World War II German Field Marshal∼German General Field Marshal of Artillery. He was born into an aristocratic Prussian family in 1881. He joined the Germany Army in 1900. During WW1 he commanded artillery units on the Western Front. After WW1, he joined a paramilitary organization and saw action against Soviet forces in Poland. Upon his return to Germany, he joined the military of the Weimar Republic. In 1937, he became the commanding officer of the 1st Military District. In Mar 1939, he commanded troops in the occupation of Memel, annexed from Lithuania. In September 1939 he led German 3rd Army in the capture of Danzig. In 1940 he commanded 18th Army in the invasion of France and the Low Countries, where his troops captured Rotterdam and the Hague, occupied Antwerp, and reached as far west as Pas de Calais. For his accomplishments he was promoted to the rank of colonel general. He continued to command German 18th Army in the invasion of the Soviet Union. In January 1942 he was made the commanding officer of Army Group North. In Jun 1942 Hitler promoted him to the rank of Field Marshal. Through late 1943 he would continue to put pressure on Leningrad, but he would ultimately fail to take the city. In January 1944, the Soviets broke the siege. When he requested permission to fall back to the Luga River he was forced into retirement. At the end of the war he was arrested and found guilty of war crimes committed against captured Soviet partisan fighters. He served only 8 of his 20-year prison sentence due to advanced age.
World War II German Field Marshal∼German General Field Marshal of Artillery. He was born into an aristocratic Prussian family in 1881. He joined the Germany Army in 1900. During WW1 he commanded artillery units on the Western Front. After WW1, he joined a paramilitary organization and saw action against Soviet forces in Poland. Upon his return to Germany, he joined the military of the Weimar Republic. In 1937, he became the commanding officer of the 1st Military District. In Mar 1939, he commanded troops in the occupation of Memel, annexed from Lithuania. In September 1939 he led German 3rd Army in the capture of Danzig. In 1940 he commanded 18th Army in the invasion of France and the Low Countries, where his troops captured Rotterdam and the Hague, occupied Antwerp, and reached as far west as Pas de Calais. For his accomplishments he was promoted to the rank of colonel general. He continued to command German 18th Army in the invasion of the Soviet Union. In January 1942 he was made the commanding officer of Army Group North. In Jun 1942 Hitler promoted him to the rank of Field Marshal. Through late 1943 he would continue to put pressure on Leningrad, but he would ultimately fail to take the city. In January 1944, the Soviets broke the siege. When he requested permission to fall back to the Luga River he was forced into retirement. At the end of the war he was arrested and found guilty of war crimes committed against captured Soviet partisan fighters. He served only 8 of his 20-year prison sentence due to advanced age.
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