German Commander :- Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt

 

 Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt came from a noble Prussian
family. Retired from active duty in late 1938, he was recalled in
1939 to command the Southern Army Group in the campaign
against Poland. The following year his Army Group A played the
principal role in the invasion of the West. For the invasion of
Russia he commanded the Southern Army Group, which made the
deepest and most spectacular advances into Russia.

   In November, 1941, finding himself in complete disagreement
with Hitler on the plans for a winter campaign, and with his rec-
ommendations ignored, Rundstedt resigned his command. In July,
1942, however, Hitler recalled him as Commander in Chief West,
responsible for all German forces in France and the Low Countries.
He retained his post until early July, 1944, shortly after the Allied
breakout from the Normandy beachhead. It is reported that Hitler
telephoned Rundstedt at his headquarters in Paris, asl-ting advice.
Rundstedt is supposed to have replied: "Make peace, you fool!”
He was immediately relieved of his command, and replaced by von
Kluge, who in tum was soon replaced by Model.
Yet, strangely, Hitler recalled Rundstedt to the same command
a few months later, in September, after Model had stabilized the
front in the West. Apparently Hitler felt that Rundstedt’s presence
would be reassuring to the tradition-minded officers of the army.

  Rundstedt had, in fact, really ended his active military career
when he gave up his command in Russia. He was merely a figure-
head in both of his two periods of command in the West. This was
partly due to the fact that Hitler never gave him the full authority
that went with his title of Commander in Chief, and partly because
the old soldier had lost the vigor and mental flexibility he had dis-
played in Poland and France. Beloved, respected, and trusted by
his ofiicers, Rundstedt was a model of the traditional Prussian
officer. And though he made clear that he detested Hitler, he was
also a model to most German oflicers in tolerating the continued
tyranny of the Nazi dictator, and in allowing Hitler to ruin completely
the country which they loved.