Fedor von Bock (3 Dec. 1880 - 4 May 1945)
In 1939, von Bock led the invasion of Poland from East Prussia. In weeks, Poland had capitulated, and von Bock returned to Berlin. Here he was informed of his command of Army Group B which would later invade the Low Countries. He was involved with the armistice with France in June 1940, and a month later he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall.
In 1941 von Bock would become commander of Army Group Centre which led the invasion of the Soviet Union. His plan was to occupy Moscow as soon as possible; however Hitler changed the invasion plans numerous times, despite von Bock’s protests. His troops initially made key advances, overrunning Soviet territory up to Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad. Here he was met with fierce resistance from Soviet troops. By December 1941, the Soviets had managed a counterattack and stopped the German advance. Von Bock was relieved of command of Army Group Centre immediately.
He became the commander of Army Group South until July 1942 when he was retired indefinitely for Hitler’s belief that he was responsible for German defeats. Personally, von Bock was against the Nazism of Hitler and military atrocities committed by the SS (Schutzstaffel). However, he did not formally complain, nor did he join any conspiracies against Hitler, believing that any attempt to overthrow Hitler needed Himmler’s support. On the other hand, when he did catch officers conspiring he did not report them.
Von Bock was killed in May 1945, a week before the end of the war, by a British fighter-bomber, whilst on his way to Hamburg to join the new government of Dönitz.
For more information on Fedor von Bock:
Hart, W.E. Hitler’s Generals (London: Cresset Press), 1944.
Johnston, David, trns. Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock: The War Diary, 1939 – 1945 (Altgen, PA: Schiffer Publishing), 1996.
In 1941 von Bock would become commander of Army Group Centre which led the invasion of the Soviet Union. His plan was to occupy Moscow as soon as possible; however Hitler changed the invasion plans numerous times, despite von Bock’s protests. His troops initially made key advances, overrunning Soviet territory up to Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad. Here he was met with fierce resistance from Soviet troops. By December 1941, the Soviets had managed a counterattack and stopped the German advance. Von Bock was relieved of command of Army Group Centre immediately.
He became the commander of Army Group South until July 1942 when he was retired indefinitely for Hitler’s belief that he was responsible for German defeats. Personally, von Bock was against the Nazism of Hitler and military atrocities committed by the SS (Schutzstaffel). However, he did not formally complain, nor did he join any conspiracies against Hitler, believing that any attempt to overthrow Hitler needed Himmler’s support. On the other hand, when he did catch officers conspiring he did not report them.
Von Bock was killed in May 1945, a week before the end of the war, by a British fighter-bomber, whilst on his way to Hamburg to join the new government of Dönitz.
For more information on Fedor von Bock:
Hart, W.E. Hitler’s Generals (London: Cresset Press), 1944.
Johnston, David, trns. Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock: The War Diary, 1939 – 1945 (Altgen, PA: Schiffer Publishing), 1996.