The General Commander in the South East (Oberbefehlshaber Südost (German: initials OB Südost)) was the overall command of the German Armed Forces in Greece and the Balkans between 1943 and 1945 during World War II. It was directly subordinate to German Armed Forces High Command.

History

Overall command of the Germans forces in Greece and the Balkans was, together with Italy, in the hands of Albert Kesselring as OB Süd until the end of 1942.
From 1 January 1943 a new post of Oberbefehlshaber Südost was created and given to Alexander Löhr, the commander of the 12th Army, who occupied the area at that time. The forces under his command were reformed into Army Group E.

In August 1943 a second Army Group F was created in the Balkans under command of Generalfeldmarschall Maximilian von Weichs.
As von Weichs outranked Alexander Löhr, he was appointed OB Südost and the HQ of Army Group E became subordinated to the new Army Group F.
After almost 2 years of heavy fighting, Army Group F was disbanded on 25 March 1945, and Alexander Löhr again assumed the role of OB Südost.

Commanders

No. Portrait NameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Alexander Löhr
Löhr, AlexanderGeneraloberst
Alexander Löhr
(1885–1947)
1 January 194326 August 1943237 days
2
Maximilian von Weichs
von Weichs, MaximilianGeneralfeldmarschall
Maximilian von Weichs
(1881–1954)
26 August 194325 March 19451 year, 211 days
3
Alexander Löhr
Löhr, AlexanderGeneraloberst
Alexander Löhr
(1885–1947)
25 March 19458 May 194544 days


Sources

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