Army Detachment Kempf

Army Detachment Kempf was an army-sized formation of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front during World War II. As part of Army Group South, Detachment Kempf saw action during Operation Citadel, the German attempt to cut off the Kursk salient and destroy a large part of the Soviet Army.

Army Detachment Kempf
German: Armeeabteilung Kempf
Active1 February 1943 – 22 August 1943
Country Nazi Germany
Branch German army ( Wehrmacht)
EngagementsBattle of Kursk
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Werner Kempf

Operational history

The detachment was formed on 1 February 1943 as Armee-Abteilung Lanz, led by Hubert Lanz. On 21 February 1943 Lanz was replaced by Werner Kempf and the detachment was renamed to reflect this change. In February–March that year, The detachment fought in the Third Battle of Kharkov.

The detachment took part in the Battle of Kursk. Beginning on the night of 4/5 July 1943, the III Panzer Corps, the detachment's primary attack formation, spearheaded the thrust east of Belgorod. After the failure of the operation, Army Detachment Kempf retreated with the rest of Army Group South. Kempf was relieved of command on 17 August 1943. He was replaced by Otto Wöhler on August 16 and the detachment was designated as the 8th Army.

The order of battle for Operation Citadel was:[1]

Commander
No. Portrait CommanderTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Hubert Lanz
Lanz, HubertGeneral der Gebirgstruppe
Hubert Lanz
(1896–1982)		1 February 194321 February 194320 days
2
Werner Kempf
Kempf, WernerGeneral der Panzertruppe
Werner Kempf
(1886–1964)		21 February 194316 August 1943176 days
3
Otto Wöhler
Wöhler, OttoGeneral der Infanterie
Otto Wöhler
(1894–1987)		17 August 194322 August 19435 days

References
  1. Mine Operations During the Battle of Kursk
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