It garrisoned the Netherlands with twelve divisions. In March 1945 the army group became Heeresgruppe Nordwest under Ernst Busch the "Oberbefehlshaber Nordwest" (OB Nordwest, the Northwest High Command). After being pushed from the Rhine by Operation Varsity, on 4 May 1945 OB Nordwest capitulated on the Lüneburger Heide to Field Marshal Montgomery.