in Operation Oak, established the Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana) in northern Italy. This led to a civil war between Mussolini’s fascist supporters and the Italian resistance. Fighting in Italy continued until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945.

Battle of Salerno

The Battle of Salerno (also known as Operation Avalanche) was a major Allied amphibious invasion during World War II, fought from 9 to 16 September 1943 near the city of Salerno, on Italy’s western coast. It marked the beginning of the Allied mainland campaign in Italy.

Background

After the successful Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) in July–August 1943, Italy’s Fascist government collapsed. On 8 September 1943, Italy publicly announced an armistice with the Allies. Despite this, German forces were prepared to resist and swiftly moved to occupy Italy, turning former Italian allies into enemies overnight.

The Allies aimed to land at Salerno to secure a port, establish a foothold on the Italian mainland, and advance toward Naples, a critical logistical hub.

Opposing Forces

– Allies:
– Mainly the U.S. Fifth Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark
– Included American, British, and Commonwealth units
– Supported by naval gunfire and air power

– Axis:
– German 10th Army, commanded by General Heinrich von Vietinghoff
– Experienced and well-prepared defensive forces

The Landings (9 September 1943)

Allied troops landed along a broad stretch of coastline south of Salerno. Unlike earlier amphibious assaults, there was no preliminary naval bombardment, in an attempt to achieve surprise. This decision proved costly, as German defenders were alert and well-positioned.

The Allies encountered fierce resistance almost immediately. German artillery, tanks, and infantry launched coordinated counterattacks that threatened to push the invaders back into the sea.

Crisis and Turning Point

Between 12 and 14 September, the situation became critical. German forces launched powerful counteroffensives aimed at splitting the beachhead. At several points, Allied lines were dangerously close to collapse.

The invasion was saved by:
– Intense naval gunfire, firing directly into German positions
– Massive Allied air support
– The arrival of reinforcements, including U.S. airborne units

These measures halted the German advance and stabilized the beachhead.

German Withdrawal

By 16 September 1943, German commanders concluded that holding the Salerno area was no longer sustainable, especially as Allied forces advancing from the south linked up with the beachhead. German units withdrew northward in good order, establishing new defensive lines.

Aftermath and Significance

– The Allies captured Naples on 1 October 1943, securing a vital port.
– The battle opened the long and difficult Italian Campaign, characterized by mountainous terrain and strong German defensive positions.
– Although successful, the battle exposed weaknesses in Allied planning and command coordination.

Casualties

– Allied casualties: approximately 12,500 killed, wounded, or missing
– German casualties: estimated 3,500–4,000

Historical Importance

The Battle of Salerno demonstrated both the risks of amphibious warfare and the effectiveness of combined arms—naval, air, and ground forces working together. While it did not lead to a rapid collapse of German defenses in Italy, it forced Germany to commit substantial resources to a secondary front, aiding the broader Allied war effort in Europe.

References and literature

Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht, Band 1-8 (Percy E. Schramm)
Der Grosse Atlas zum II. Weltkrieg (Peter Young)
World War II – A Statistical Survey (John Ellis)