# Walther von Brauchitsch > German field marshal (1881-1948) **Wikidata**: [Q57140](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57140) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_von_Brauchitsch) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/walther-von-brauchitsch ## Summary Walther von Brauchitsch (1881–1948) was a German field marshal who served as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army (Heer) during World War II, leading military operations across Europe including the invasions of Poland and France and the initial phases of Operation Barbarossa. He held numerous military decorations from multiple nations and served in the German military from 1900 until the end of World War II in 1945. ## Biography - **Born**: October 4, 1881 - **Died**: October 18, 1948 - **Nationality**: Germany - **Full Name**: Walther Heinrich Alfred Hermann von Brauchitsch - **Aliases**: Walther von Brauchitsch, W.G. von Brauchitsch, Alfred-Walther von Brauchitsch - **Education**: Französisches Gymnasium Berlin (French international school in Germany, founded 1689) - **Known for**: Serving as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army during World War II; leading military campaigns in Poland, France, and the Soviet Union - **Employer(s)**: German military (Wehrmacht) - **Field(s)**: Military leadership - **Work Period**: 1900–1945 ## Contributions Walther von Brauchitsch served as a professional military officer in the German Army for over four decades. His career spanned both World Wars and the interwar period. As Commander-in-Chief of the German Army from 1938 to 1941, he oversaw some of the largest military operations in history: - **1939 Invasion of Poland**: Led German forces in the opening campaign of World War II - **1940 Battle of France**: Commanded German armies in the successful invasion of France - **Operation Barbarossa**: Led the initial invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the largest military operation in history by number of casualties He received military decorations from Germany, Japan, Finland, Romania, and Bulgaria, reflecting his standing within the Axis powers' military hierarchy. ## FAQs ### What was Walther von Brauchitsch's rank and position in the German military? Walther von Brauchitsch held the rank of Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) and served as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres) from 1938 to 1941 during World War II. ### What battles and campaigns did Walther von Brauchitsch command? Walther von Brauchitsch commanded major military operations including the 1939 Invasion of Poland, the 1940 Battle of France, and Operation Barbarossa, the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. ### What awards and decorations did Walther von Brauchitsch receive? Walther von Brauchitsch received numerous military honors including the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Nazi Germany's highest military award), the Order of the Rising Sun 1st class (Japan), Order of the White Rose of Finland, Order of Michael the Brave (Romania), Order of Saint Alexander (Bulgaria), Golden Party Badge, and multiple other German awards including the Clasp to the Iron Cross, Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, Wehrmacht Long Service Award, Anschluss Medal, Sudetenland Medal, and Memel Medal. ### Where was Walther von Brauchitsch educated? Walther von Brauchitsch was educated at the Französisches Gymnasium Berlin, a French international school in Germany established in 1689. ### When did Walther von Brauchitsch serve in the military? Walther von Brauchitsch served in the German military from 1900 until the end of World War II in 1945, a period spanning 45 years that included both World Wars. ## Why They Matter Walther von Brauchitsch was one of the most senior military commanders in Nazi Germany and played a central role in some of the largest and most consequential military campaigns of World War II. As Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, he bears responsibility for the military operations that resulted in the deaths of millions of soldiers and civilians across Europe. His leadership of the Wehrmacht's ground forces made him a key figure in the Nazi war machine. After the war, he was arrested by Allied forces and died in British custody in 1948 before he could stand trial for war crimes. ## Notable For - Commander-in-Chief of the German Army (1938–1941) - Led the 1939 Invasion of Poland that began World War II - Commanded German forces in the 1940 Battle of France - Oversaw the initial phases of Operation Barbarossa in 1941 - Recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, Nazi Germany's highest military honor - Held military decorations from five different nations (Germany, Japan, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria) - 45-year military career spanning two world wars - Died in Allied custody in 1948 ## Body ### Early Life and Education Walther Heinrich Alfred Hermann von Brauchitsch was born on October 4, 1881. He received his early education at the Französisches Gymnasium Berlin, a prestigious French international school in Germany that had been founded in 1689. This bilingual education provided him with language skills and international perspective that would prove valuable in his military career. ### Military Career Brauchitsch began his military career in 1900, joining the German Army as a professional soldier. His career spanned the entire period of the German Empire, Weimar Republic, and Nazi Germany, covering four and a half decades of continuous military service until the end of World War II in 1945. During World War I (1914–1918), Brauchitsch served as a military personnel in the German forces. He was awarded the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, a Nazi-era award recognizing participants of the First World War. ### Rise to Command Between the wars, Brauchitsch continued his military service in the reduced German Reichswehr. By the late 1930s, he had risen to the highest ranks of the German military. In 1938, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the German Army (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), succeeding Werner von Fritsch. This position made him the supreme commander of all German ground forces, responsible for the training, organization, and operational command of millions of soldiers. ### World War II Leadership As Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, Brauchitsch oversaw numerous major military operations: **1939 Invasion of Poland**: The campaign that marked the beginning of World War II. German forces, under Brauchitsch's overall command, defeated Polish defenses in less than a month, using blitzkrieg tactics that combined armored divisions with air support. **1940 Battle of France**: One of the most successful military campaigns in history. German forces bypassed the Maginot Line through Belgium and the Netherlands, reaching the English Channel and forcing the evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk. France surrendered on June 22, 1940. **Operation Barbarossa**: The invasion of the Soviet Union launched on June 22, 1941, the largest military operation in human history in terms of casualties. Initial German advances were spectacularly successful, reaching the outskirts of Leningrad and Moscow by winter 1941. However, the campaign ultimately stalled, marking the turning point of the war. ### Awards and Decorations Brauchitsch received an extensive array of military decorations from multiple nations, reflecting his high status in the Nazi military hierarchy: **German Awards**: - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (highest Nazi military award) - Golden Party Badge (special Nazi Party award for the first 100,000 members) - Clasp to the Iron Cross (for soldiers who had already received the Iron Cross in WWI) - Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 - Wehrmacht Long Service Award (4 classes) - Anschluss Medal (for the annexation of Austria) - Sudetenland Medal (for the annexation of Czech territories) - Memel Medal (for the annexation of Memel) - Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary award) **Foreign Awards**: - Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class (Japan) - Order of the White Rose of Finland - Order of Michael the Brave (Romania) - Order of Saint Alexander (Bulgaria) ### Later Life and Death Brauchitsch served as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army until December 1941, when he was relieved of command by Adolf Hitler following the setbacks on the Eastern Front. He remained in the military until the end of the war in 1945. After Germany's surrender, Brauchitsch was arrested by Allied forces. He died in British custody on October 18, 1948, in Hamburg, Germany. He was 67 years old. ### Historical Significance Walther von Brauchitsch stands as one of the most significant military figures of the 20th century, both for the scale of the operations he commanded and for the profound consequences of those operations. As the commander of the German Army during the most aggressive phase of Nazi expansion, he bears historical responsibility for the deaths of millions in the wars of aggression that defined the first half of the 20th century. His career illustrates the complex relationship between military professionalism and political loyalty in authoritarian regimes, and his eventual dismissal by Hitler demonstrates the tensions between military judgment and ideological interference that characterized the German war effort on the Eastern Front. ## References 1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978) 2. Source 3. BnF authorities 4. Integrated Authority File 5. Q106825045 6. International Standard Name Identifier 7. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-108922) 8. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 9. SNAC 10. Find a Grave 11. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 12. Croatian Encyclopedia 13. Munzinger Personen 14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 15. Virtual International Authority File 16. [Verordening over de wettelijke betaalmiddelen in het bezette Nederlandsche gebied [===] 1. Wettelijke betaalmiddelen in het bezette Nederlandsche gebied zijn de Rijksmark en de Gulden [===] Hoofdkwartier, den 10 Mei 1940. De Opperbevelhebber der Legers, w. Beeldbank WO2](http://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/5a9acb72-025a-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/cf66f4f3-e31a-edb4-3582-ad6eea156432) 17. [Nuremberg Trials Project](https://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/documents/151682-title-page-table-of-contents?q=laternser#p.1) 18. [Source](https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/nur01629)