U.S. Fifteenth Army

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The US Fifteenth Army was the last field army to see service in northwest Europe during World War II. It was first activated in early 1945, with Lieutenant General Leonard T. Gerow assuming command on 15 January. Fifteenth Army never entered the main line of battle. However, its formations did see some action, when it contained and then reduced the enormous Ruhr Pocket from the west during April 1945 in conjunction with elements of Ninth Army.

Gerow remained in command of Fifteenth Army until he was succeeded by General George S. Patton in October 1945. Gen. George S. Patton was appointed Commander, Fifteenth Army, and President of the European Theater General Board on 14 October 1945.

The Fifteenth Army consisted solely of a small staff quartered at Bad Nauheim, in the interior of Germany. It consisted of a headquarters and special troops assigned to gather historical data on Allied operations during the war. In November 1945 Patton replaced Gen. Eisenhower as commander of US Forces in Europe. However, as a result of a car accident Gen. Patton died on 21 December 1945.

The Fifteenth Army became the Occupation Forces for Germany.

Lt. Gen. Hobart Raymond Gay became commander of the U.S. Fifteenth Army in January 1946. Brig. Gen. Gay had been Chief of Staff for Gen. George S. Patton in the Third U.S. Army. He remained commander until about November 1947.