Walter von Reichenau

Walter von Reichenau
Reichenau in 1941
Birth nameWalter Karl Ernst August von Reichenau
Born(1884-10-08)8 October 1884
Karlsruhe, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Died17 January 1942(1942-01-17) (aged 57)
Poltava, Soviet Union
Buried
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service / branchGerman Army
Years of service1903–1942
Rank Generalfeldmarschall
Commands10th Army
6th Army
Battles / warsWorld War I

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
Signature

Walter Karl Ernst August von Reichenau (8 October 1884 – 17 January 1942) was a German Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) in the Heer (Army) of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was nicknamed "The Bull."[1] Reichenau commanded the 6th Army, during the invasions of Belgium and France. During Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, he continued to command the 6th Army as part of Army Group South as it captured Ukraine and advanced deep into the USSR.

While in command of the 6th Army during Operation Barbarossa in 1941, he issued the notorious Severity Order which encouraged German soldiers to murder Jewish civilians on the Eastern Front. Reichenau's troops cooperated with the SS Einsatzgruppen in the commission of the massacre of over 33,000 Jews at Babi Yar, and assisted with other crimes against humanity that occurred in areas under his command during the Holocaust.

  1. ^ "German Generals: Brief Who's Who of the High Command of Nazidom's Army". Life Magazine. 13 November 1939. pp. 39–43.

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