Walter Model (24 Jan. 1891 - 21 Apr. 1945)
The first year of the war saw Model serve as a chief of staff during the invasions of Poland and France. He would begin his command of the 3rd Panzer Division in November of 1940. In this capacity he introduced a new style of training and command.
He served under Guderian during Operation Barbarossa. His forces raced across the country reaching the Dnieper river by July 1941.The group would then stand their ground, attempt to cross the river, and attack Soviet forces. When Smolensk fell, the division invaded the Ukraine, trapping Soviet troops in Kiev. Throughout this attack, Model had worked his division hard, in order to ensure that Guderian’s swift invasion could be ensured.
He was promoted to general of panzer troops in mid-1941, and commanded the XLI Panzer Corps, which participated in the attack on Moscow. The weather stopped the German advance twenty miles from the city. The Soviet counteroffensives smashed German forces. Model would watch these attacks and learn about Soviet tactics, believing that a line of men was more effective against them. He would employ tactics to this effect throughout the rest of the war.
For the successes with these tactics he became commander of the Ninth Army in Rzhev. He reorganised the army, and repelled numerous Soviet assaults. He was promoted to General mid-1942. He would successfully defend until 1943 when the Ninth Army was ordered to move. His assault at Kursk ended in disaster, and his forces were further decimated when Orel was captured by the Soviets. He withdrew his troops to the Dnieper, and was relieved of command in September 1943.
He returned in 1944 (having not been relieved due to Hitler’s displeasure) and commanded Army Group North in Estonia. Here he began a closeted fighting withdrawal to the Panther Line, heavily damaging Soviet forces. In March he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall, and transferred to command Army Group North Ukraine, replacing von Manstein. He succeeded in bringing the Soviet assault to a halt, and was transferred to Army Group Centre. Minks was captured by the Soviets,a nd despite Model’s best efforts to recapture it, these failed, but he kept the Soviets still at Warsaw.
August 1944 saw Model transferred to Normandy, being steadily forced back to the German border, losing the French capital. However he managed to reorganise and strengthen his forces, defeating Allied forces at Arnhem. In late 1944 he also battled the U.S. Army in Hürtgen Forest and Aachen, inflicting heavy casualties to the Allies.
He was aware that German defeat was unavoidable, though did his best to delay it, battling the Allies but not overstretching forces. In early 1945, Model was forced back to the Ruhr. With forces and supplies dwindling, he dissolved the army group. He committed suicide on 21 April 1945.
For more information on Walter Model:
Barnett, Corelli, ed. Hitler’s Generals (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson), 1989.
Newton, Steven H. Hitler’s Commander: Field Marshal Walter Model – Hitler’s Favourite General (Cambridge, MA: Da Capo), 2006.
He served under Guderian during Operation Barbarossa. His forces raced across the country reaching the Dnieper river by July 1941.The group would then stand their ground, attempt to cross the river, and attack Soviet forces. When Smolensk fell, the division invaded the Ukraine, trapping Soviet troops in Kiev. Throughout this attack, Model had worked his division hard, in order to ensure that Guderian’s swift invasion could be ensured.
He was promoted to general of panzer troops in mid-1941, and commanded the XLI Panzer Corps, which participated in the attack on Moscow. The weather stopped the German advance twenty miles from the city. The Soviet counteroffensives smashed German forces. Model would watch these attacks and learn about Soviet tactics, believing that a line of men was more effective against them. He would employ tactics to this effect throughout the rest of the war.
For the successes with these tactics he became commander of the Ninth Army in Rzhev. He reorganised the army, and repelled numerous Soviet assaults. He was promoted to General mid-1942. He would successfully defend until 1943 when the Ninth Army was ordered to move. His assault at Kursk ended in disaster, and his forces were further decimated when Orel was captured by the Soviets. He withdrew his troops to the Dnieper, and was relieved of command in September 1943.
He returned in 1944 (having not been relieved due to Hitler’s displeasure) and commanded Army Group North in Estonia. Here he began a closeted fighting withdrawal to the Panther Line, heavily damaging Soviet forces. In March he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall, and transferred to command Army Group North Ukraine, replacing von Manstein. He succeeded in bringing the Soviet assault to a halt, and was transferred to Army Group Centre. Minks was captured by the Soviets,a nd despite Model’s best efforts to recapture it, these failed, but he kept the Soviets still at Warsaw.
August 1944 saw Model transferred to Normandy, being steadily forced back to the German border, losing the French capital. However he managed to reorganise and strengthen his forces, defeating Allied forces at Arnhem. In late 1944 he also battled the U.S. Army in Hürtgen Forest and Aachen, inflicting heavy casualties to the Allies.
He was aware that German defeat was unavoidable, though did his best to delay it, battling the Allies but not overstretching forces. In early 1945, Model was forced back to the Ruhr. With forces and supplies dwindling, he dissolved the army group. He committed suicide on 21 April 1945.
For more information on Walter Model:
Barnett, Corelli, ed. Hitler’s Generals (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson), 1989.
Newton, Steven H. Hitler’s Commander: Field Marshal Walter Model – Hitler’s Favourite General (Cambridge, MA: Da Capo), 2006.