Oberbefehlshaber West (German: initials OB West) (German: "Commander-in-Chief [in the] West") was the overall commander of the Westheer, the German armed forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (the German armed forces High Command). The area under the command of the OB West varied as the war progressed. At its furthest extent, it reached the French Atlantic coast. By the end of World War II in Europe, it was reduced to commanding troops in Bavaria.

Commanders

No.PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1Rundstedt, GerdGeneralfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (1875–1953)10 October 19401 April 1941173days
2Witzleben, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin von Witzleben (1881–1944)1 May 194115 March 1942348days
(1)Rundstedt, GerdGeneralfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (1875–1953)15 March 19422 July 19442years, 109days
3Kluge, GüntherGeneralfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge (1882–1944)2 July 194417 August 194446days
Model, WalterGeneralfeldmarschall Walter Model (1891–1945) Acting17 August 19443 September 194417days
(1)Rundstedt, GerdGeneralfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (1875–1953)3 September 194411 March 1945189days
4Kesselring, AlbertGeneralfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (1885–1960)11 March 194522 April 194542days

Order of battle from June 1944 to January 1945

OB West[citation needed]
Army Group BPanzer Group WestArmy Group GArmy Group HArmy Group D
Seventh ArmyFifteenth ArmySixth SS Panzer Army (Dec 1944-Jan 1945)Fifth Panzer ArmyFirst ArmyNineteenth Army1st Parachute Army25th ArmyStructure of the OB West
LXXXIV CorpsLXXXVIII CorpsI SS Panzer CorpsI SS Panzer CorpsXII CorpsLXII CorpsII Parachute CorpsXXX Corps
II Parachute CorpsLXXXVIII CorpsII SS Panzer CorpsXLVII Panzer CorpsXXIV CorpsLXXXV CorpsLXXXVI Corps
LIII Corps (Dec 1944)LXXXVI CorpsLXVII CorpsII SS Panzer CorpsXXIV CorpsLXXXV CorpsLXXXVI Corps

Notes