Gerd von Rundstedt (12 Dec. 1875 - 24 Feb. 1953)
Although initially retired, von Rundstedt was recalled to active service for the invasion of Poland on September 1st 1939. He led Army Group South, and in 1940 he would command during Fall Gelb an army of 35 infantry, seven Panzer divisions and three divisions of motorised infantry. It was he who ordered the halt on Guderian’s advances to Dunkirk and allowing the British to retreat.
He became a Field Marshal in July 1940 and planned Operation Sea Lion, although it never took place. In 1941 he commanded Army Group South in the invasion of the Soviet Union. He captured Kiev by September and captured about half a million troops. He further assaulted Rostov and Kharkov, advising Hitler wisely to stop the invasion during the winter, but the Führer refused his idea. He suffered a heart attack in November but continued as usual until he was replaced by Hitler following a Soviet counterattack and a request to withdraw.
In March 1942 he returned again, commanding forces in the west. He did not build any defences along the shore until Rommel arrived in 1943 and began it himself. When the Allies invaded in June 1944, von Rundstedt urged that Germany should make a peace and yelled at Hitler. He was, again, replaced.
He served on the Army Court of Honour prosecuting those responsible for the 20 July plot, and returned to command western forces in the autumn of 1944. Despite his best efforts, Allied forces were too strong and Hitler replaced him, for the final time, in March 1945, for stating that Hitler should make peace.
For more information on Gerd von Rundstedt:
Barnet, Correlli, ed. Hitler’s Generals (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson), 1989.
Messenger, Charles. The Last Prussian: A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, 1875 – 1953 (London: Brassey’s), 1991.
He became a Field Marshal in July 1940 and planned Operation Sea Lion, although it never took place. In 1941 he commanded Army Group South in the invasion of the Soviet Union. He captured Kiev by September and captured about half a million troops. He further assaulted Rostov and Kharkov, advising Hitler wisely to stop the invasion during the winter, but the Führer refused his idea. He suffered a heart attack in November but continued as usual until he was replaced by Hitler following a Soviet counterattack and a request to withdraw.
In March 1942 he returned again, commanding forces in the west. He did not build any defences along the shore until Rommel arrived in 1943 and began it himself. When the Allies invaded in June 1944, von Rundstedt urged that Germany should make a peace and yelled at Hitler. He was, again, replaced.
He served on the Army Court of Honour prosecuting those responsible for the 20 July plot, and returned to command western forces in the autumn of 1944. Despite his best efforts, Allied forces were too strong and Hitler replaced him, for the final time, in March 1945, for stating that Hitler should make peace.
For more information on Gerd von Rundstedt:
Barnet, Correlli, ed. Hitler’s Generals (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson), 1989.
Messenger, Charles. The Last Prussian: A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, 1875 – 1953 (London: Brassey’s), 1991.