Johannes Blaskowitz: Difference between revisions
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'''Johannes Blaskowitz'''(1883-1948) was a [[Nazi SS and military ranks|Generalobertst]] in the Second World War German Army, who served in the Austrian, Sudetenland, Polish campaigns on the Western Front. He was indicted in the [[High Command Case (NMT)|High Command Case]] of the [[Nuremberg Military Tribunals]], but committed suicide, possibly under suspicious circumstances, before trial. | '''Johannes Blaskowitz'''(1883-1948) was a [[Nazi SS and military ranks|Generalobertst]] in the Second World War German Army, who served in the Austrian, Sudetenland, Polish campaigns on the Western Front. He was indicted in the [[High Command Case (NMT)|High Command Case]] of the [[Nuremberg Military Tribunals]], but committed suicide, possibly under suspicious circumstances, before trial. | ||
== | ==Pre-WWII== | ||
In 1935, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General and Commander of Defence District II, Stettin. In 1938 he was appointed Field Commander of Army Group 3 (Dresden), | From 1930 to 1932, he commanded the 14th Regiment, then was Inspector of Weapons Schools for the Ministry of War. In 1935, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General and Commander of Defence District II, Stettin. In 1938 he was appointed Field Commander of Army Group 3 (Dresden), | ||
==Early campaigns== | |||
In the invasion of Austria and Bohemia, leading the Third Army into the Sudetenland in March 1939. | |||
==Polish campaign== | ==Polish campaign== | ||
He was the chief planner for the operation, commanded the 8th Army in the attack on Poland and then was Military Governor of the occupied country, On September 27, 1939, Blaskowitz received the surrender of Warsaw and on October 22, 1939, he was made Military Governor of the German occupying forces in Poland. | He was the chief planner for the operation, commanded the 8th Army in the attack on Poland and then was Military Governor of the occupied country, On September 27, 1939, Blaskowitz received the surrender of Warsaw and on October 22, 1939, he was made Military Governor of the German occupying forces in Poland. | ||
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| title = Johannes Blaskowitz | | title = Johannes Blaskowitz | ||
| publisher = Jewish Virtual Library}}</ref> | | publisher = Jewish Virtual Library}}</ref> | ||
==Western Front== | |||
In 1944, he was given command of Army Group G, reporting to Field Marshal [[Gerd von Rundstedt]] which was preparing to defend against the expected Allied invasion in France. Relieved of his command after the defeat in Lorraine, he was transferred to the Netherlands in early 1945, in command of Fortress Holland, where he surrendered to the British. | In 1944, he was given command of Army Group G, reporting to Field Marshal [[Gerd von Rundstedt]] which was preparing to defend against the expected Allied invasion in France. Relieved of his command after the defeat in Lorraine, he was transferred to the Netherlands in early 1945, in command of Fortress Holland, where he surrendered to the British. | ||
==High Command Case== | ==High Command Case== | ||
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| title = Johannes Blaskowitz | | title = Johannes Blaskowitz | ||
| publisher = The Generals of WWII}}</ref> | | publisher = The Generals of WWII}}</ref> | ||
1935 | 1935 | ||
- 1938 | - 1938 |
Revision as of 09:56, 29 November 2010
Johannes Blaskowitz(1883-1948) was a Generalobertst in the Second World War German Army, who served in the Austrian, Sudetenland, Polish campaigns on the Western Front. He was indicted in the High Command Case of the Nuremberg Military Tribunals, but committed suicide, possibly under suspicious circumstances, before trial.
Pre-WWII
From 1930 to 1932, he commanded the 14th Regiment, then was Inspector of Weapons Schools for the Ministry of War. In 1935, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General and Commander of Defence District II, Stettin. In 1938 he was appointed Field Commander of Army Group 3 (Dresden),
Early campaigns
In the invasion of Austria and Bohemia, leading the Third Army into the Sudetenland in March 1939.
Polish campaign
He was the chief planner for the operation, commanded the 8th Army in the attack on Poland and then was Military Governor of the occupied country, On September 27, 1939, Blaskowitz received the surrender of Warsaw and on October 22, 1939, he was made Military Governor of the German occupying forces in Poland.
He wrote memos of complaint, between November 1939 and February 1940, to Army Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Walter von Brauchitsch. Blaskowitz documented many instances of raping, horsewhipping, murder and looting of Jewish and Polish shops, by both the Einsatzkommandos and other SS personnel, and warned that the SS “might later turn against their own people in the same way.” Hitler relieved him for his "childish attitude." [1]
Western Front
In 1944, he was given command of Army Group G, reporting to Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt which was preparing to defend against the expected Allied invasion in France. Relieved of his command after the defeat in Lorraine, he was transferred to the Netherlands in early 1945, in command of Fortress Holland, where he surrendered to the British.
High Command Case
"He committed suicide on February 5, 1948, in Nuremberg prison, shortly before his trial as a minor war criminal was due to begin. Fellow prisoners believed that he had been murdered by SS men, but this has never been substantiated."
Assignments
As a senior officer, his commands were: [2]
1935
- 1938
General Officer Commanding Military District II
1935
General Officer Commanding 2nd Division
1935
- 1938
General Officer Commanding II Corps
1938
- 1939
General Officer Commander in Chief 3rd Army Group Command
1939
General Officer Commanding 8th Army, Poland
1939
- 1940
Commander in Chief East
1940
General Officer Commanding 9th Army
1940
Military Commander Northern France
1940
In reserve
1940
- 1944
General Officer Commanding 1st Army, France
1944
General Officer Commanding Army Group G, France
1944
In reserve
1944
- 1945
Commander in Chief Army Group G, France
1945
Commander in Chief Army Group H, The Netherlands
1945
Commander in Chief Fortress Holland
1945
- 1948
Prisoner of War
1948
Committed suicide
Law reports BLASKoWITz-Genera1oberst (General); November, 1939, to August, 1939,· Commander-in-Chief Army Group Command (Heeresgruppenkommando) 3; September, 1939, to October, 1939, Commanderin-Chief 8th Army; October, 1939, Commander-in-Chief 2nd Army; October, 1939, to May, 1940, Commander-in-Chief East (Oberbefeh1shaber Ost); May, 1940, Commander-in-Chief 9th Army; June, 1940, Military Commander (Mi1itarbefeh1shaber) Northern France; October, 1940, to May, 1944, Commander-in-Chief 1st Army; May, 1944, to September, 1944, Acting Commander-in-Chief Army Group G; December, 1944, to January, 1945, Commander-in-Chief Army Group G; January., 1945, to April, 1945, Commander-in-Chief Army Group H; April, 1945, Commander-in-Chief Netherlands and 25th Army.