| Walther von Brauchitsch | |
|---|---|
| October 4, 1881 – October 18, 1948 | |
 Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch | |
| Place of birth | Berlin, Germany |
| Place of death | Hamburg, Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Order of Michael the Brave Knight's Cross |
Heinrich Alfred Hermann Walther von Brauchitsch (October 4, 1881 – October 18, 1948[1][2]) was an aristocratic German field marshal and the Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht Heer in the early years of World War II. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hamburg (English, German: ˈhambʊɐk local pronunciation Low German / Low Saxon: Hamborg) is the second-largest city in Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. 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 For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation Field marshal is a military officer rank 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 Order of Michael the Brave (Ordinul Mihai Viteazul is Romania 's highest Military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I 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 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Field Marshal General, in German Generalfeldmarschall ( (usually translated simply as Field marshal, and sometimes written only as Feldmarschall A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces The Heer was the land forces component of the German armed forces ( Wehrmacht) from 1935 to 1945, which also included the Navy ( 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
Biography
Brauchitsch was born in Berlin as the fifth son of a cavalry general. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on He attended Berlin's best school, the Franzosisches Gymnasium. A gymnasium (pronounced with ɡ- in several languages is a type of school providing Secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar Brauchitsch was commissioned in the Prussian Guard in 1900. He was an outstanding officer. By World War I, he was appointed to the prestigious General Staff. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The German General Staff ( Großer Generalstab literally Great General Staff) was an institution whose rise and development gave the German military a decided He also married Elizabeth von Karstedt, a fabulously wealthy heiress to 300,000 acres (1,200 km²) in Pomerania. For the present-day Polish provinces see Pomeranian Voivodeship and West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
In 1933, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power and began to expand the military. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately The, officially National Socialist German Workers' Party, ( abbreviated NSDAP) was a Political party in Germany between 1919 and 1945 Brauchitsch was named Chief of the East Prussian Military District. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part His specialty was artillery. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine In 1937, he became commander of the Fourth Army Group.
Like many other German generals, Brauchitsch disliked or opposed much of the Nazi system, but also welcomed the Nazi policy of rearmament and was dazzled by Hitler's personality. He became largely reliant on Hitler as political patron and even for financial help. In February 1938, in the middle of the Munich Crisis, Brauchitsch left his wife Elizabeth after 28 years. The Munich Agreement (Mnichovská dohoda Mníchovská dohoda Münchner Abkommen Accords de Munich was an agreement regarding the Sudetenland, which were areas along borders He wanted to marry Charlotte Schmidt, the beautiful young daughter of a Silesian judge, and ardent admirer of the Nazis. Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people Hitler set aside his usual anti-divorce sentiments and encouraged Brauchitsch to divorce and re-marry. Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the termination of a Marriage. Hitler even lent him 80,000 Reichsmarks, which he needed since the family wealth was all his wife's. For a detailed discussion of the English translation of Reich, see Reich. In the same month, Brauchitsch was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, replacing General Werner von Fritsch, who had been dismissed on false charges of homosexuality. Werner Freiherr (Baron von Fritsch ( 4 August 1880 &ndash 22 September 1939) was a prominent Wehrmacht officer member of the
Brauchitsch resented the growing power of the SS, believing that they were attempting to replace the Wehrmacht as the official German armed forces. The ( German for "Protective Squadron" abbreviated SS - or ( Runic)- was a major Nazi organization under Adolf Hitler and the He had disagreements with Erich Koch, the Gauleiter of East Prussia, and Adolf Hitler had to resolve the dispute between the two. Erich Koch ( June 19, 1896 &ndash November 12, 1986) was a Gauleiter of the Nazi Party (NDSAP in East Prussia A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP (more commonly known as the Nazi Party) or the head of a Gau or of a East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part
Like General Ludwig Beck, Brauchitsch opposed Hitler's annexation of Austria (the Anschluss) and Czechoslovakia (see Fall Grün), although he did not resist Hitler's plans for war. Ludwig August Theodor Beck (29 June 1880 &ndash 21 July 1944 was a German General and the Chief of the General Staff of the Oberkommando des Heeres Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The ( German: "link-up" also known as the, was the 1938 Annexation of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Before World War II, Fall Grün (Case Green was a German plan for an aggressive war against Czechoslovakia. He took no action when Beck asked him to persuade the whole General Staff to resign if Hitler proceeded in his invasion of Czechoslovakia.
In September 1938, a group of officers began plotting against Hitler and repeatedly tried to persuade Brauchitsch, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, to lead the anticipated coup, but the only assurance he gave them was: "I myself won't do anything, but I won't stop anyone else from acting. " After the collapse of the 1938 coup attempt, Brauchitsch ignored all further appeals from Beck and the other plotters to use the army to overthrow Hitler before Germany was plunged into world war.
On 5th November 1939, the Army General Staff prepared a memorandum purporting to recommend against launching an attack on the Western powers that autumn. Brauchitsch reluctantly agreed to read the document to Hitler. The document's specific recommendations did not convey the dissent in the ranks of the General Staff, who were uneasy at having their planning and conduct of the Polish Campaign interfered with down to a regimental level. More generally, the unease at the army's position as the chief martial arbiter in the German State having been encroached upon since Hitler's ascendance to power was prevalent in the closing days of the 1930s. It was left to Brauchitsch to voice these doubts, which he did, stating that the "OKH would be grateful for an understanding that it, and it alone, would be solely responsible for the conduct of any future campaign. The Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH was Germany 's Army High Command from 1936 to 1945 " The suggestion was received in "an icy silence", whereupon on an impulse Brauchitsch went on to complain that "the aggressive spirit of the German infantry was sadly below the standard of the First World War. . . [there had been] certain symptoms of insubordination similar to those of 1917-18". Hitler responded by flying into a tremendous rage, accusing both the General Staff and Brauchitsch personally of disloyalty, cowardice, sabotage and defeatism. The Chief of the Army General Staff, Franz Halder, who was the main propagator of the memorandum's preparation, wrote that the scene was "most ugly and disagreeable". Franz Ritter Halder ( June 30 1884 &ndash April 2 1972) was a German General and the head of the Army General He returned to the Headquarters at Zossen where "he arrived in such poor shape that at first he could only give a somewhat incoherent account of the proceedings. Zossen is a German town in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, and next to the B96 highway. " Hitler then called a meeting of the General Staff to declare that he would smash the West within a year. He also vowed to "destroy the spirit of Zossen" - a threat that panicked Halder to such an extent that he forced the conspirators to abort their second planned coup attempt. Zossen is a German town in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, and next to the B96 highway.
Brauchitsch was made a field marshal in 1940 and was key in Hitler's "blitzkrieg" war against the West, making modifications to the original plan to overrun France. Field Marshal General, in German Generalfeldmarschall ( (usually translated simply as Field marshal, and sometimes written only as Feldmarschall 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 After France was conquered, Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, was planned. Operation Sealion (Unternehmen Seelöwe was Germany's plan to invade the United Kingdom during World War II, beginning in 1940 Had it succeeded, Hitler intended to place Brauchitsch in charge of the new conquest. [3] However, the Luftwaffe could not gain the requisite air superiority, and the plan was abandoned.
When Germany turned east and invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Army's failure to take Moscow earned Hitler's enmity. Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of Things went further downhill for Brauchitsch as he endured a serious heart attack, and Hitler relieved him on December 19. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. Brauchitsch spent the last three war years in the Tři Trubky hunting lodge in the Brdy mountains southwest of Prague. Prague (ˈprɑːg Praha (ˈpraɦa see also other names) is the Capital and Largest city of the Czech Republic. Hitler's most recent biographer, Ian Kershaw, described Brauchitsch as "gutless" and "spineless. Sir Ian Kershaw (born April 29 1943 in Oldham, Lancashire, England) is a British Historian, noted for his "
After the war, Brauchitsch was arrested and charged with war crimes, but died in Hamburg in 1948 before he could be prosecuted. War crimes are "violations of the laws or customs of war" including but not limited to "murder the ill-treatment or deportation of civilian residents of an occupied Hamburg (English, German: ˈhambʊɐk local pronunciation Low German / Low Saxon: Hamborg) is the second-largest city in Germany [4]
Brauchitsch was the uncle of Manfred von Brauchitsch, a 1930s Mercedes-Benz "Silver Arrow" Grand Prix driver. Manfred von Brauchitsch ( 15 August, 1905 - February 5, 2003) was a German Auto racing driver who drove for Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury Automobiles Buses coaches and Trucks It is currently a division of the Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894 Brauchitsch was a strong admirer of Field Marshal von Moltke and used to linger in his former office that was made into a museum at a later date. Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf After the Franco-Prussian War Moltke superintended the preparation of its history which was published between 1874 and 1881 by the great general staff
References
- ^ (2005) Oxford Companion to the Second World War, paperback, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-1928-0666-1.
- ^ Britannica entry on Von Brauchitsch. Retrieved on 2007-01-07. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental
- ^ History Channel show Hitler's Britain
- ^ Island farm site. History, formerly known as The History Channel, is a Satellite and Cable TV channel, with shows on historical events and persons&mdashoften Retrieved on 2007-01-06. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King
- April 1, 1940, Life
- “Blitzkrieger”, Time, September 25, 1939, <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,761969-3,00.html>
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