ON THE CULT OF PERSONALITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

GERMAN FIELD MARSHAL: GERD VON RUNDSTEDT (DECEMBER 12, 1875 TO FEBRUARY 24, 1953)

            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.

Gerd von Rundstedt, 1942

Born	12 December 1875 Aschersleben, German Empire
Died	24 February 1953 (aged 77) Hanover, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (1918–33) Nazi Germany (1933–45)
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.

OTHER LINKS:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/rundstedt.html

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/WorldWarIILeaders/p/World-War-Ii-Field-Marshal-Gerd-Von-Rundstedt.htm

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gerd_von_Rundstedt

ITO DETACHMENT: GENERAL TAKEO ITO (JULY 6, 1889 TO FEBRUARY 24, 1965)

            50 years ago on this date, February 24, 1965, IJA War Criminal General Takeo Ito passed away. I will post information about him from Wikipedia.

Takeo Itō

Native name	伊東 武夫
Born	July 6, 1889 Fukuoka prefecture, Japan
Died	February 24, 1965 (aged 75) Rabaul, New Britain
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	IJA 38th Division
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War World War II

Takeo Itō (伊東 武夫 Itō Takeo^?, 6 July 1889 – 24 February 1965) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Biography

Takeo Itō was born in the city of Fukuoka in the Fukuoka prefecture The commanding officer of the IJA 228th Infantry Regiment at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, he assumed command of 114th Infantry Regiment on September 1, 1941. Upon attaining the rank of major general on August 25, 1941, Itō was given command of the IJA 38th Division's infantry group, which was the primary Japanese division in the invasion of Hong Kong.

In early 1942, Itō was reassigned to an independent command in his own name, the "Itō Detachment", consisted mainly of 228th Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division and the 1st Kure SNLF, which took part in the Battle of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (30 January–3 February 1942), and in the occupation of Timor. All of these campaigns were characterized by extreme ruthlessness and the massacre of prisoners.

In November, Itō, along with one regiment of the 38th Division, was shipped to Guadalcanal. On 11 November, during the pivotal Battle of Guadalcanal, Itō was positioned by Lieutenant-General Harukichi Hyakutake to attack Marines under the command of United States General Alexander Archer Vandegrift who were involved in the Matanikau offensive against Japanese positions. However, Vandegrift called off his offensive that day after receiving intelligence reports of Hyakutake's plans. Itō later helped command 38th Division troops during the Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse. He and the 38th's survivors on Guadalcanal were evacuated by the Japanese navy during the first week of February 1943. Itō became commander of the 40th Independent Mixed Brigade, stationed at New Ireland on 8 July 1944. He was promoted to lieutenant-general on November 26 of that year.

At the end of the war, Itō was taken into custody by Australian forces, and was tried as a war criminal in a military tribunal for the murder of Chinese civilians. He was sentenced to death at Rabaul, New Britain on 24 May 1946. However, Ito was released on 28 October, and repatriated to Japan. He died on 24 February 1965.

RAISING THE FLAG ON IWO JIMA

70 years ago on this date, February 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, a group of United States Marines and a commonly forgotten U.S. Navy Corpsman, reach the top of Mount Suribachi on the island and are photographed raising the American flag.         

 

The Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., can be seen prior to the Sunset Parade June 4, 2013. Sunset Parades are held every Tuesday during the summer months.