On
this date, February 24, 1953, Generalfeldmarschall
Gerd von Rundstedt died at home of heart failure. I will post
information about one of Adolf Hitler’s Generals from Wikipedia and other
links.
Born
|
12 December 1875
Aschersleben, German Empire |
Died
|
24 February 1953 (aged 77)
Hanover, West Germany |
Allegiance
|
|
Years of service
|
1892–1938, 1939–45
|
Rank
|
Generalfeldmarschall
|
Battles/wars
|
World War I
World War II |
Awards
|
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and
Swords
|
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (12 December 1875 – 24 February
1953) was a German Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) during World War
II.
Born
into a Prussian family with a long military tradition, Rundstedt entered the Imperial
German Army in 1892 and rose through the ranks until World War I, in which he
served mainly as a staff officer. In the inter-war years, he continued his
military career, reaching the rank of Colonel General (Generaloberst)
before retiring in 1938.
He
was recalled at the beginning of World War II as Commander of Army Group South
in the Polish campaign. He commanded Army Group A during the German invasion of
France, and was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal during the 1940 Field
Marshal Ceremony. In the Russian Campaign, he commanded Army Group South,
responsible for the largest encirclement in history, the Battle of Kiev. He was
dismissed by Adolf Hitler in December 1941, following the German retreat from
Rostov, but was recalled in 1942 and appointed Commander in Chief in the West.
He
was dismissed again after the German defeat in Normandy in July 1944, but was
again recalled as Commander in Chief in the West in September, holding this
post until his final dismissal by Hitler in March 1945. Rundstedt was aware of
the various plots to depose Hitler, but refused to support them. After the war,
he was charged with war crimes, but did not face trial due to his age and poor
health. He was released in 1949, and died in Hanover in 1953.
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