Artillery Leaders

[Starinov]

To whom it may come, Greetings:

Can anybody tell me what was the role of a Höhere Artillerie-Kommandeure (Harko), a Artillerie-Kommandeure (Arko) and a Artillerie-Führer? At which level did they work?

Thank you

[Harri]

I think at Army, Army Corps and Division level in that order.

I too would like to know which Arkos were in Finland between 1941 - 1944?

[Simon V.]

Stoart: Heeresgruppe level
Harko: AOK level
Arko: AK level

HTH
Simon

[Starinov]

Thanks but....

What did they do?

PS: what is the difference between AOK level and A. Level?

[USAF1986]

Hello! Here is the breakdown of artillery leaders (and a brief description of the Arfü) as given in the Handbook on German Military Forces, a reprint of the War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 dated 15 March 1945. The Stoart, Harko and Arko were the chief artillery leaders at their respective organizational levels. They were responsible for coordinating and directing the artillery actions of their respective organizations.

• Army Group: Stabsoffizier der Artillerie (Stoart)
• Army: Höherer Artilleriekommandeur (Harko)
• Corps: Artilleriekommandeur (Arko)
• Division: Artillerieführer (Arfü) – The artillery regimental commander of a division was also the chief artillery officer on the specialist staff of the division commander. When General Headquarters artillery units are attached to the division this Arfü usually is subordinated to a special artillery commander known as the Artilleriekommandeur whose small special staff is supplemented in action by the organic staff of the division artillery regiment.

Harri,

I, too, would like to know more about any Arko’s or Harko’s that might have been in Finland from 1941-1944. Strangely, I’ve never run across any of these positions in the 20th Mountain Army or in the XIX, XVIII and XXXVI Mountain Army Corps. Once the 20th Mountain Army had withdrawn into Norway by January 1945, it acquired Harko 220 (Generalleutnant Wolf Graf von Luckner). In Die deutsche Wehrmacht 1939-1945: Führung und Truppe, Kurt Mehner states Harko 220 was formed from Heeres-Küsten-Arko Nord.

Best regards,
Shawn

[Harri]

Harri,
I, too, would like to know more about any Arko’s or Harko’s that might have been in Finland from 1941-1944. Strangely, I’ve never run across any of these positions in the 20th Mountain Army or in the XIX, XVIII and XXXVI Mountain Army Corps. Once the 20th Mountain Army had withdrawn into Norway by January 1945, it acquired Harko 220 (Generalleutnant Wolf Graf von Luckner). In Die deutsche Wehrmacht 1939-1945: Führung und Truppe, Kurt Mehner states Harko 220 was formed from Heeres-Küsten-Arko Nord.

Thanks, I have seen mentionings on Arkos in Finland also in Finnish books but unfortunately never wrote that information down. I have an idea that not all German AKs (initially 2, later 3) in Finland had Arkos of their own, but these would have been moved from AK to another depending on the need. I know there was at least one Arko in Finland but I can't name it right now. I doubt there was any Harko between 1942 - 1944 in Finland. (AOK Norwegen may had one in 1941.)

Note that before 20.Geb.-AOK there were initially AOK Norwegen and between 15.1. - 21.6.1942 AOK Lappland. Also XIX Geb.-AK was called Gebirgskorps Norwegen until 10.11.1942.

[sturmvogel]

XXXVI Gebirgs-Armeekorps had Arko 109 and XVII Gebirgs-Armeekorps had Arko 418. Until it was disbanded in Dec '42 Arko 127 was assigned to Geb.Korps Norwegen.

Jason

[USAF1986]

Jason,

Thanks for the great information! That jogged my memory: Oberst Adrian Freiherr van der Hoop was Gebirgs Arko 109 from 12 September 1943-25 June 1944. I'll see what I can dig up on the others. Thanks again!

Best regards,
Shawn

[VJK]

Hi!

Generalleutnant Werner von Gallwitz was Gbgs. Arko 132 from 6 April 1944 - 11 May 1944, when he was KIA.

Regards,

VJK

[Erik E]

Several strategic places in the Atlantikwall defence got a Artilleriekommandeur attached to the local coastal artillery regiment.
His job was to coordinate the army batteries, and make them cooperate with the navy batteries during an attack.

The ArKo`s in Norway had rank of Oberst or lower, the Navy MarKo`s, Kpt Z. See and lower. A typical Heer ArKo would command 10-20 coastal batteries.

EE

[USAF1986]

VJK,

Thanks for the input! At the time of von Gallwitz's death, Gebirgs Arko 132 was assigned to the XXXXIX Mountain Army Corps of the 17th Army in the Crimea.

Best regards,
Shawn

[Tapsa69]

Hello Harri !

Artillery commander of XXXVI.Geb.Korps (Arko 109's) was oberst Walther Raithel,,, you can find his picture from book: Jatkosodan historia part 4, page 26.

Tapio Heiskanen

[Harri]

Thanks, Tapsa. That's exactly what I had in my mind!

Oberst Adrian v. der Hoop became the Commander of former Divisions-Gruppe "Rossi" (of XIX Geb.-AK, unit in Northern Finland at Petsamo area) in June 1944 after Gen.Lt. Franz Rossi had died in aerial accident together with Gen.Obst Eduard Dietl (20.Geb.-AOK) and Gen.d.Geb.Tr. Karl Eglseer (XVIII Geb.-AK). Unit was renamed as Divisions-Gruppe "van der Hoop".

Thank you everyone. If something more will be find I'd be appreciated.

[USAF1986]

Tapsa,

Thanks! Per Keilig's Die Generale des Heeres, Oberst Wilhelm Raithel served as Gebirgs Arko 109 from 10 May 1941-1 April 1942. He replaced Generalmajor Kurt Pflieger who had served as such since 30 September 1939.

Raithel next commanded the 199th Infantry Division (1 April 1942-1 August 1943) and received the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with Swords on 23 August 1942. He ultimately achieved the rank of Generalleutnant.

Best regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Hi! Here’s another artillery commander in Norway: Generalleutnant Ernst Goettke. Per Bradley, he held the following applicable commands:

• 26 March 1941: Higher Officer of the Army Coastal Artillery Norway.
• 14 June 1941: Artillery Commander of the General Command of the XXXVI Army Corps.
• 16 September 1941: Higher Officer of the Army Coastal Artillery Norway.
• 1 January 1942-15 May 1943: Higher Coastal Artillery Commander North.

Truthfully, I don’t know enough about these commands to comment on his specific responsibilities/areas of command relative to Finland. Any help would be appreciated!

BTW, Goettke received the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with Swords on 26 October 1941. He also received the German Cross in Silver on 23 February 1943 as Higher Coastal Artillery Commander North.

Best regards,
Shawn