Field Marshal Reichenau. Biography

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Walter von Reichenau(German) Walter von Reichenau, October 8 ( 18841008 ) - January 17) - Field Marshal General (c).

Biography

World War I

In 1933-1935 he was the head of one of the departments of the War Ministry.

He stood at the origins of the formation of the Wehrmacht. He took part in a secret program for the revival of the German army and visited the USSR together with von Blomberg. Reichenau went down in the history of the Third Reich due to the fact that he composed the text of the oath of allegiance to the new Reich Chancellor. He translated the works of the British tank expert Liddell Hart into German and contributed in every possible way to the development of a new type of military in Germany.

The Second World War

From the beginning of the war he commanded the 10th Army. For the Polish campaign he was awarded the Knight's Cross and promoted to colonel general.

On January 14, 1942, Reichenau suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while walking in 40-degree frost, and on January 17 he died in the air during a flight from Poltava to Leipzig for treatment; The plane with his body crashed during landing in Lvov, crashing into a hangar.

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Notes

Literature

• A. I. Kruglov. . - Dnepropetrovsk: Center “Tkuma”; Private enterprise "Lira LTD", 2011. - pp. 132-134.

• Mitcham S., Mueller J. Commanders of the Third Reich. - Smolensk: Rusich, 1995. - 480 p. - (Tyranny). - 10,000 copies. - ISBN 5-88590-287-9.
• Correlli Barnett.. - New York, NY: Grove Press, 1989. - 528 p. - ISBN 0-802-13994-9.
• Pikul Valentin Savvich. . - Moscow: LLC Publishing House "Veche", 2009. - p. 225-226 -

Links

• (German)

Reichsmarshal (German) Reichsmarschall) Field Marshals (German) Generalfeldmarschall) Field Marshals of the Luftwaffe (The remnants of the troops of Lanzheron and Dokhturov, mixed up, crowded around the ponds on the dams and banks near the village of Augesta. At 6 o'clock only at the Augesta dam the hot cannonade of the French alone could still be heard, who had built numerous batteries on the descent of the Pratsen Heights and were hitting our retreating troops. In the rearguard, Dokhturov and others, gathering battalions, fired back at the French cavalry that was pursuing ours. It was starting to get dark. On the narrow dam of Augest, on which for so many years the old miller sat peacefully in a cap with fishing rods, while his grandson, rolling up his shirt sleeves, was sorting out silver quivering fish in a watering can; on this dam, along which for so many years the Moravians drove peacefully on their twin carts loaded with wheat, in shaggy hats and blue jackets and, dusted with flour, with white carts leaving along the same dam - on this narrow dam now between wagons and cannons, under the horses and between the wheels crowded people disfigured by the fear of death, crushing each other, dying, walking over the dying and killing each other only so that, after walking a few steps, to be sure. also killed. Every ten seconds, pumping up the air, a cannonball splashed or a grenade exploded in the middle of this dense crowd, killing and sprinkling blood on those who stood close. Dolokhov, wounded in the arm, on foot with a dozen soldiers of his company (he was already an officer) and his regimental commander, on horseback, represented the remnants of the entire regiment. Drawn by the crowd, they pressed into the entrance to the dam and, pressed on all sides, stopped because a horse in front fell under a cannon, and the crowd was pulling it out. One cannonball killed someone behind them, the other hit in front and splashed Dolokhov’s blood. The crowd moved desperately, shrank, moved a few steps and stopped again. Walk these hundred steps, and you will probably be saved; stand for another two minutes, and everyone probably thought he was dead. Dolokhov, standing in the middle of the crowd, rushed to the edge of the dam, knocking down two soldiers, and fled onto the slippery ice that covered the pond. “Turn,” he shouted, jumping on the ice that was cracking under him, “turn!” - he shouted at the gun. - Holds!... The ice held it, but it bent and cracked, and it was obvious that not only under a gun or a crowd of people, but under him alone it would collapse. They looked at him and huddled close to the shore, not daring to step on the ice yet. The regiment commander, standing on horseback at the entrance, raised his hand and opened his mouth, addressing Dolokhov. Suddenly one of the cannonballs whistled so low over the crowd that everyone bent down. Something splashed into the wet water, and the general and his horse fell into a pool of blood. No one looked at the general, no one thought to raise him. - Let's go on the ice! walked on the ice! Let's go! gate! can't you hear! Let's go! - suddenly, after the cannonball hit the general, countless voices were heard, not knowing what or why they were shouting. One of the rear guns, which was entering the dam, turned onto the ice. Crowds of soldiers from the dam began to run to the frozen pond. The ice cracked under one of the leading soldiers and one foot went into the water; he wanted to recover and fell waist-deep. The nearest soldiers hesitated, the gun driver stopped his horse, but shouts could still be heard from behind: “Get on the ice, let’s go!” let's go! And screams of horror were heard from the crowd. The soldiers surrounding the gun waved at the horses and beat them to make them turn and move. The horses set off from the shore. The ice holding the foot soldiers collapsed in a huge piece, and about forty people who were on the ice rushed forward and backward, drowning one another. The cannonballs still whistled evenly and splashed onto the ice, into the water and, most often, into the crowd covering the dam, ponds and shore. On Pratsenskaya Mountain, in the very place where he fell with the flagpole in his hands, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky lay, bleeding, and, without knowing it, moaned a quiet, pitiful and childish groan. By evening he stopped moaning and became completely quiet. He didn't know how long his oblivion lasted. Suddenly he felt alive again and suffering from a burning and tearing pain in his head. “Where is it, this high sky, which I did not know until now and saw today?” was his first thought. “And I didn’t know this suffering either,” he thought. - Yes, I didn’t know anything until now. But where am I? He began to listen and heard the sounds of approaching horses and the sounds of voices speaking French. He opened his eyes. Above him was again the same high sky with floating clouds rising even higher, through which a blue infinity could be seen. He did not turn his head and did not see those who, judging by the sound of hooves and voices, drove up to him and stopped. The horsemen who arrived were Napoleon, accompanied by two adjutants. Bonaparte, driving around the battlefield, gave the last orders to strengthen the batteries firing at the Augesta Dam and examined the dead and wounded remaining on the battlefield. - De beaux hommes! [Beauties!] - said Napoleon, looking at the killed Russian grenadier, who, with his face buried in the ground and the back of his head blackened, was lying on his stomach, throwing one already numb arm far away. – Les munitions des pieces de position sont epuisees, sire! [There are no more battery charges, Your Majesty!] - said at that time the adjutant, who arrived from the batteries that were firing at Augest. “Faites avancer celles de la reserve, [Have it brought from the reserves,” said Napoleon, and, having driven off a few steps, he stopped over Prince Andrei, who was lying on his back with the flagpole thrown next to him (the banner had already been taken by the French, like a trophy) . “Voila une belle mort, [This is a beautiful death,”] said Napoleon, looking at Bolkonsky. Prince Andrei realized that this was said about him, and that Napoleon was saying this. He heard the one who said these words called sire. But he heard these words as if he heard the buzzing of a fly. Not only was he not interested in them, but he did not even notice them, and immediately forgot them. His head was burning; he felt that he was emanating blood, and he saw above him the distant, high and eternal sky. He knew that it was Napoleon - his hero, but at that moment Napoleon seemed to him such a small, insignificant person in comparison with what was now happening between his soul and this high, endless sky with clouds running across it. He didn’t care at all at that moment, no matter who stood above him, no matter what they said about him; He was only glad that people were standing over him, and he only wished that these people would help him and return him to life, which seemed so beautiful to him, because he understood it so differently now. He mustered all his strength to move and make some sound. He weakly moved his leg and produced a pitying, weak, painful groan.

Walter von Reichenau was one of the most odious generals of Nazi Germany. He stood at the origins of the National Socialist movement and fiercely defended Hitler's beliefs.

The field marshal was personally guilty of war crimes by German troops on the territory of the Soviet Union, since he took part in drawing up the order “On the conduct of German troops,” which allowed absolutely any actions against civilians.

Walter von Reichenau. Biography: childhood

Walter was born on October 8, 1884 in Baden-Württemberg. His family was wealthy and influential. The Reichenau were nobles. For many generations they owned land in Karlsruhe, where the family estate was located. Since childhood, Walter received an excellent education. Training took place at home. In addition to traditional sciences, Reichenau also studied various intricacies of noble society. His family owned a large furniture factory, and Walter von Reichenau claimed to inherit all the property. His parents were radical anti-Semites. They used right-wing populism to achieve their political goals. As a young man, Walter decides to enlist in the military.

Army

In 1903 he enlisted in the regimental artillery. Serves for a year as an officer candidate. After which he is promoted to lieutenant and enters the academy. He served in the army for eight years. He mainly studies theory, and in his free time attends capital balls and receptions in military uniform. In August 1912 he received the rank of chief lieutenant.

The start of Walter's career was very successful. He received a good education at the military academy and became an officer without participating in hostilities. But then a great war came to Europe. Reichenau goes to the front as part of a guards artillery regiment. As an adjutant, he fights with British and French troops. In the autumn of 1914 he was promoted to the rank of captain. Walter von Reichenau shows ability on the battlefield. He is highly valued by his command. A year into the war, the former adjutant already commands the headquarters of an infantry division in reserve. He spent the entire war exclusively on the Western Front. Was at Passchendaele, where several million soldiers from both sides clashed on a relatively small piece of land. He was awarded the Iron Cross, which he was very proud of. However, by the end of the war, there were more than two million recipients of this award in the German army, for which the people called the cross “piece of iron.” In addition to the "piece of iron", Walter von Reichenau received five more orders.

After the war

After the end of the great war, serious changes began in Germany. The Kaiser was overthrown and a republic was proclaimed. Communists and socialists demanded equal life for everyone. The title of nobility was losing its prestige and significance. The Reichnau family suffered huge losses due to the new laws of the Weimar Republic. After returning from the war, Walter became imbued with hatred of the new system, which did not give him due respect. Having no idea about life without shoulder straps, Reichenau continues to serve in the German armed forces.

Almost from the first days he supported the National Socialist Party. He was personally acquainted with Hitler, Goering and other prominent figures of the NSDAP. His family allocates huge amounts of money to the Nazi Party. Starting a career in the renewed Reichswehr allows Reichenau to make the necessary contacts. As follows from the studied documents and memoirs, Walter was one of the few true supporters of Hitler's ideas in the top military leadership. He supported the Nazis not only to benefit his family's business, but also because he himself sympathized with their ideals.

Secret restoration of the army

After defeat in the First World War, huge indemnities were imposed on Germany. Some regions came under external control of the occupying forces.

The Weimar Republic, formed as a result of the revolution, was prohibited from having its own armed forces. Therefore, after the Nazis came to power, various secret programs began to be invented to recreate the army. Walter von Reichenau personally participated in the revival of the former power of the German military machine. The soldiers conducted training in the strictest secrecy under the guise of police training. Combat operations were simulated using sticks instead of machine guns, plywood models instead of tanks, and so on.

Treaty with the USSR

In addition to Germany, there was another country in Europe that was subject to international isolation - the Soviet Union. Reichnau participated in concluding an agreement on a secret cooperation program. German engineers built production facilities on the territory of the USSR, and in exchange for this, German soldiers could train with military weapons in the Soviet Union. Walter visited secret military bases and personally instructed future Luftwaffe pilots.

He made a great contribution to the creation of the Wehrmacht. Among other things, Reichenau translated from English the works of Liddell Hart, a British tank expert. After the Nazis began actively persecuting communists and Jews, the Soviet Union broke off all relations with them.

Preparing a military vehicle

In February thirty-two, Reichenau was already a colonel, and a year later he became the head of a department in the ministry. Actively participates in the creation of new armed forces. Personally wrote the text of a German soldier’s oath of allegiance to the Fuhrer. After this, it will be pronounced by millions of people, many of whom will give their lives for the ideas of the Nazis. The Reichnau family remained fanatical supporters of Hitler. They donated huge amounts of money to the needs of the party. In 1938, the largest furniture factory in Germany, owned by Reichenau, began producing military equipment. Thanks to this, Walter finds himself at the center of Nazi propaganda. Walter von Reichenau is present at almost every reception in Berlin. The awards he received during his staff work are presented by the press as awards won in harsh battles at the front.

Beginning of the war

In thirty-nine, a new war begins. Reichenau's dreams came true. The Wehrmacht was prepared for the strike and all that remained was to choose a target. On September 1st, the Nazis invaded Poland.

Walter commanded the Tenth Army. At the beginning of the invasion, the Polish armed forces were located over a vast territory, which was supposed to be defended until the Allies entered the war. The high command used outdated ideas about strategy and tactics. Therefore, the Wehrmacht quickly broke through the front and crushed the Polish resistance within a week of war. The entire Reich was inspired by the success of the German army. For the successful Polish campaign, Reichenau was awarded the rank of Field Marshal.

The Luftwaffe played a major role in the rapid defeat of Poland. German pilots were better trained, and their combat vehicles were more modern - this is also the merit of Reichenau. German planes almost immediately gained total air superiority and bombed Polish positions almost unhindered. Air supremacy largely determined the success of ground units.

In the autumn of the thirty-ninth, Reichenau was entrusted with the 6th Army of the Wehrmacht. Walter again fights on Belgian territory against French troops, as he did twenty-five years before. However, this time the German troops are victorious.

The Field Marshal celebrates the victory and becomes a folk hero. Two quick campaigns, carried out with relatively few losses, turned the head of the German command. However, the next war did not promise to be easy.

The 6th Wehrmacht Army has been involved in aggression against the Soviet Union from the first days. In June, Reichenau soldiers advance on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR. They took part in the siege of Kyiv and the crossing of the Dnieper. The first days of the war were extremely unsuccessful for the Red Army. The soldiers retreated every day, leaving cities and villages. The Reichenau Army was the first to enter the capital of the Ukrainian SSR after the Thirty-seventh Army abandoned the city.

Near Kiev, a huge number of Soviet soldiers were surrounded. Field Marshal Reichenau was very proud of his victory, they wrote about him throughout Germany. After Kyiv, the attack on Kharkov began.

Order

By the autumn of '41, it became clear to the Nazis that the blitzkrieg had failed. The Soviet Union withstood the first blow, and the war promised to be long. The local population offered fierce resistance, and large partisan detachments operated in each region. Therefore, Reichenau developed a new directive “On the conduct of soldiers in the eastern space.” With it, the Nazis were allowed and even advised to carry out any outrages in the occupied lands. All residents of the Soviet Union, including civilians, were proposed to be considered enemies.

Wehrmacht fighters were allowed to take away property, food, and housing from the population. This infamous order led to the death of millions of people, and the atrocities of the Nazi occupiers knew no bounds.

However, fate took revenge on Walter. The Soviet winter defeated the Nazis. On the fourteenth of January, the field marshal was walking in forty-degree frost. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.

After this, they immediately tried to send him to Germany for treatment. Three days later, Berlin was informed that Walter von Reichenau had died. The place of death is the sky above Poltava.

In 1914 he graduated from the Military Academy. Participant of the 1st World War on the Eastern Front, officer of the General Staff. For military distinctions he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class and the Order of the House of Hohenzollern. After the demobilization of the army, he remained in the Reichswehr as a staff officer. From 1 November 1927, commander of the 5th Signal Battalion (Stuttgart). Since the fall of 1929, the chief of staff of the communications inspector. From 1.2.1931, the chief of staff of the 1st division and the 1st military district (Koenigsberg), the commander of which was General. W. von Blomberg. In the fall of 1932, he met L. Hitler and became an active supporter of Nazism - for careerist reasons. Soon R. began to be considered the main link between the army and the NSDAP. When Hitler's government was formed on January 30, 1933, Blomberg took over as Minister of War. Already 1.2 1933 R. replaced the gene. F. von Bredow as head of the Ministerial Directorate of the War Ministry - its central division, and on 1/2/1934 he was promoted to major general. 12.2.1934 The Directorate was transformed into the Directorate of the Wehrmacht, and R. remained at its head. One of the founders of the Wehrmacht. On duty, he served as a liaison between the army command and the leadership of the NSDAP. He enjoyed the unconditional support of Hitler, who constantly promoted him to influential positions in the army. One of the initiators of the liquidation of the top leadership of the SA during the “Night of the Long Knives” of 1934, before which he provided the SS units taking part in it with weapons. After the death of Reich President P. von Hindenburg and Hitler taking his post, R. drew up the text of the military oath to Hitler. 10/1/1935 replaced by gene. V. Keitel and was appointed commander of the VII Army Corps and the VII Military District (Munich). As a supporter of Hitler who supported his war plans, R, during the purge of the command staff on 4.2.1938, was Hitler’s most desirable candidate for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, but the senior officers of the army opposed this. R. nevertheless received a promotion and became commander of the 4th Army Command (Leipzig), to which the XIV, XV and XVI Corps were subordinate - i.e. all tank and motorized units of Germany. A supporter of iron discipline and strict measures but not maintenance. Actively supported the development of tank forces. In March 1938, the troops under his command occupied the Sudetenland, and in March 1939 - Prague. In Aug. In 1939, on the basis of his headquarters, the administration of the 10th Army was formed, at the head of which R. fought in the Polish campaign. His army had the goal of breaking through the border fortifications and taking Warsaw. Having defeated the Polish troops, R. destroyed the group in the Radom pocket and surrounded the Lodz and Poznan armies. 24 Sep. transferred the leadership of the siege to Warsaw to General. I. Blaskowitz. At the same time, R. protested against the actions of the SS in Poland. 30.9.1939 awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On October 5, 1939 the army was renamed the 6th. On October 1, 1939, he was promoted to colonel general. Participated in the French campaign. If according to the original plan he was assigned a decisive role, then according to Manstein’s plan he was supposed to move towards Brussels, drawing back the enemy troops. Completely defeated the Dutch and Belgian troops. In June 1941, the army was transferred to the Soviet-German front. Participated in the breakthrough of Stalin's line, the capture of Kyiv, Belgorod, Kharkov, Kursk. In the territory subordinate to him, he pursued an extremely cruel policy towards the local population, especially towards the Jews. He approved the mass extermination of Jews by SS units in Kyiv. He collaborated closely with the punitive detachments of the SS and SD, assisting them with troops; introduced the order on commissars, according to which all Soviet political workers were subject to immediate execution. In total, during R.'s command of the army, approx. 1 million Jews and other civilians. At the beginning of Sept. 1941 made a proposal to create national Belarusian and Ukrainian divisions. On November 30, 1941, he replaced Field Marshal G. von Rundstedt as commander of Army Group Center. The next day, R. began the withdrawal of troops, presenting Hitler with a fait accompli. On January 12, 1942, R. had a heart attack in Poltava and on January 17. he was taken to

Reichenau Walter (08.10.1884, Karlsruhe - 17.01.1942, Poltava), Field Marshal of the Nazi Army (1940).

Military Began his service in the Kaiser's army. He took part in the 1st World War, then served in the Reichswehr, holding staff and command positions. In 1930-1933, chief of staff of the 1st military. districts (East Prussia). Since 1933, head of a department in the Reichswehr Ministry, actively participated in the creation of the Wehrmacht. Since 1935 he commanded the 7th military. district (Bavaria). During the attack on Poland (1939) he led the 10th Army. At the head of the 6th Army, of which R. became commander in October. 1939, participated in aggression against France and the USSR. From Dec. 1941 commands, Army Group South on the Soviet-German front. One of the most fanatical Nazis among the generals, he unconditionally supported the criminal plans of fascism to gain world domination. He demanded from his subordinate troops mercilessness towards the population of the occupied Soviet Union. territory, unlimited extermination of owls. prisoners of war and owls. citizens. Died of a heart attack.

Used materials from the Soviet Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes, vol. 7

Reichenau, Walter von (Reichenau) , (1884-1942), Field Marshal of the German Army.

Born on August 16, 1884 in Karlsruhe in the family of a diplomat. He volunteered to join the army, was a participant in the 1st World War, fought under the command of Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff during the Battle of Tannenberg on August 26-29, 1914. Then he served in the Reichswehr. Since 1930, chief of staff of the military district. In 1933-35, he was the head of a department in the Reichswehr Ministry under General Werner von Blomberg. Despite the fact that Reichenau had a low opinion of Hitler, he, nevertheless, as a soldier of the old Prussian school, considered it his duty to support the Fuhrer and took an active part in the creation of the Wehrmacht. Serving as a liaison officer between the party and army leadership, Reichenau quickly gained fame as one of the most fanatical Nazis among the generals.

On January 10, 1935 he was awarded the rank of general. At the end of that year he was appointed commander of the 7th Military District in Munich, replacing General Wilhelm Adam. In 1939, Reichenau was appointed commander of the 4th Army Group, in no small part because, unlike many other senior Reich officers, he shared Hitler's war plans. In September 1939, Reichenau commanded the 10th Army, and from October 1939 - the 6th Army, at the head of which he took part in hostilities in Poland, France and the Soviet Union.

After the fall of France, Reichenau was awarded the rank of Field Marshal. From December 1941 he was commander of Army Group South. Died of a heart attack (version - plane crash) on January 17, 1942 in Poltava.

Material used from the website Third Reich - www.fact400.ru/mif/reich/titul.htm

Reichenau Walter von (16.8.1884, Karlsruhe - 17 January 1942), commander, field marshal general (19.7.1940). General's son.

In 1902 he joined the 1st Guards Infantry Regiment, and was promoted to lieutenant on August 18, 1904. In 1914 he graduated from the Military Academy. Participant of the 1st World War on the Eastern Front, officer of the General Staff. For military distinctions he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class and the Order of the House of Hohenzollern. After the demobilization of the army, he remained in the Reichswehr as a staff officer. From 1 November 1927, commander of the 5th Signal Battalion (Stuttgart). Since the fall of 1929, the chief of staff of the communications inspector. From 1.2.1931, the chief of staff of the 1st division and the 1st military district (Koenigsberg), the commander of which was General. W. von Blomberg. In the fall of 1932, he met L. Hitler and became an active supporter of Nazism - for careerist reasons. Soon R. began to be considered the main link between the army and the NSDAP. When Hitler's government was formed on January 30, 1933, Blomberg took over as Minister of War. Already 1.2 1933 R. replaced the gene. F. von Bredow as head of the Ministerial Directorate of the War Ministry - its central division, and on 1/2/1934 he was promoted to major general. 12.2.1934 The Directorate was transformed into the Directorate of the Wehrmacht, and R. remained at its head. One of the founders of the Wehrmacht. On duty, he served as a liaison between the army command and the leadership of the NSDAP. He enjoyed the unconditional support of Hitler, who constantly promoted him to influential positions in the army. One of the initiators of the liquidation of the top leadership of the SA during the “Night of the Long Knives” of 1934, before which he provided the SS units taking part in it with weapons. After the death of Reich President P. von Hindenburg and Hitler taking his post, R. drew up the text of the military oath to Hitler. 10/1/1935 replaced by gene. V. Keitel and was appointed commander of the VII Army Corps and the VII Military District (Munich). As a supporter of Hitler who supported his war plans, R., during the purge of the command staff on 4.2.1938, was Hitler’s most desirable candidate for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, but the senior army officers opposed this. R. nevertheless received a promotion and became commander of the 4th Army Command (Leipzig), to which the XIV, XV and XVI Corps were subordinate - i.e. all tank and motorized units of Germany. A supporter of iron discipline and strict measures to maintain it. Actively supported the development of tank forces. In March 1938, the troops under his command occupied the Sudetenland, and in March 1939 - Prague. In Aug. 1939, on the basis of his headquarters, the administration of the 10th Army was formed, headed by R. fought in the Polish campaign. His army had the goal of breaking through the border fortifications and taking Warsaw. Having defeated the Polish troops, R. destroyed the group in the Radom pocket and surrounded the Lodz and Poznan armies. 24 Sep. transferred the leadership of the siege to Warsaw to General. I. Blaskowitz. At the same time, R. protested against the actions of the SS in Poland. 30.9.1939 awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On October 5, 1939 the army was renamed the 6th. On October 1, 1939, he was promoted to colonel general. Participated in the French campaign. If according to the original plan he was assigned a decisive role, then according to Manstein’s plan he was supposed to move towards Brussels, drawing back the enemy troops. Completely defeated the Dutch and Belgian troops. In June 1941, the army was transferred to the Soviet-German front. Participated in the breakthrough of Stalin's line, the capture of Kyiv, Belgorod, Kharkov, Kursk. In the territory subordinate to him, he pursued an extremely cruel policy towards the local population, especially towards the Jews. He approved the mass extermination of Jews by SS units in Kyiv. He collaborated closely with the punitive detachments of the SS and SD, assisting them with troops; introduced the order on commissars, according to which all Soviet political workers were subject to immediate execution. In total, during R.'s command of the army, approx. 1 million Jews and other civilians. At the beginning of Sept. 1941 made a proposal to create national Belarusian and Ukrainian divisions. On November 30, 1941, he replaced Field Marshal G. von Rundstedt as commander of Army Group Center. The next day, R. began the withdrawal of troops, presenting Hitler with a fait accompli. On January 12, 1942, R. had a heart attack in Poltava and on January 17. he was flown to Leipzig. On the way, the plane had an accident, and R. received a severe head injury. He was brought dead to Leipzig.

Materials used from the book: Who Was Who in the Third Reich.
Biographical encyclopedic dictionary. M., 2003

In Walter Reichenau, Paulus saw an ideal leader. As brilliantly gifted as Paulus was methodical, Reichenau hated office work, while Paulus grew up doing it. They were the perfect team. Decisive, full of energy, a man of action and his painstaking, desk-bound, trouble-free chief of staff. The army under Reichenau's command achieved major victories in Poland (1939), Belgium and France (1940) and Russia (1941). On November 30, 1941, Adolf Hitler relieved the pessimistic Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt of his position as Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Center, making him the successor to the senior army commander in this sector, Field Marshal von Reichenau. By this time, Paulus had become Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff and worked under another friend, General Franz Halder. Reichenau did not forget the former chief of staff and on December 3, 1941, over a vegetarian lunch, he suggested that Adolf Hitler give Paulus a chance to become commander of the 6th Army. Reichenau knew that Paulus had no experience in commanding troops at all, but he believed that he (Reichenau) in the first and difficult period would be able to lead and guide the staff general from Hesse until he learned to pull the strings correctly. Hitler, who was also well disposed towards Paulus, agreed, and on January 1, 1942, Friedrich Paulus received the rank of General of the Panzer Forces. Despite his low rank and complete lack of seniority required for appointment, four days later he received command of the 6th Army.

Materials from the book by Mitcham Samuel W., Muller Jean were used.
Commanders of the Third Reich, Smolensk, "Rusich", 1997

Photo - http://deutsches-reich.narod.ru/reichenau.html

Born in Karlsruhe in the family of a Prussian general.

During World War II he commanded the 6th Army of the Wehrmacht. He took Paris (1940), Kyiv (1941) and Kharkov (1941). One of the few senior military leaders of the Wehrmacht who actively supported Nazism.

Biography

The Reichenau family was very wealthy and had noble origins. In the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century, the von Reichenau family owned one of the largest furniture factories in Germany. In 1938, they handed it over to the Nazis, who started producing military equipment at the factory. When the factory located near Karlsruhe was destroyed during Allied raids in 1945, the last vestiges of the family's wealth and influence disappeared.

Carier start

He entered military service in 1903 as a fanen-junker (officer candidate) in the 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment. In August 1904 he was promoted to lieutenant. He studied at the military academy, from August 1912 - chief lieutenant.

World War I

During the First World War he fought on the Western Front. At the beginning of the war, he served as regimental adjutant of the 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment. From November 1914 - captain. Since 1915 - Deputy Chief of Staff of the 47th Reserve Infantry Division. He was awarded the Iron Cross of the first and second degrees and four more orders.

Between world wars

In 1933 - 1935 he was the head of one of the departments of the War Ministry.

From February 1934 - major general, from October 1935 - lieutenant general, commander of the 7th military district (Munich), in October 1936 - promoted to the rank of artillery general.

Since February 1938, von Reichenau was the commander of the 4th Group of Forces (Leipzig), which occupied the Sudetenland (October 1938), then the Czech Republic and Moravia (March 1939).

He stood at the origins of the formation of the Wehrmacht. He took part in a secret program for the revival of the German army and visited the USSR with von Blomberg. Reichenau went down in the history of the Third Reich due to the fact that he composed the text of the oath of allegiance to the new Reich Chancellor. He translated the works of the British tank expert Liddell Hart into German and contributed in every possible way to the development of a new type of military in Germany.

The Second World War

From the beginning of the war he commanded the 10th Army. For the Polish campaign he was awarded the Knight's Cross and promoted to colonel general.

Since October 1939 - commander of the 6th Army. In the Western Campaign, Reichenau's army occupied Belgium, and in July 1940 he was promoted to field marshal general.

Since June 1941 - campaign against the USSR - Kyiv, Kharkov, Belgorod. October 10, 1941 issues the infamous order “On the conduct of troops in the eastern space.” December 1, 1941 Reichenau is appointed commander of Army Group South instead of von Runstedt. On January 15, 1942, Reichenau suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and on January 17 he died from cardiac arrest and/or from a traumatic brain injury during an air flight from Poltava to Germany (during an intermediate landing in Lvov, the plane crashed).