| Gotthard Heinrici | |
|---|---|
| 25 December 1886 — 13 December 1971 (aged 84) | |
 Gotthard Heinrici |
|
| Place of birth | Gumbinnen (Gusev), East Prussia |
| Place of death | Endersbach, (Weinstadt) |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Years of service | 1905 - 1945 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands held | XXXXIII. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Gusev (Гу́сев Gumbinnen Gumbinė Głąbin/Gąbin is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Weinstadt is a town in the Rems-Murr district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Colonel General is a senior Military rank which is used in some of the world’s militaries Armeekorps 4. Armee 1. Armee Army Group Vistula |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Gotthardt Heinrici (December 25, 1886 – December 13, 1971) was a general in the German Army during World War II. The 4th Army (4 Armee Oberkommando was a field army that fought in World War II. The 1st Army (German 1 Armee) was a World War I and World War II field army Army Group Vistula ( Heeresgruppe Weichsel) was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24[[ 945]] World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Battle of the Seelow Heights (Schlacht um die "Seelower Höhen" was a part of the Seelow-Berlin Offensive Operation (16 April 1945 - 2 May 1945 one of The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was a grade of the Iron Cross Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. The German Army (Deutsches Heer heɐ) is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Contents |
Personal life
Heinrici was born in Gumbinnen (now Gusev), East Prussia, on Christmas Day, 1886. Gusev (Гу́сев Gumbinnen Gumbinė Głąbin/Gąbin is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Few details are known about Heinrici's personal life. He was a cousin of General Gerd von Rundstedt and was married to Gertrude Heinrici, a half-Jew. Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt ( December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a Generalfeldmarschall of the German PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The family received a German Blood Certificate directly from German dictator Adolf Hitler. A German Blood Certificate (Deutschblütigkeitserklärung was a document provided to Mischlinge ' (those with partial Jewish heritage during the Second World War Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately The Heinricis had two children: a girl and a boy.
The son of a Lutheran minister, Heinrici was a religious man who attended church regularly. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther His religiosity made him unpopular among the Nazi hierarchy and he was on unfavourable terms with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and Hitler. Reichsmarschall (Marshal of the Empire or Imperial Marshal in English) was the highest rank in the Armed forces of Nazi Germany during Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also spelled Goering) (12 January 1893 15 October 1946 was a German Politician, Military leader and a leading member This was probably due to his refusal to join the Nazi Party. The, officially National Socialist German Workers' Party, ( abbreviated NSDAP) was a Political party in Germany between 1919 and 1945
Early army career
The Heinrici family had been soldiers since the 12th century. Gotthard Heinrici continued the family tradition by joining the 95th Infantry Regiment on 8 March 1905. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting He was 19 years old. Heinrici saw action on both the Eastern and Western fronts in the First World War and won numerous awards. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All His awards included the Black Wound Badge for being wounded in battle. Wound Badge (das Verwundetenabzeichen was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Reichswehr, Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service Heinrici also received both the Second Class and First Class Iron Crosses in 1914 and 1915, respectively. For other meanings please see Iron Cross (disambiguation The Iron Cross ( was a Military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia He participated in the Battle of Tannenberg. The Battle of Tannenberg was a decisive engagement between the Russian Empire and the German Empire in the first days of World War I, fought by the Heinrici was a victim of poison gas in World War I. The use of poison gas in World War I was a major military innovation
Second World War
Heinrici served throughout World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including As in World War I, he served on both fronts. Heinrici built up a reputation as one of the best defensive tacticians in the Wehrmacht and was renowned for his tenacity. Wehrmacht (literally "defense force" was the name of the unified Armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945 For this reason, his officers and men nicknamed him Unser Giftzwerg, literally "our poison dwarf", meaning "our tough little bastard" in recognition of his character and lack of physical stature.
During the Blitzkrieg into France, Heinrici commanded the 12th Corps and succeeded in breaking through the Maginot Line on 14 June 1940. Blitzkrieg (German for "lightning war" is a popular name for an Offensive operational-level Military doctrine which involves an initial In World War II, the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries The Maginot Line (IPA, Ligne Maginot named after French Minister of Defense André Maginot, was a line of concrete Fortifications tank obstacles artillery Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
In 1941, during Operation Barbarossa, Heinrici served in the Second Panzer Army under Heinz Guderian and, as the commanding general of the 43rd Army Corps, received the Knight's Cross. Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II The 2nd Panzer Army (2Panzerarmee was a German Tank army that was a large armoured formation within the Wehrmacht Heer field forces during World War II Heinz Wilhelm Guderian ( 17 June, 1888 – 14 May, 1954) was a military theorist and innovative General of the German For other meanings please see Iron Cross (disambiguation The Iron Cross ( was a Military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia
On 26 January 1942, Heinrici was given command of the German Fourth Army. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The 4th Army (4 Armee Oberkommando was a field army that fought in World War II. This unit was crucial to the rapidly crumbling German line directly facing Moscow. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of The Fourth Army under Heinrici held out against the Soviet onslaught for ten weeks. Heinrici managed this even though his forces were sometimes out-numbered 12 to 1. During this time, Heinrici developed one of his most famous tactics. When he knew a Soviet attack was imminent, he would pull his troops back from the line until the Soviet artillery barrage subsided. Then, immediately afterwards, Heinrici would redeploy them unharmed.
Smolensk
In late 1943, Göring had Heinrici placed in a convalescent home in Karlsbad on the pretext of "ill health". Karlsbad is an administrative area in the district of Karlsruhe, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This was actually punishment for refusing to set fire to Smolensk in accordance with the Nazi "scorched earth" policy. Smolensk (Смоленск is a city in western Russia, located on the Dnieper River, the administrative centre of Smolensk Oblast. A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method (possibly more often referred to as a tactic but this is not entirely correct as there is a difference between However, it should be noted that Heinrici went on a two-month leave of absence twice during World War II. Leave of absence (LOA is a term used to describe a period of time that one is to be away from his/her primary job while maintaining the status of employee. He took leave from 6 June to 13 July 1942. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. About one year later, Heinrici took leave from 1 June to 31 July 1943. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. One of these leaves was believed to be due to his contracting hepatitis. Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) implies injury to the Liver characterized by the presence of Inflammatory cells in the tissue of
In the summer of 1944, after eight months of enforced retirement, Heinrici was sent to Hungary and placed in command of the German First Panzer Army and the Hungarian First Army which was attached to it. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic The 1st Panzer Army (1Panzerarmee was a German Tank army that was a large armoured formation within the Wehrmacht Heer field forces during World War II The Hungarian First Army was a Hungarian field army which saw action during World War II. He was able to keep the First Panzer Army relatively intact as he retreated into Slovakia. Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million Heinrici fought so tenaciously that he was awarded the Swords to the Oak Leaves of his Knight's Cross on 3 March 1945. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
Retreat from the Oder
On 20 March 1945, Heinz Guderian replaced Heinrich Himmler with Heinrici as Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Vistula on the Eastern Front. Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Heinz Wilhelm Guderian ( 17 June, 1888 – 14 May, 1954) was a military theorist and innovative General of the German Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945 was a Nazi German politician and head of the Schutzstaffel (SS. Army Group Vistula ( Heeresgruppe Weichsel) was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24[[ 945]] The Eastern Front of World War II (die Ostfront 1941-1945, der Rußlandfeldzug 1941-1945 (Russian campaign or der Ostfeldzug 1941-1945 (Eastern Campaign Indicating that he was ill, Himmler had abandoned his post on 13 March and retired to a sanatorium at Hohenlychen. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. At this time, Army Group Vistula's front was less than 50 miles from Berlin. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany.
As Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Vistula, Heinrici commanded two armies: the Third Panzer Army led by General Hasso von Manteuffel and the Ninth Army led by General Theodor Busse. The 3rd Panzer Army (3Panzerarmee was a German army that saw action during World War II. Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel ( January 14, 1897 &mdash September 24, 1978) was a German soldier and liberal politician of The 9th Army (9 Armee was a World War II field army The 9th Army was activated on May 15, 1940 with General Johannes Blaskowitz in command Theodor Busse ( 15 December 1897 &ndash 21 October 1986) was a German officer during World War I and World War II. Heinrici was tasked with preventing a Soviet attack across the Oder River. The Oder (known in Czech and Polish as Odra) is a River in Central Europe. But he faced shortages of manpower and material and Hitler's conviction that the Red Army would not attack Berlin.
Led by Marshals Georgi Zhukov (1st Byelorussian Front) and Ivan Konev (1st Ukrainian Front), the Soviets had advanced rapidly west from the USSR and had been stalled east of the Oder for months. The 1st Belorussian Front (alternative spellings are 1st Byelorussian Front and 1st Belarusian Front) was a Front of the Ivan Stepanovich Konev ( Ива́н Степа́нович Ко́нев ( &ndash May 21, 1973) was a Soviet military commander who led Red The 1st Ukrainian Front (RussianПервый украинский фронт was a front —a force the size of a Western Army group —of the Soviet Union's The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 As Anglo-American armies approached Berlin from the West, however, Stalin became convinced that they intended to take Berlin for themselves and ordered Zhukov and Konev to seize the city without further delays. Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party Ivan Stepanovich Konev ( Ива́н Степа́нович Ко́нев ( &ndash May 21, 1973) was a Soviet military commander who led Red
On 15 April, Heinrici met with architect Albert Speer and Lieutenant General (Generalleutnant) Helmuth Reymann to discuss the scorched earth policy (see Nero Decree) that Speer and Heinrici were against. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer, commonly known as Albert Speer ( 19 March 1905 - 1 September 1981 was an Architect, author and for part of World Hellmuth Reymann ( 24 November 1892 &ndash 8 December 1988) was an officer in the German Army ( Wehrmacht A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method (possibly more often referred to as a tactic but this is not entirely correct as there is a difference between The Nero Decree was issued by Adolf Hitler on March 19, 1945 ordering the destruction of German infrastructure to prevent their use by Allied forces At that time, Reymann was the commander of the Berlin Defense Area. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Although Reymann refused to side with Speer, he did promise to confer with Heinrici before destroying vital city infrastructure.
On 16 April, the first stage of the Battle of Berlin, the Battle of the Oder-Neisse, began. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom For the bombing campaign on Berlin by the RAF from November 1943 to March 1944 see Battle of Berlin (air. See also Battle of Berlin The Battle of the Oder-Neisse is the German name for the initial (operational phase of one of the last two Strategic offensives Combined, the Soviets attacked with over 1,500,000 men for what they called the "Berlin Offensive Operation". In the early morning of 18 April, Zhukov's front crossed the Oder and assaulted Heinrici's positions on the western bank. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Simultaneously, Konev's front attacked Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner's Army Group Center further south. Ivan Stepanovich Konev ( Ива́н Степа́нович Ко́нев ( &ndash May 21, 1973) was a Soviet military commander who led Red Ferdinand Schörner ( 12 June, 1892 - July 2, 1973; also Schoerner) was a General and later Field Marshal ( Generalfeldmarschall Army Group Center (Heeresgruppe Mitte was the name of two distinct German strategic Army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II By 19 April, the Soviets had broken through and the Battle of the Oder-Neisse was over. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer See also Battle of Berlin The Battle of the Oder-Neisse is the German name for the initial (operational phase of one of the last two Strategic offensives Now began the second stage of the Battle of Berlin, the battle for the city itself. For the bombing campaign on Berlin by the RAF from November 1943 to March 1944 see Battle of Berlin (air.
About 21 April, Hitler learned of a proposed retreat of Army Group Vistula only after a puzzling request by General Heinrici. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Heinrici requested permission from Hitler to transfer the headquarters of his army group to a new site. Hitler was only able to find Heinrici's proposed headquarters after much searching on the map. Hitler then saw to his dismay that the site was to the west of Berlin and, thus, further from the Soviets than Hitler's own headquarters in the Führerbunker. The Führerbunker ( German, literally meaning "shelter for the leader" or "the Führer's shelter" is a common name for a complex of subterranean rooms Hitler was furious.
By late April, Heinrici realized that Army Group Vistula could not halt the advance of the Soviets. Army Group Vistula ( Heeresgruppe Weichsel) was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24[[ 945]] After days of intense fighting, he ordered the retreat of his army group from Wollin. He ordered his men to fall back across the Oder River. Heinrici ordered this despite Hitler's orders that no retreat could be authorized without his personal approval.
Clash with Keitel and Dismissal
On 28 April, German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel was riding along the roads north of Berlin when he noticed to his amazement that troops of the 7th Panzer Division and of the 25th Panzergrenadier Division were marching north away from Berlin. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel (22 September 1882–16 October 1946 was a German Field marshal ( Generalfeldmarschall) The 7th Panzer Division was a German armored formation which participated in the Battle of France. These troops were part of General Hasso von Manteuffel's 3rd Panzer Army. Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel ( January 14, 1897 &mdash September 24, 1978) was a German soldier and liberal politician of The 3rd Panzer Army (3Panzerarmee was a German army that saw action during World War II. The 3rd Panzer Army was one of two armies which made up Heinrici's Army Group Vistula and were supposed to be on their way to Berlin. Army Group Vistula ( Heeresgruppe Weichsel) was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24[[ 945]] Instead, they were being moved northward in an attempt to halt the Soviet break-through at Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg ( New Brandenburg, nɔʏˈbʁandənbʊʁk is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. [1]
Heinrici had defied the strictest orders of Keitel and his deputy, General Alfred Jodl. Alfred Jodl (10 May 1890 – 16 October 1946 was a German military commander attaining the position of Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Furious, Keitel went in search of Heinrici and found him on a road near Neubrandenburg. Heinrici was close to the front and accompanied by von Manteuffel. Processions of wounded and disarmed soldiers and endless treks of refugees were moving past. [1]. Keitel, his face purple, called Heinrici to account and spoke of insubordination, treason, cowardice, and sabotage. Keitel accused Heinrici of weakness and shouted that if Heinrici had only taken General Lothar Rendulic in Austria as an example and shot a few thousand deserters or strung them up on the nearest tree, his armies would not now be on the retreat. Generaloberst Dr Lothar Rendulic ( November 23, 1887 &ndash January 18, 1971) was an Austro-Hungarian and Austrian [1]
Heinrici's movements were intended to bring his army group, and as many civilians as possible, to the west. Heinrici intended to get them into the area between the northern reaches of the Elbe River and the Baltic Sea. The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. The Baltic Sea is a Brackish inland sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N Latitude and from 20°E to 26°E Longitude. [1] Heinrici told his superior officer, "Marshal Keitel, if you want these men to be shot, will you please begin!"[1]
Keitel then relieved Heinrici of his command. Heinrici's command was offered to von Manteuffel, but von Manteuffel not only declined the promotion, he protested the treatment of Heinrici. Kurt von Tippelskirch was named as Heinrici's interim replacement until General Kurt Student could arrive and assume control of Army Group Vistula. Kurt von Tippelskirch ( 9 October 1891 &ndash May 10 1957) was a General in the German Army during World War Kurt Student ( May 12, 1890 &ndash July 1, 1978) was a German Luftwaffe General who fought as But Student was captured by the British before he could take command.
After losing his command, Heinrici retired to Plön, where he surrendered to British forces on 28 May 1945. Plön (ˈpløːn is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13000 inhabitants The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
After the war
After his capture, Heinrici was held at Island Farm where he remained, other than a three-week transfer to a camp in the United States in October 1947, until his eventual release on 19 May 1948. Island Farm was a former Prisoner of War Camp ( Camp 198) on the outskirts of the town of Bridgend, South Wales. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Throughout the war, Heinrici was opposed to Hitler's scorched earth policy, whereby everything of use had been ordered destroyed so as not to fall into the hands of the advancing enemy. He refused to lay waste to Smolensk as Göring had ordered, and late in the war he supported Minister of Armaments Albert Speer who worked to save Berlin from total destruction. Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer, commonly known as Albert Speer ( 19 March 1905 - 1 September 1981 was an Architect, author and for part of World When he was briefly put in charge of the defense of Berlin itself, Heinrici's first command was that nothing be purposely destroyed.
After the war, Heinrici's diary entries and letters were collected into a book entitled Morals and behaviour here are like those in the Thirty Years’ War. The First Year of the German-Soviet War as Shown in the Papers of Gnl. Gotthard Heinrici. He was also featured prominently in Cornelius Ryan's book, "The Last Battle. "
Ranks held
- Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (19 Jul 1905)
- Fähnrich (19 Dec 1905)
- Leutnant (18 Aug 1906)
- Oberleutnant (17 Feb 1914)
- Hauptmann (18 Jun 1915)
- Major (01 Feb 1926)
- Oberstleutnant (01 Aug 1930)
- Oberst (01 Mar 1933)
- Generalmajor (01 Jan 1936)
- Generalleutnant (01 Mar 1938)
- General der Infanterie (01 Jun 1940)
- Generaloberst (30 Jan 1943)
Decorations
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross: 18 September 1941, General der Infanterie, Commanding General of XXXXIII Army Corps on the Eastern Front. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as Captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country Please see " General " for other countries which use this rank General (genəˈraːl is presently the highest rank Please see " General " for other countries which use this rank General (genəˈraːl is presently the highest rank Colonel General is a senior Military rank which is used in some of the world’s militaries The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was a grade of the Iron Cross
- Oakleaves (No. 333): 24 November 1943, Generaloberst, Commander-in-Chief of the 4th Army on the Eastern Front.
- Swords (No. 136): 3 March 1945, Generaloberst, Commander-in-Chief of the 1st Panzer Army on the Eastern Front.
- Prussian Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords: 9 August 1918. The House Order of Hohenzollern ( Hausorden von Hohenzollern or Hohenzollernscher Hausorden) was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern
- Prussian Iron Cross 1st Class (1914): 24 July 1915. For other meanings please see Iron Cross (disambiguation The Iron Cross ( was a Military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia
- Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class (1914): 27 September 1914. For other meanings please see Iron Cross (disambiguation The Iron Cross ( was a Military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia
- 1939 Bar to the Prussian Iron Cross 1st Class (1914): 16 May 1940.
- 1939 Bar to the Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class (1914): 13 May 1940.
- Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Carl Eduard War Cross
- Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Duke Carl Eduard Medal, 2nd Class with Swords and Date
- Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: House Order of Vigilance or the White Falcon, Knight 2nd Class with Swords
- Sxon Duchies: Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Knight 2nd Class with Swords
- Reuß: Princely Reuß Honor Cross, 3rd Class with Swords
- Schwarzburg: Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross, 3rd Class with Swords
- Hamburg: Hanseatic Cross
- Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
- Armed Forces Long Service Award, 1st Class (25-year Service Cross)
- Armed Forces Long Service Award, 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal)
- Austria: Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration
- Medal for the Winter Campaign in Russia 1941/1942
See also
- Battle of France - 1940
- Operation Barbarossa - 1941
- Battle for Berlin - 1945
- Hans Krebs, Chief of Staff
- Helmuth Weidling, Commander of the Berlin Defense Area
- Felix Steiner, Commander of the Eleventh SS Panzer Army
- Theodor Busse, Commander of the German 9th Army
- Miles Vorkosigan
References
- ^ a b c d e "The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan", Hans Dollinger, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, p. In World War II, the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II For the bombing campaign on Berlin by the RAF from November 1943 to March 1944 see Battle of Berlin (air. Hans Krebs may refer to Hans Krebs (general (1898-1945 German general officer during World War II Hans Krebs (National Socialist Helmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling ( 2 November 1891 &ndash 17 November 1955) was an officer in the German Army ( Wehrmacht Felix Martin Julius Steiner ( 23 May 1896 – 12 May 1966) was a German Heer and Waffen-SS officer who served Theodor Busse ( 15 December 1897 &ndash 21 October 1986) was a German officer during World War I and World War II. Miles Vorkosigan is the physically impaired fictional hero of a series of novels and short stories by Lois McMaster Bujold known as 171
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by General of Mountain Troops Ludwig Kübler |
Commander of 4. Armee 20 January 1942 - 6 June 1942 |
Succeeded by Generaloberst Hans von Salmuth |
| Preceded by Generaloberst Hans von Salmuth |
Commander of 4. Armee 15 July 1942 - June, 1943 |
Succeeded by Generaloberst Hans von Salmuth |
| Preceded by Generaloberst Hans von Salmuth |
Commander of 4. Armee 31 July 1943 - 4 June 1944 |
Succeeded by General der Infantrie Kurt von Tippelskirch |
| Preceded by Generaloberst Erhard Raus |
Commander of 1. Armee August 15, 1944 - March 19, 1945 |
Succeeded by Generaloberst Walther Nehring |
| Preceded by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler |
Commander of Army Group Vistula March 20, 1945-April 28, 1945 |
Succeeded by General der Infanterie Kurt von Tippelskirch |
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