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August 29th, 2013

Hello dear!
Today we will finally reach the final straight topic of Field Marshals of the Wehrmacht, started here: and continued here:, here: and here:
It remains for me to go through the biographies of the 5 best of the best German military leaders, in my humble opinion, in World War II.
This top five is closed by Hans Günther Adolf Ferdinand von Kluge, nicknamed “Clever Hans” (here not only the German name itself was played out, but also the surname, because Kluge can be translated from German as “smart”), although it seems to me that his other name was more suitable nickname - "Cunning Gunther", for the man was really very dodgy and cunning. A sort of improved version of Panikovsky, who "sells, then buys, then sells again, but more expensive" :-)
The son of a general and heir to the Prussian military traditions, von Kluge realized from childhood that excellent education and military talent are not enough to reach the heights of success - you must also learn to intrigue notably. Over time, he achieved great skill in this matter. However, until the Nazis came to power, he simply honestly pulled the army strap. Finished before World War I military academy, he, as a capable student, was transferred to the General Staff. From there he went to the front. He was an officer of the General Staff at the 21st Army Corps, then a battalion commander, and finally, an officer of the General Staff at the 89th Infantry Division. In 1918 he received a severe shrapnel wound near Verdun. He ended the war as a captain, holder of the Iron Cross of both classes and a number of other awards, including the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown.

Order of the Iron Crown

After recovering from his wound, von Kluge continued to serve in the Reichswehr. By 1933, he had the rank of major general and served as chief of artillery in the 3rd military district (Berlin). The coming to power of the Nazis first accelerated his career, since already in the spring of 1934 he received the rank of lieutenant general, and first the position of inspector of the signal troops of the ground forces, and then became commander of the 6th division and commander of the 6th military district in Munster. However, he soon quarreled with Goering (they were enemies until the very end of their lives) and fell into disgrace. Further aggravating his situation is that von Kluge openly supports von Fritsch, and resents the party's interference in the affairs of the military. Accordingly, almost the first in 1938 during the "general purge of the ranks of the army" he was sent to the reserve. However, the disgrace did not last long - there are not so many good, literate, experienced generals, who undoubtedly was Kluge, in the army and he is again called up for active service. Despite the active opposition of Goering, he was instructed to form and lead the 6th Army Group, which included the 9th, 10th and 11th military districts (a total of 6 divisions). In August 1939, the 4th Army was deployed on the basis of this group, and Kluge became its commander. "Clever Hans" simply brilliantly confirmed his skills, both in Poland and in France, was able to enlist the support of Keitel, and most importantly attracted the attention of Hitler. So Goering's intrigues no longer bothered him. For excellent military work, he was promoted to Field Marshal (July 19, 1940) and awarded the Knight's Cross.

"Clever Hans"

Realizing where the wind was blowing from, he began to support in every possible way any plans of the Reich Chancellor. So von Kluge is one of the few who supported the implementation of the Barbarossa plan and the war on 2 fronts. Kluge began his campaign against the USSR with the encirclement of our group near Bialystok, then the capture of Smolensk was on his account. He was against the active offensive in late autumn on Moscow, which he repeatedly reported to von Bock, and most importantly to Hitler. And on December 19, 1941, Kluge was appointed commander of the Army Group Center instead of the displaced Bock. First of all, "Cunning Gunther" carried out a purge and removed the generals (Gepner, Guderian, Strauss) who were objectionable to him, as a result of a cunning intrigue, blaming them for the failure of the capture of Moscow and the tactical retreat from the capital. And only then he took up the problems of the army group. He held this position until July 1942, and it should be noted that he acted brilliantly - he repelled a number of strong blows from the Soviet troops (near Rzhev and Belev, for example), and also defeated the cavalry corps of General P. Belov near Kirov. Plus, he was able to “feed the disinformation” to our headquarters, that the offensive must be expected in the Moscow direction, and not at all in the south, as it should be. No wonder some called him "the lion of defense." For all this, Hitler on January 18, 1943 awarded him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. Kluge showed the full extent of the master of intrigue before the Germans carried out Operation Citadel. So, during the preparation of the operation in May 1943, he arrived at the headquarters of the Reich Chancellor with the intention of delaying the offensive, believing that the operation was not prepared well enough. When he found out that Hitler had already made such a decision, he began to oppose the delay of the operation, while pursuing the goal of insulating himself from responsibility in case the offensive failed, acting on the principle "I warned ..." As a result, he was suspended, the task was already assigned to the Model. But when the latter failed, Kluge's reputation was in no way affected.


From left to right Kluge, Himmler, Dönitz, Keitel

It suffered somewhat later, when the magnificent Rokossovsky first broke through the front at Orel, and then crossed the Dnieper during the Chernigov-Pripyat operation. And even then, Kluge, unlike many others, was able to avoid complete defeat and withdraw his troops to Belarus, once again, proving himself to be a very good military leader. True, it is not known until the end how everything would have turned out if on October 28, 1943 his car had not flown into a ditch on the Orsha-Minsk highway. The field marshal survived, but received quite serious injuries and was forced to be treated in Germany for 8 months. Thus, this accident saved his final defeat and the stigma of a loser.
On July 2, 1944, Kluge replaced Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt as commander of the Western Front and was at first very energetic and hopeful. However, all his rosy dreams were instantly dispelled when he faced the real picture that was taking shape on the Western Front. He repeatedly asked Hitler to start a retreat across the Seine River, but was flatly refused. As a result, 15 German divisions fell into the so-called Falaise bag, and although some of the soldiers and equipment were withdrawn from the encirclement (albeit without the participation of Kluge), the losses were still high (especially in technology). Hitler immediately removed Kluge from the post of commander and called him to his headquarters. Here "smart Hans" realized that the card of his bit was completely and unequivocally and it was not worth returning to Germany. He, as an experienced player, relied not only on Hitler, but also on failed conspirators, and the latter surrendered him with giblets. As a result, near the French city of Metze, Hans Gunther von Kluge committed suicide by biting through a capsule of potassium cyanide. It happened on August 18, 1944. He was 61 years old.

The famous "African partisan of World War I" P. von Lettow-Vorbeck visiting G. von Kluge

What can I say in conclusion about this general - he was good from a military point of view and certainly our illustrious marshals appreciated him as a strong professional, he advocated a humane attitude towards prisoners of war and was an ardent opponent of punitive operations against civilians. The SS was respected, but only as fighters at the front, and not as an organization engaged in racial cleansing. That is, on the one hand - an honest, professional, strong opponent and a good warrior. On the other hand, for his own benefit and to advance his career, at first he supported almost any undertaking by Hitler, was his faithful follower. And he seems to have outwitted himself.

One of the most famous commanders of WWII

The following man is considered by most English and American historians to be the best German commander of World War II. I am now talking about the one they called the "Desert Fox", and we know by the name of Erwin Eugen Johannes Rommel. As you can understand, I do not share the assessments of our foreign researchers and do not consider it the best. Why - I will explain at the very end of the story. Although in general and in general I recognize him as an outstanding military leader, and there are reasons for this too.
Erwin was born on November 15, 1891 to a family school teacher and daughter of the former president of the Württemberg government. In addition to him, the family had 2 more sons, and a daughter was also born a little later. Since childhood, his father did not encourage Erwin's dream of military career and in every possible way wanted to persuade him to the profession of a teacher. However, Rommel Jr. was adamant and entered military school. In 1912, he received his first officer rank - chief lieutenant. Rommel was an active participant in the First World War on the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts. In 1914 he served as a platoon commander in the 19th Artillery Regiment, then returned to his native 124th infantry regiment. In 1915, in this regiment, he received command of a company and the rank of lieutenant. Since the autumn of the same year, he was a company commander in the Württemberg Mountain Rifle Battalion. In 1917 he fought in Romania, then in Italy. At the end of the war he served in the headquarters of the regiment, located in Germany. For military distinction during the war he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class and the order "Pour le Merite". He was repeatedly wounded and performed several feats. Finished the war with the rank of captain. After the war he was left in the Reichswehr.

Young Erwin with his future wife

His career went up very sharply when the Nazis came to power. The secret of success is simple - Rommel was Hitler's favorite. It was in such as the future field marshal that the Reich Chancellor saw help to counterbalance the old Prussian army elite. Judge for yourself - in just 6 years, Rommel becomes a general from a major (and this is in peacetime!), And after less than 3 years - a field marshal general and one of the most famous and recognizable commanders of the Third Reich.
His star has risen in the French Company and Rommel is without a doubt one of its brightest heroes. Back in February 1940, the future field marshal asked to be appointed commander of the 7th Panzer Division. Hitler was surprised a lot (because before that Rommel dealt only with infantry), but he granted the request. And this part, armed, by the way, with captured Czech tanks, showed itself in all its glory. During the fighting in France, this division lost about 2.5 thousand people killed and wounded, while capturing up to 100 thousand people, including 17 generals and 5 admirals. Its trophies amounted to about 400 tanks and armored vehicles, over 360 artillery pieces and 10 aircraft. It is quite understandable that such a brilliant result of the division commander was awarded the Knight's Cross and the rank of lieutenant general. And most importantly - fame and fame. This played into the hands of Rommel. On February 6, 1941, he was appointed commander of the newly formed African Corps (tank and light infantry divisions), which was sent by Hitler to North Africa to help the Italian army defeated there by the British. I won’t describe all the ups and downs of these races in the desert now - for this is worthy of at least a separate big post, but I will say that here Erwin Rommel showed himself very, very well. And this is in the conditions of superiority of the enemy in forces and means, and most importantly, the total supremacy of the British fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Describing Rommel's military talents, it is enough to recall only 2 topographical points - Tobruk and Benghazi. For almost 2.5 years, the "Desert Fox" with his troops fought like a lion in Africa, almost took Alexandria and Cairo, and by and large he started having big problems when he met a worthy opponent in the person of Montgomery. However, the end was a little predictable. As early as June 22, 1942, Rommel was awarded the rank of Field Marshal, thus he became the youngest Wehrmacht officer to achieve this rank. Hitler recalled his newly minted field marshal from Africa shortly before the final surrender of the Italo-German troops there and awarded him the highest (at that time) military award of the 3rd Reich - he was awarded Diamonds (No. 6) to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (for the entire war only 27 people were awarded).

E. Rommel and A. Kesselring in Libya

After a short rest and treatment, he led Army Group B, which was transferred to Italy, but could not get along with another Field Marshal General (which we will talk about in the next part, as it concerns the Luftwaffe) A. Kesselring, who commanded the group armies "C". Hitler took the side of the latter, reassigning to him all the troops located on the Apennine Peninsula, and sent Rommel to inspect the Atlantic Wall. From the inspection trip, the "Desert Fox" was in quiet horror - there was simply no active defense in the West, and Val was a chain of scattered fortified areas. What the commanders were doing there before, including the current von Runstedt, was absolutely not clear. There were a number of conflicts between the two field marshals, which they were more or less able to extinguish in December 1943 and jointly turned to Hitler with proposals to improve the situation. The result was a kind of two-level system of subordination. Commander of all western front von Runstedt remained, but Army Group B was again created under the command of Rommel, who was subordinate to Runstedt. Erwin Rommel energetically got down to business and in six months was able to seriously strengthen the defense line. He did a lot, but not all. Well, on June 6, 1944, D-Day broke out, or it would be more correct to say “Operation Neptune” ... On June 9, Rommel tried to launch a counterattack, and on 15 he lost his nerve. He sent a message to Hitler in which he unequivocally offered to end the war and sit down at the negotiating table with the British and Americans. However, the latter did not react in any way and the "Desert Fox" led the troops until July 17, when he came under the bombing of an English aircraft and received a shrapnel wound to the head. Everyone believed that he would not survive, but the strong body of a relatively young field marshal survived. Until October 14, he was treated surrounded by his family in the small town of Herlingen near Ulm. And on this day, 2 generals came to him - the head of the personnel department of the OKH, Lieutenant General V. Burgdorf and his deputy, Major General E. Meisel. They stated without offense that Hitler was aware of the participation of the field marshal in the conspiracy of the group of Colonel Schauffenberg against the Reich Chancellor and offered a choice: a court of honor or suicide. Rommel, who was indeed actively in contact with the conspirators, but was categorically opposed to the elimination of Hitler, did not hesitate to choose the first. Such an answer did not suit the generals at all - apparently they did not count on it. They began to prove to the "Desert Fox" that the court of honor had already pronounced its verdict and, in fact, was a farce. Rommel insisted that he was right. Then the generals began to blackmail the field marshal with his family. The choice is either suicide and an honorable funeral, or a trial with a 100% guarantee that loved ones will fall into the hands of "Himmler's boys." Rommel naturally chose suicide. Saying goodbye to his loved ones, he drove towards Ulm and took poison along the way. It was officially announced that he had died of a cerebral hemorrhage and a magnificent funeral was held. Nobody touched the family - from this point of view, the agreement was observed.


Rommel's family home

Thus ended the life of one of the most famous military men of World War II.
Let's go back to the beginning of our story, and I will try to answer you, dear ones, why Rommel is not No. 1 or even No. 2 for me among the top generals of the Third Reich. It seems that he is brave and experienced, and skillful, and talented, and theoretically brilliantly savvy (back in 1937 he published his military diaries under the title "Infantry Attacks", and earlier he taught a little at the military academy). Plus, this is almost the only general before whom Hitler apologized for not listening to him on actions in Africa and admitting that it was Rommel who was right, and not the chancellor himself.
But the thing is that Rommel never fought on Eastern Front, but for me this is the most important indicator - I just can’t fully understand how cool he really was as a commander. And then the landing in Normandy, whatever you say, Rommel screwed up. The blame for the fact that the Allies successfully landed and began to move deep into France can be equally shared by 3 people - Hitler, von Rundstedt and Rommel. That's how it is.
Have a nice day!
To be continued...

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The highest ranks of the military command have always enjoyed respect. But how long has this title existed? And who were those people who led the armies and fronts, making history during one of the most grandiose military conflicts of mankind?

Who are the generals of World War II?

Until 1940 there was no air force Soviet Union such a rank. His counterparts were commanders, commanders, army commanders, commissars. True, in September 1935 the rank of marshal appeared, which was awarded to five people. But before the war, only two of them survived.

In May 1940, for the first time, a little over a thousand people were nominated for the rank of general and admiral. There were 1056 people in this rank. By May 1945, their number had reached 5,597.

Among the dead and missing from 1940 to 1945, there are 421 generals and admirals.

Let's take a closer look and name the prominent military leaders by last name.

Ground commanders

Even being in the highest ranks, a soldier remains a soldier. And he is not at all immune from death on the battlefield or for the sake of honor. Although there were those who held a different opinion. But we will talk about them in the corresponding section.

So, not all WWII generals survived. I.R. Apanasenko, M.P. Kirponos, I.A. Bogdanov, F.Ya. Kostenko, M.P. Petrov, N.F. Vatutin and I.D. Chernyakhovsky died heroically under various circumstances. M.G. Efremov committed suicide so as not to get the Nazis alive, and D. G. Pavlov was repressed.

The rest of the generals of the Second World War, the list of which will take more than one page, survived and greatly contributed to the victory of the Soviet Union in this conflict.

We will only mention a few. THEM. Baghramyan was twice promoted to the rank of a participant in many offensive operations.

CM. Budyonny is famous not only for his mustache, but also for 3 Gold Star medals received over the years of battles. Participated in and for the Caucasus.

Four times presented to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, a participant in many battles and operations.

He was awarded not only two gold stars. Also, a heavy self-propelled gun mount, Klim Voroshilov, was named in his honor.

Commanders of the air defense fronts

In general, in order to win thousands of battles, you need to have knowledge and experience in many areas. For example, to understand professionally in strategy and tactics, to know all the nuances of various troops, their ability to interact. You also need an unbending will and quick decision-making. These and other qualities make military leaders of the highest officers who can command armies.

The generals of the Second World War also led the air defense forces. Among them, the following names can be mentioned: M.S. Gromadin, P.E. Gudymenko, and G.S. Zashikhin.

But not everyone put honor and loyalty to the Motherland above their own lives and interests. Among the latter, several people can be named.

G.N. Zhilenkov was captured by the Germans near the city of Vyazma. There he pretended to be a private and until 1942 he served in the Wehrmacht as an ordinary driver. But the forester accidentally recognized him. After interrogation and confirmed readiness to cooperate, Georgy Nikolayevich meets with Goebbels and he is appointed as an assistant to Vlasov.

In 1945 he was detained by the Americans. He reported himself to the Soviet counterintelligence, hoping for cooperation, but after the trial was sentenced to death. Execution by hanging was carried out in the Butyrka prison.

V.F. Malyshkin was captured after the Vyazemsky boiler. Immediately expressed a desire to cooperate. He worked in the propaganda department and since 1943 became Vlasov's assistant in this matter.

He was also detained by the Americans, handed over to the Soviet authorities and executed in Butyrka prison.

B.S. Richter, F.I. Trukhin also managed to serve both the Soviet and the German side.

Thus, we see that the generals of the Second World War did not always act heroically. They were ordinary people with their own fears and desires, but also with remarkable talents in the military field.

Commanders of the Wehrmacht

What happened on the other side of the front? What kind German generals World War II especially famous in battles?

Some of them also died in battles. These are Gunther von Kluge, Fedor von Bock, Georg von Witzleben, Walter Model, Erwin Rommel and others.

Almost all of them were awarded the Order of the Iron Cross, which has been issued since 1939 for three or more successful dangerous operations.

Among the most successful commanders, it is worth noting Hermann Balck, Albert Kesselring, Walter Model, Ferdinand Schörner, who were four knights of this order.

German traitor generals

However, not everything went as smoothly as it might seem. Among the command of the Wehrmacht there were also people who did not agree with the course of events. Looking for better fate they ended up on the lists of traitors to their homeland.

Vincenz Müller, lieutenant general. In June 1944, he was abandoned with the 4th Army near Minsk. Tippelskirch, the official commander of this unit, left him full authority, fleeing with his staff.

As a result, not receiving support, supplies, provisions, not even having simple maps with intelligence, he was forced to stop resisting and surrender to the Soviet troops.

As we can see, many generals of the Second World War changed their views after they were captured without receiving support. Otto Korfes, for example, was captured at Stalingrad and surrendered in full dress. Later he collaborated with Soviet troops, for which his family in Germany was severely repressed.

Bernard Bechler was also taken prisoner at Stalingrad. The main reason why the officers began to cooperate with the enemy was that they blamed the shortsightedness of Hitler.

It turns out that the generals of the Second World War were ready to serve their country and win battles, but the leadership did not always appreciate their zeal. Resentment, disappointment and other feelings pushed for cooperation with the enemy.

Thus, in the article we figured out a little about who the generals are and talked about the outstanding military leaders of the Second World War.

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First, let's talk about Ernst Wilhelm Bernardt Busch. By the way, this military leader has nothing to do with the well-known American magnate family, from which 2 US Presidents originated. As well as to his full namesake - the famous anti-fascist singer. "Bush's legs" is also not his invention :-))))
The general was just a convinced Nazi. By the way, Bush is one of two people from the top generals (the other was von Reichenau) who supported Hitler in his decision to invade Czechoslovakia. And in the future, he showed his loyalty to the Nazi Party in every possible way. This had the most beneficial effect on his career. For 15 years of service in the ranks of the army of the Weimar Republic, Bush was able to advance only from battalion commander to regiment commander, and with the advent of Hitler, his career went famously uphill. In 1935, he became a major general, in 1938 - an infantry general, at 40 - a colonel general. Finally, on February 1, 1943, he was promoted to Field Marshal General. He knew his business, of course, plus he was a very brave man, which is confirmed by the same Pour le Merite (the highest military award of Prussia). However, from the commander's point of view, "there weren't enough stars from the sky," and he would never have reached such a high position in the military hierarchy without Hitler's support.

Obverse and reverse of Prussia's highest military award.

Krakow took over the Polish company. Then, until 1943, he led the 16th Army, which especially distinguished itself in France and on the Eastern Front. He spoiled a lot of nerves for our troops. Suffice it to recall Demyansk, Staraya Russa, Orsha and partly Vitebsk. True, it cannot be said that he showed himself brightly. Average. Plus, the soldier never regretted. Both in the 16th Army itself, and when he commanded the entire Army Group Center for 8 months. The brilliant "Bagration" put an end to his career - in just 2 weeks he was defeated to smithereens, after which Bush was sent to the reserve, from which he was recalled only in April 1945 to save the north of Germany from the British. The result was a little predictable :-)) On May 4, 1945, he was taken prisoner, and on July 17 of the same year he died in captivity from an attack of coronary disease.

Ernst Busch himself

The next in line is the hereditary military and bright representative of "Prussianism" Georg Carl Friedrich Wilhelm von Küchler, nicknamed the "Conqueror of Paris". A talented and diligent officer was noticed by the command even before the First World War, and for 3 years (from 1910 to 1913) he studied at the General Staff Academy, and later, already in the war, he passed good school headquarters work. In general, a strong pro, to say the least - a talented commander. In the Polish company, the troops under his command crushed the Modlin Army Group, closed the ring near Warsaw and went to Brest.
In the French company, Küchler commanded the 18th army, passing like a "knife through butter" Holland and Belgium, surrounded the British near Dunkirk, and then at the head of his troops entered the French capital abandoned by the enemy.
Honor and respect were not long in coming. Hitler in July 1940 promoted him to colonel general.

Field Marshal Küchler

Kuchler commanded the 18th Army until 1942, until the Reich Chancellor put him in place of von Leeb at the head of Army Group North. And I must say that to my great chagrin (since I am a Petersburger), for a whole year he coped with his duties very well - just the defeat of the 2nd Shock Army is worth something. And the next year it was difficult to fight with Kühler. And this despite the fact that he always acted in a numerical and material minority, and from the end of 1943, under his leadership, there were no tank formations at all, and there was little aviation. Hitler removed it in January 1944 because the field marshal tried (and was generally successful) to carry out a general retreat in violation of Hitler's direct order. The rank of Field Marshal Küchler was awarded on June 30, 1942, and after 1944 he no longer held positions in the Wehrmacht.
In 1947, together with a group of high-ranking military men, he appeared before the tribunal (the so-called "small Nuremberg trials"), where he received his 25 years for military crimes and crimes against civilians. However, he was released 7 years later and died in 1968.

Von Bock and von Küchler (half-turned to us) are discussing plans.

Wilhelm List lived the longest among all the highest Generals - a whole 91 years. In general, I think that this Württemburger is kind of lucky. He knew how to feel in time when and where "it smells of fried" and happily avoid unpleasant incidents for himself. He was cunning, intelligent and rather diplomatic person. He has a reputation for not losing a single battle, but this is more due to his early retirement than military genius. Although he was a good professional. He was considered the greatest specialist of the German military circles in the Balkans, having acquired the benefit of communications there back in the First World War. He unequivocally supported Hitler in the Blomberg-Fritsch case, which I mentioned in the previous part, which allowed him to gain access to the highest posts in the Wehrmacht.
In the Polish company he commanded the 14th army and took Lvov. Together with a group of other generals in 1940, he received the rank of Field Marshal.

"In the circles of power." From left to right - von Schirach, Goering, Liszt

Particularly distinguished himself in the Balkan company of 1941. First, the 12th army under his leadership defeated the Greeks and the English expeditionary force, and then gouged the army of Yugoslavia. And this is with the most minimal losses and in the shortest possible time! In addition, using his old connections, he paved the way for the conclusion of a military treaty between Germany and Bulgaria.
He missed the start of the war with the USSR due to a serious illness and arrived at the front only in the summer of 1942, leading Army Group A. And immediately, under his leadership, the Red Army was seriously defeated near Rostov-on-Don. True, immediately began a conflict with Hitler. The chancellor demanded that Liszt advance and reach the Caspian Sea, while the field marshal, citing a lack of funds and extended communications, believed that the pace of the offensive should be slowed down and regrouped. Moreover, he went into open confrontation and ensured that in September 1942 he was dismissed, thereby avoiding accusations against him for the defeat in Battle of Stalingrad. Until the end of the war, List no longer took part in hostilities. He was persuaded to actively participate in the July conspiracy, but he, sympathizing with the conspirators, refused direct action, once again demonstrating his instinct. In 1948, during one of the small Nuremberg trials, he was convicted for life, primarily for the actions committed by the troops he led in Greece and Yugoslavia in 1941. However, after 4 years he was released from prison for health reasons. Health proved to be strong, and he lived another 19 years.


On process

The next field marshal we have with you is Nazi No. 1 among all the highest generals, Walter von Reichenau. An active participant in the First World War, which he graduated as a captain, he did not immediately accept the ideas of National Socialism, after all, upbringing and noble roots (his father was a Prussian general, his mother was from an old count family). But when he was inspired, he became an ardent supporter of them in the army. What is there to say, even if he personally wrote the words of the Reichswehr oath to Adolf Hitler personally. The NSDAP reciprocated Reichenau - he was immediately awarded the rank of major general and put in one of the key positions in the military department. Further - harder! Hitler in 1934 plans to appoint von Reichenau no more, no less, but the commander-in-chief of the ground forces himself. And only the open disobedience of the top of the generals did not allow the chancellor to do this. The reasons for the generals were simple - how can a person who previously had little experience in commanding only a battalion command all the troops of the country? Hitler retreated here, but did not abandon his intentions, he always considered devotion to be the main virtue that could outweigh all other qualities. And in 1935, almost for the first time in the history of the entire German army, von Reichenau, bypassing the posts of regiment and division commander, immediately became commander of the 7th Army Corps and commander of the 7th military district, located in Munich. And almost immediately receives the rank of lieutenant general. The scandal was, of course, notable, and the old Prussian army traditionalists were very indignant. But what's done is done. Moreover, a little more than a year passed, and Reichenau received the rank of general of artillery. It turns out that he had to get from captain to colonel for 14 years, but from colonel to full general only 4.

Reichenau in the unchanged monocle.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that von Reichenau was a competent and very progressive officer. It would not be an exaggeration to consider him one of the creators tank troops in Germany, as well as systems for their effective combat use. He was actively interested in the military doctrine of other countries, was one of 3 (two others - Keitel and Sperrle) field marshals who visited the USSR in the 20-30s, read and translated the works of the Englishman Lidl-Gart.
second world war he met as head of the 10th army, and it should be noted that he was one of the main characters of the Polish company. First, the troops under his leadership staged the Radom cauldron, and then defeated the Polish operational groups Poznan and Lodz. For the Polish campaign of 1939, Reichenau was promoted to colonel general and awarded the Knight's Cross.
In the French company he distinguished himself again. At the head of the 6th Army, he took part in the defeat of the Belgian and Dutch armies, blocking the British and French in the Dunkirk area, surrounding Paris and capturing Orleans. For this company, he received the rank of Field Marshal.
This arrogant and tough general with the invariable monocle in his eye was popular among the soldiers, who believed that where Reichenau was, there would be victory. As an army commander, he was very good from a military point of view. As they say, a man in his place.
With his 6th Army, which was part of Army Group South, von Reichenau launched the Eastern Company very successfully. However, here his second essence was also manifested with might and main - a butcher and a killer of civilians. He ordered his troops to assist the SS and SD forces in identifying commissars and persons of Jewish nationality, his soldiers carried out mass acts of vandalism on the territory of the USSR. If he had survived until the end of the war, the scaffold would surely have been waiting for him. But... On December 3, 1941, Reichenau, unexpectedly for many, was appointed commander of all troops of Army Group South, replacing his long-time ill-wisher von Rundstedt in this post. This resignation was unexpected because Reichenau fully confirmed Rundstedt's last order to withdraw the troops of the 1st Panzer Army from the Rostov-on-Don region, for which, in fact, the latter was sent to the reserve. But it took only a month and a half to command the army group at Reichenau. On December 12, he suffered an acute heart attack. On January 7, he was evacuated by a special plane sent by Hitler to Leipzig. On the way, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Lvov, during which Reichenau, who was already in unconscious also suffered a severe head injury. Accordingly, it is not clear from what he died - either from a heart attack, or from a head injury, but this is the first loss among German field marshals in World War II.

Somewhere in Ukraine...

Next comes with us, who was commander-in-chief from 1938 to 1941 ground forces Germany Walter Heinrich Alfred Hermann von Brauchitsch. The son of a general, an adherent of Prussian military traditions and a guard of the Kaiser (he served in the 3rd Guards Grenadier Regiment of Queen Elizabeth) left a memory of himself as a man of weak will, completely subordinate to Hitler and having neither the strength nor the main desire to object to him. A competent and experienced general staff officer, an expert and specialist in artillery systems, he made a good career even before the Nazis came to power (he was a lieutenant general and inspector general of artillery). However, his talents and skills were also in demand by the new government. And soon (in 1938) he was approved for the key position of commander in chief of the ground forces. This appointment was preceded by one unpleasant story for Brauchitsch. The fact is that this general for a long time tried to divorce his unloved wife, with whom he had already lived separately for a long time, and marries his old mistress. Divorce, in essence, was already a huge bad manners among Prussian officers, and here a real scandal was possible, since the ex-wife threatened to give several interviews to the "yellow" press. As a matter of fact, she agreed to give her consent to a “divorce amicably and quietly” only in exchange for a large sum of money, which Brauchitsch simply did not have. And then Goering and Hitler, through the guys of Heydrich, went to Brauchitsch with a proposal to lend him money in the right amount. He was forced to agree, and thus gave the Nazis a big "hook" on himself. Soon after this, an offer was received to take an important army post. Cunning Hitler calculated everything correctly - for the figure of von Brauchitsch did not cause rejection (as we say the same Reichenau) from the old general corps, and the newly minted commander-in-chief himself gradually became an obedient toy in Hitler's hands. In less than a year, the Reich Chancellor completely and completely took possession of the will of the general. The situation was further aggravated by his new wife, she is also a former lover, who turned out to be an ardent Nazi and even more inclined Brauchitsch to follow the "star of the great Fuhrer." In general, in my deep conviction, at the very top of the army there were 2 generals, whose behavior, other than lackey and weak-willed, it was difficult to call - in fact, Lakeitel and Brauchitsch.

Bravensky von Brauchitsch

No, sometimes he still showed his high professionalism and staff skills - the same plan of the Polish company developed by him is excellent, and I would even say brilliant. Sometimes he remembered his own honor, when, for example, he sent a challenge to a duel to Goebbels. But, in general, everything is of course very, very sad. He even received the rank of Field Marshal in 1940 only because 7 of his subordinates received it, and to bypass Brauchitsch himself would be a frank spit in the face.
After he saw that the attack on Moscow, against which he quietly objected (as, by the way, against the war with the USSR itself) lost momentum, and a heart attack seized his power. I understand perfectly well that it is he who will be made the “scapegoat” for a failed company, he asked for his resignation. But Hitler did not accept the resignation. He sent it to the reserve only on December 19, when it became obvious that Blitzkrieg had failed, and the battle for Moscow had been lost.
Until the end of his life, he lived on his estate in Schleswig-Holstein, where he was arrested by the British. At the Nuremberg Trials he acted as a witness, but nevertheless he was kept by the British in very harsh conditions, which finally undermined his already poor health. He died in a prisoner-of-war hospital in Hamburg on October 18, 1948. As an important person in the Wehrmacht, he was appointed by many significant awards of the German allies - from the Romanian Order of Michael the Brave to the Bulgarian Order of St. Alexander.

Polish company card

Well, the last German top general for today, which we will briefly mention with you, will be a prominent theorist of military art, Wilhelm Joseph Franz Ritter von Leeb. He received the title of nobility (ritter, that is, knight) from Kaiser Wilhelm in 1916 for his excellent military skills.
He began his career by participating in the suppression of the famous Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900. Subsequently, he received numerous theoretical and practical training, wrote a series famous works, the brightest and most interesting of which is the work called "On Defense". In general, he was a prominent and well-known figure.
He took the Nazis' coming to power with a purely disapproving attitude, and never hid his views, condemning National Socialism until the end of the war, which he could not accept, primarily because of his deep Catholic convictions. However, neither Hitler nor the security forces touched the opposition general, since they believed (and quite justifiably) that he, expressing himself openly against the existing government, would never violate the oath and participate in a conspiracy. However, in February 1938, during the "army purge", von Leeb was almost the first of the high-ranking military men to be dismissed. However, less than six months later, he was again called up for active military service - his military talents and talents were needed. After a couple of months, he again went to the reserve, but was recalled from there a second time. Despite von Leeb's vigorous objections (especially to the French Company, when the general tried to organize an "Italian strike") and a warning against plunging Germany into the abyss of a new world war, he had to take a direct part in this very war.

Wilhelm von Leeb. Takeoff...

In the Polish company, he covered with small forces the rear of Germany in the West, in the French, first fettered the enemy forces at the notorious Maginot Line, and then partially broke through it and completed the defeat of the French. At the end of the company he was promoted to field marshal general.
During the attack on the USSR, he led the Army Group "North", defeated the Red Army in the Baltic states, occupied it, and by mid-September 1941 reached Leningrad. Many historians describe his tactics as overly cautious and too slow, but to me personally, that he was still an enemy, it seems that he did everything right. His troops closed the ring of the Blockade, but tired of defending his point of view and constant interference in the affairs of the army group, on January 16, 1942, von Leeb resigned, which was accepted by Hitler. He was replaced by Küchler, about whom, my dear readers, we spoke a little higher. Until the end of the war, he no longer participated in hostilities. On May 2, 1945 he was taken prisoner by American troops. He was tried in the framework of the small Nuremberg trials on charges: "The United States of America against Wilhelm von Leeb -" order on commissioners "".

...and fall

In October 1948 he was sentenced to 3 years in prison as a war criminal. Since he had already served 3 and a half years, he was released. He died on April 29, 1956 at the age of 79.

Have a nice day!
To be continued....

I. SOVIET GENERALS AND COMMANDERS.

1. Generals and military leaders of the strategic and operational-strategic level.

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Deputy Supreme Commander of the USSR Armed Forces, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. He commanded the troops of the Reserve, Leningrad, Western, 1st Belorussian fronts, coordinated the actions of a number of fronts, made a great contribution to achieving victory in the battle of Moscow, in the Battle of Stalingrad, Kursk, in the Belorussian, Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich (1895-1977)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Chief of the General Staff in 1942-1945, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. Coordinated the actions of a number of fronts in strategic operations, in 1945 - commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front and commander-in-chief of Soviet troops on Far East.

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (1896-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland. He commanded the Bryansk, Don, Central, Belorussian, 1st and 2nd Belorussian fronts.

Konev Ivan Stepanovich (1897-1973)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. He commanded the troops of the Western, Kalinin, Northwestern, Steppe, 2nd and 1st Ukrainian fronts.

Malinovsky Rodion Yakovlevich (1898-1967)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Since October 1942 - Deputy Commander of the Voronezh Front, Commander of the 2nd Guards Army, Southern, Southwestern, 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian, Transbaikal Fronts.

Govorov Leonid Alexandrovich (1897-1955)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From June 1942 he commanded the troops of the Leningrad Front, in February-March 1945 he simultaneously coordinated the actions of the 2nd and 3rd Baltic fronts.

Antonov Alexey Innokent'evich (1896-1962)- army General. Since 1942 - First Deputy Chief, Chief (since February 1945) of the General Staff, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command.

Timoshenko Semyon Konstantinovich (1895-1970)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. To the Great Patriotic War- People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, commander-in-chief of the Western, South-Western directions, from July 1942 he commanded the Stalingrad and North-Western fronts. Since 1943 - the representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command on the fronts.

Tolbukhin Fedor Ivanovich (1894-1949)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the war - chief of staff of the district (front). Since 1942 - Deputy Commander of the Stalingrad Military District, Commander of the 57th and 68th Armies, the Southern, 4th and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts.

Meretskov Kirill Afanasyevich (1897-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Since the beginning of the war - the representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command on the Volkhov and Karelian fronts, commanded the 7th and 4th armies. From December 1941 - commander of the Volkhov, Karelian and 1st Far Eastern fronts. He especially distinguished himself during the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945.

Shaposhnikov Boris Mikhailovich (1882-1945)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Member of the Supreme Command Headquarters, Chief of the General Staff during the most difficult period of defensive operations in 1941. He made an important contribution to the organization of the defense of Moscow and the transition of the Red Army to the counteroffensive. From May 1942 - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, head of the Military Academy of the General Staff.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich (1906-1945)- army General. commanded tank corps, 60th Army, from April 1944 - 3rd Belorussian Front. Mortally wounded in February 1945.

Vatutin Nikolay Fedorovich (1901-1944)- army General. From June 1941 - Chief of Staff Northwestern Front, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Commander of the Voronezh, Southwestern and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. He showed the highest military art in the Battle of Kursk, when crossing the river. Dnieper and the liberation of Kyiv, in the Korsun-Shevchenko operation. Mortally wounded in action in February 1944.

Bagramyan Ivan Khristoforovich (1897-1982)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Chief of Staff of the Southwestern Front, then at the same time the headquarters of the troops of the Southwestern direction, commander of the 16th (11th Guards) Army. From 1943 he commanded the troops of the 1st Baltic and 3rd Belorussian fronts.

Eremenko Andrei Ivanovich (1892-1970)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. He commanded the Bryansk Front, the 4th Shock Army, the South-Eastern, Stalingrad, Southern, Kalinin, 1st Baltic Fronts, the Separate Primorsky Army, the 2nd Baltic and 4th Ukrainian Fronts. Particularly distinguished himself in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Petrov Ivan Efimovich (1896-1958)- army General. From May 1943 - Commander North Caucasian Front, 33rd Army, 2nd Belorussian and 4th Ukrainian Fronts, Chief of Staff of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

2. Naval commanders of the strategic and operational-strategic level.

Kuznetsov Nikolai Gerasimovich (1902-1974)- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. People's Commissar of the Navy in 1939-1946, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. He ensured the organized entry of the fleet forces into the war.

Isakov Ivan Stepanovich (1894-1967)- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. In 1938-1946. - Deputy and First Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy, simultaneously in 1941-1943. Chief of the Main Staff of the Navy. He ensured the successful management of the forces of the fleets during the war.

Tributs Vladimir Filippovich (1900-1977)- Admiral. Commanding Baltic Fleet in 1939-1947 He showed courage and skillful actions during the relocation of the Baltic Fleet Forces from Tallinn to Kronstadt and during the defense of Leningrad.

Golovko Arseny Grigorievich (1906-1962)- Admiral. In 1940-1946. - Commander of the Northern Fleet. Provided (together with Karelian Front) reliable cover for the flank of the Soviet Armed Forces and sea communications for the implementation of deliveries by the allies.

Oktyabrsky (Ivanov) Philip Sergeevich (1899-1969)- Admiral. Commanding Black Sea Fleet from 1939 to June 1943 and from March 1944. From June 1943 to March 1944 - commander of the Amur military flotilla. He ensured the organized entry into the war of the Black Sea Fleet and successful operations during the war.

3. Commanders of combined arms armies.

Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich (1900-1982)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From September 1942 - Commander of the 62nd (8th Guards) Army. Particularly distinguished himself in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Batov Pavel Ivanovich (1897-1985)- army General. Commander of the 51st, 3rd armies, assistant commander of the Bryansk Front, commander of the 65th army.

Beloborodov Afanasy Pavlantievich (1903-1990)- army General. Since the beginning of the war - the commander of a division, a rifle corps. Since 1944 - commander of the 43rd, in August-September 1945 - the 1st Red Banner Army.

Grechko Andrey Antonovich (1903-1976)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From April 1942 - Commander of the 12th, 47th, 18th, 56th Armies, Deputy Commander of the Voronezh (1st Ukrainian) Front, Commander of the 1st Guards Army.

Krylov Nikolay Ivanovich (1903-1972)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From July 1943 he commanded the 21st and 5th armies. He had a unique experience in the defense of besieged large cities, being the chief of staff for the defense of Odessa, Sevastopol and Stalingrad.

Moskalenko Kirill Semyonovich (1902-1985)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From 1942 he commanded the 38th, 1st Tank, 1st Guards and 40th Armies.

Pukhov Nikolay Pavlovich (1895-1958)- Colonel General. In 1942-1945. commanded the 13th Army.

Chistyakov Ivan Mikhailovich (1900-1979)- Colonel General. In 1942-1945. commanded the 21st (6th Guards) and 25th armies.

Gorbatov Alexander Vasilyevich (1891-1973)- army General. From June 1943 - Commander of the 3rd Army.

Kuznetsov Vasily Ivanovich (1894-1964)- Colonel General. During the war years, he commanded the troops of the 3rd, 21st, 58th, 1st Guards armies from 1945 - commander of the 3rd shock army.

Luchinsky Alexander Alexandrovich (1900-1990)- army General. Since 1944 - commander of the 28th and 36th armies. He especially distinguished himself in the Belorussian and Manchurian operations.

Ludnikov Ivan Ivanovich (1902-1976)- Colonel General. During the war he commanded a rifle division, a corps, in 1942 he was one of the heroic defenders of Stalingrad. Since May 1944 - commander of the 39th Army, which participated in the Belarusian and Manchurian operations.

Galitsky Kuzma Nikitovich (1897-1973)- army General. Since 1942 - commander of the 3rd shock and 11th guards armies.

Zhadov Alexey Semenovich (1901-1977)- army General. From 1942 he commanded the 66th (5th Guards) Army.

Glagolev Vasily Vasilyevich (1896-1947)- Colonel General. He commanded the 9th, 46th, 31st, in 1945 - the 9th Guards Armies. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Kursk, the Battle of the Caucasus, during the crossing of the Dnieper, the liberation of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Kolpakchi Vladimir Yakovlevich (1899-1961)- army General. He commanded the 18th, 62nd, 30th, 63rd, 69th armies. He acted most successfully in the Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

Pliev Issa Alexandrovich (1903-1979)- army General. During the war years - commander of the guards cavalry divisions, corps, commander of cavalry mechanized groups. He especially distinguished himself by bold and daring actions in the Manchurian strategic operation.

Fedyuninsky Ivan Ivanovich (1900-1977)- army General. During the war years, he was the commander of the troops of the 32nd and 42nd armies, the Leningrad Front, the 54th and 5th armies, the deputy commander of the Volkhov and Bryansk fronts, the commander of the troops of the 11th and 2nd shock armies.

Belov Pavel Alekseevich (1897-1962)- Colonel General. Commanded the 61st Army. He was distinguished by decisive maneuvering actions during the Belorussian, Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich (1895-1975)- Colonel General. From August 1942 until the end of the war, he commanded the 64th Army (from 1943 - the 7th Guards), which, together with the 62nd Army, heroically defended Stalingrad.

Berzarin Nikolai Erastovich (1904-1945)- Colonel General. Commander of the 27th, 34th Armies, Deputy Commander of the 61st, 20th Armies, Commander of the 39th and 5th shock armies. He especially distinguished himself by skillful and decisive actions in the Berlin operation.

4. Commanders of tank armies.

Katukov Mikhail Efimovich (1900-1976)- Marshal of the armored forces. One of the founders of the Tank Guard was the commander of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, 1st Guards Tank Corps. Since 1943 - Commander of the 1st Tank Army (since 1944 - Guards).

Bogdanov Semyon Ilyich (1894-1960)- Marshal of the armored forces. Since 1943 he commanded the 2nd (since 1944 - Guards) tank army.

Rybalko Pavel Semyonovich (1894-1948)- Marshal of the armored forces. From July 1942 he commanded the 5th, 3rd and 3rd Guards Tank Armies.

Lelyushenko Dmitry Danilovich (1901-1987)- army General. From October 1941 he commanded the 5th, 30th, 1st, 3rd Guards, 4th Tank (since 1945 - Guards) armies.

Rotmistrov Pavel Alekseevich (1901-1982)- Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces. He commanded a tank brigade, a corps, distinguished himself in the Stalingrad operation. From 1943 he commanded the 5th Guards Tank Army. Since 1944 - Deputy Commander of Armored and Mechanized Troops Soviet army.

Kravchenko Andrey Grigorievich (1899-1963)- Colonel-General of Tank Troops. Since 1944 - commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army. He showed an example of highly maneuverable, swift actions during the Manchurian strategic operation.

5. Aviation commanders.

Novikov Alexander Alexandrovich (1900-1976)- Air Chief Marshal Commander of the Air Force of the Northern and Leningrad Fronts, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation, Commander of the Air Force of the Soviet Army.

Rudenko Sergey Ignatievich (1904-1990)- Air Marshal, commander of the 16th Air Army since 1942. He paid much attention to the training of combined arms commanders in the combat use of aviation.

Krasovsky Stepan Akimovich (1897-1983)- Air Marshal. During the war years - commander of the Air Force of the 56th Army, Bryansk and Southwestern fronts, 2nd and 17th air armies.

Vershinin Konstantin Andreevich (1900-1973)- Air Chief Marshal During the war - Commander of the Air Force of the Southern, Transcaucasian Fronts and the 4th Air Army. Along with effective actions to support the troops of the front, he paid special attention to combating enemy aircraft and gaining air supremacy.

Sudets Vladimir Alexandrovich (1904-1981)- Air Marshal. Commander of the Air Force of the 51st Army, Air Force of the Military District, since March 1943 - of the 17th Air Army.

Golovanov Alexander Evgenievich (1904-1975)- Air Chief Marshal From 1942 he commanded long-range aviation, from 1944 - the 18th Air Army.

Khryukin Timofey Timofeevich (1910-1953)- Colonel-General of Aviation. He commanded the Air Force of the Karelian, Southwestern fronts, the 8th and 1st air armies.

Zhavoronkov Semyon Fedorovich (1899-1967)- Air Marshal. During the war years, he was commander of the Navy Aviation. He ensured the survivability of naval aviation at the beginning of the war, building up its efforts and skillful combat use during the war.

6. Artillery commanders.

Voronov Nikolai Nikolaevich (1899-1968)- Chief Marshal of Artillery. During the war years, he was the head of the Main Air Defense Directorate of the country, the head of artillery of the Soviet Army, and the deputy people's commissar of defense of the USSR. Since 1943 - commander of the artillery of the Soviet Army, representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command on the fronts during the Stalingrad and a number of other operations. He developed the most advanced theory and practice of the combat use of artillery for his time, incl. artillery offensive, for the first time in history created a reserve of the Supreme High Command, which made it possible to maximize the use of artillery.

Kazakov Nikolai Nikolaevich (1898-1968)- Marshal of Artillery. During the war years - chief of artillery of the 16th Army, Bryansk, Donskoy, commander of artillery of the Central, Belorussian and 1st Belorussian fronts. One of the masters of the highest class in organizing an artillery offensive.

Nedelin Mitrofan Ivanovich (1902-1960)- Chief Marshal of Artillery. During the war - chief of artillery of the 37th and 56th armies, commander of the 5th artillery corps, commander of the artillery of the Southwestern and 3rd Ukrainian fronts.

Odintsov Georgy Fedotovich (1900-1972)- Marshal of Artillery. Since the beginning of the war - chief of staff and chief of artillery of the army. From May 1942 - commander of the artillery of the Leningrad Front. One of the largest specialists in organizing the fight against enemy artillery.

II. GENERAL LEADERS AND LEADERS OF THE ALLIED ARMIES OF THE USA

Eisenhower Dwight David (1890-1969)- American statesman and military figure, army general. Commander of American Forces in Europe from 1942, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Western Europe from 1943-1945.

MacArthur Douglas (1880-1964)- army General. Commander of the US armed forces in the Far East in 1941-1942, since 1942 - commander of the allied forces in the southwestern part Pacific Ocean.

Marshall George Catlett (1880-1959)- army General. Chief of Staff of the US Army in 1939-1945, one of the main authors of the military-strategic plans of the US and Great Britain in World War II.

Lehi William (1875-1959)- Admiral of the Fleet. Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Staff, at the same time - Chief of Staff under the Supreme Commander of the US Armed Forces in 1942-1945.

Halsey William (1882-1959)- Admiral of the Fleet. He commanded the 3rd Fleet, led the American forces in the battles for the Solomon Islands in 1943.

Patton George Smith Jr. (1885-1945)- general. Since 1942, he commanded an operational group of troops in North Africa, in 1944-1945. - 7th and 3rd American armies in Europe, skillfully used tank troops.

Bradley Omar Nelson (1893-1981)- army General. Commander of the 12th Army Group of the Allied Forces in Europe in 1942-1945.

King Ernest (1878-1956)- Admiral of the Fleet. Commander-in-Chief of the US Navy, Chief of Naval Operations in 1942-1945.

Nimitz Chester (1885-1966)- Admiral. Commander of the US Armed Forces in the Central Pacific from 1942-1945.

Arnold Henry (1886-1950)- army General. In 1942-1945. - Chief of Staff of the United States Army Air Forces.

Clark Mark (1896-1984)- general. Commander of the 5th American Army in Italy in 1943-1945. He became famous for his landing operation in the Salerno area (Operation Avalanche).

Spaats Karl (1891-1974)- general. Commander of the US Strategic Air Forces in Europe. He led strategic aviation operations during the air attack on Germany.

Great Britain

Montgomery Bernard Low (1887-1976)- field marshal. From July 1942 - commander of the 8th English army in Africa. During Norman operation commanded an army group. In 1945 - Commander-in-Chief of the British occupation forces in Germany.

Brooke Alan Francis (1883-1963)- field marshal. He commanded the British army corps in France, in 1940-1941. metropolitan troops. In 1941-1946. - Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

Alexander Harold (1891- 1969)- field marshal. In 1941-1942. commander of the British troops in Burma. In 1943, he commanded the 18th Army Group in Tunisia and the 15th Allied Army Group, which landed on about. Sicily and Italy. From December 1944 - Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

Andrew Cunningham (1883-1963)- Admiral. Commander of the British Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean in 1940-1941.

Harris Arthur Travers (1892-1984)- Air Marshal. Commander of the bomber aviation, which carried out the "air attack" on Germany in 1942-1945.

Tedder Arthur (1890-1967)- Air Chief Marshal Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Armed Forces in Europe Eisenhower for Aviation during the second front in Western Europe in 1944-1945.

Wavell Archibald (1883-1950)- field marshal. Commander of the British troops East Africa in 1940-1941 In 1942-1945. - Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in Southeast Asia.

France

De Tassigny Jean de Latre (1889-1952)- Marshal of France. From September 1943 - Commander-in-Chief of the "Fighting France", from June 1944 - Commander of the 1st French Army.

Juin Alphonse (1888-1967)- Marshal of France. Since 1942 - commander of the "Fighting France" in Tunisia. In 1944-1945. - commander of the French expeditionary force in Italy.

China

Zhu De (1886-1976)- Marshal of the People's Republic of China. During the Chinese People's National Liberation War of 1937-1945. commanded the 8th Army, operating in North China. Since 1945 - Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army of China.

Pung Dehuai (1898-1974)- Marshal of the People's Republic of China. In 1937-1945. - Deputy Commander of the 8th Army of the PLA.

Chen Yi- Commander of the New 4th Army of the PLA, operating in the regions of Central China.

Liu Bochen- Commander of the PLA.

Poland

Zymersky Michal (pseudonym - Role) (1890-1989)- Marshal of Poland. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, he participated in the resistance movement. From January 1944 - Commander-in-Chief of the People's Army, from July 1944 - the Polish Army.

Beurling Sigmund (1896-1980)- General of the Armor of the Polish Army. In 1943, he was the organizer on the territory of the USSR of the 1st Polish Infantry Division named after. Kosciuszko, in 1944 - commander of the 1st Army of the Polish Army.

Poplavsky Stanislav Gilyarovich (1902-1973)- General of the Army (in the Soviet Armed Forces). During the war years in the Soviet Army - commander of a regiment, division, corps. Since 1944 in the Polish Army - commander of the 2nd and 1st armies.

Sverchevsky Karol (1897- 1947)- General of the Polish Army. One of the organizers of the Polish Army. During the Great Patriotic War - commander rifle division, from 1943 - deputy commander of the 1st Polish Corps of the 1st Army, from September 1944 - commander of the 2nd Army of the Polish Army.

Czechoslovakia

Freedom Ludwik (1895-1979)- statesman and military leader of the Czechoslovak Republic, army general. One of the initiators of the creation of Czechoslovak units on the territory of the USSR, since 1943 - commander of a battalion, brigade, 1st Army Corps.

III. THE MOST PROMINENT COMMANDERS, NAVEL COMMANDERS OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (ON THE ENEMY'S SIDE)

Germany

Rundstedt Karl Rudolf (1875-1953)- Field Marshal General. During World War II, he commanded Army Group South and Army Group A during the attack on Poland and France. He headed the Army Group "South" on the Soviet-German front (until November 1941). From 1942 to July 1944 and from September 1944 - Commander-in-Chief of the German Forces in the West.

Manstein Erich von Lewinsky (1887-1973)- Field Marshal General. In the French campaign of 1940 he commanded a corps, on the Soviet-German front - a corps, an army, in 1942-1944. - Army Group "Don" and "South".

Keitel Wilhelm (1882- 1946)- Field Marshal General. In 1938-1945. - Chief of Staff of the Supreme High Command of the Armed Forces.

Kleist Ewald (1881-1954)- Field Marshal General. During World War II, he commanded a tank corps and a tank group operating against Poland, France, and Yugoslavia. On the Soviet-German front, he commanded a tank group (army), in 1942-1944. - Army Group A.

Guderian Heinz Wilhelm (1888-1954)- Colonel General. During World War II he commanded a tank corps, a group and an army. In December 1941, after the defeat near Moscow, he was removed from his post. In 1944-1945. - Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces.

Rommel Erwin (1891-1944)- Field Marshal General. In 1941-1943. commanded the German Expeditionary Force in North Africa, Army Group B in Northern Italy, in 1943-1944. - Army Group "B" in France.

Doenitz Karl (1891-1980)- Grand Admiral. Commanding submarine fleet(1936-1943), Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nazi Germany(1943-1945). At the beginning of May 1945 - Reich Chancellor and Supreme Commander.

Keselring Albert (1885- 1960)- Field Marshal General. He commanded air fleets operating against Poland, Holland, France, and England. At the beginning of the war with the USSR, he commanded the 2nd air fleet. From December 1941 - Commander-in-Chief of the Nazi troops of the South-West (Mediterranean - Italy), in 1945 - the troops of the West (West Germany).

Finland

Mannerheim Carl Gustav Emil (1867-1951)- military and statesman Finland, marshal. Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Army in the wars against the USSR in 1939-1940. and 1941-1944

Japan

Yamamoto Isoroku (1884-1943)- Admiral. During the Second World War - Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Navy. He carried out the operation to defeat the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in December 1941.