3rd Army (German Empire)
The 3rd Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on mobilization in August 1914 seemingly from the II Army Inspectorate. The army was disbanded in 1919 during demobilization after the war.
History
Upon the mobilization Max von Hausen was given command of the 3rd Army which mainly consisted of Saxons. The army participated in the Battle of the Frontiers, mainly in the battles of Dinant and Charleroi and the army were responsible for the destruction of Reims in September 1914. After the Second Army's retreat after the First Battle of the Marne, Von Hausen saw his own flank exposed and ordered a retreat. Upon the stabilization of the front on the river Aisne, Von Hausen was relieved of his command and replaced by General Karl von Einem.Successfully repulsing the French Champagne-Marne offensive from February–March and September–November 1915 respectively, the army would take part in all three Battles of the Aisne and would hold General Anthoine's 4th Army during the Second Battle of the Aisne as part of the Nivelle Offensive from 16 April – 15 May 1917.
Einem's right wing units would also participate in Erich Ludendorff's Champagne-Marne offensive on 15–17 July 1918 supporting the east flank of the German 1st Army. After suffering severe casualties in battle with John J. Pershing's Allied Expeditionary Force from 26 September – 11 November in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the army was forced to retreat northward shortly before the war's end. At the end of the war it was serving as part of Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz.
Order of Battle, 30 October 1918
By the end of the war, the 3rd Army was organised as:Commanders
The 3rd Army had the following commanders during its existence:| From | Commander | Previously | |
| 2 August 1914 | Generaloberst Max von Hausen | Saxon Minister of War | Adjutant to his Majesty the King of Saxony |
| 12 September 1914 | General der Kavallerie Karl von Einem | VII Corps | Retired |
| 27 January 1915 | Generaloberst Karl von Einem | VII Corps | Retired |
Glossary
- Armee-Abteilung or Army Detachment in the sense of "something detached from an Army". It is not under the command of an Army so is in itself a small Army.
- Armee-Gruppe or Army Group in the sense of a group within an Army and under its command, generally formed as a temporary measure for a specific task.
- Heeresgruppe or Army Group in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander.