Maximilian von Weichs

Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs
Born	12 November 1881 Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt, German Empire
Died	27 September 1954 (aged 72) Burg Rösberg near Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1900–45
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall
Commands held	1st Panzer Division XIII Corps 2nd Army Army Group B Army Group F
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Balkans Campaign Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev Battle of Smolensk Battle of Stalingrad
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Clasp to the Iron Cross
Signature

Maximilian Maria Joseph Karl Gabriel Lamoral Reichsfreiherr von und zu Weichs an der Glon, known as Weichs or Weichs an der Glon (12 November 1881 – 27 September 1954) was a German Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. He also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, awarded by Nazi Germany to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early life and career

coat of arms

Weichs was born into a noble family at Dessau in Anhalt, a son of an Army colonel. Following his graduation from the Wilhelmsgymnasium in Munich, he entered the Bavarian Cavalry in 1900 and fought with them in World War I. From 1915 until 1918 he served with the General Staff of the 3rd Bavarian Army Corps. After the war he remained in the newly created Reichswehr where he worked at a number of General Staff positions and later served as an instructor. Transferred from the 3rd Cavalry Division to command Germany's 1st Panzer Division upon its formation in October 1935, he led the unit in maneuvers that impressed Army Commander in Chief Werner von Fritsch.^[1] Weichs' aristocratic and cavalry credentials demonstrated the continuing influence of these military elites in Germany's modernizing force.^[2]

In October 1937 he became the commander of the 13th Army Corps, that later served in the 1938 German annexation of the Sudetenland.

World War II

For the German invasion of Poland beginning World War II in 1939, Weichs was appointed head of his own Army Corps "Weichs". After the Polish surrender, and in preparation for the invasion of France, he was made Commander-in-Chief of the 2nd Army, a part of Rundstedt’s Army Group A in the West. For his successes in the French campaign he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and promoted to colonel-general. Leading his corps, Weichs later took part in the Balkans Campaign, and in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he was assigned to lead the 2nd Army as a part of Fedor von Bock’s Army Group Centre. He led the 2nd Army in 1941 through the Battle of Kiev, the Battle of Smolensk, and then on to Vyazma and Bryansk.

In 1942, for Fall Blau, Weichs was assigned to lead the newly created Army Group B.^[3] Army Group B was composed of Salmuth's 2nd Army, Hoth’s 4th Panzer Army, and Paulus's 6th Army. In addition to the German armies, Army Group B included the 2nd Hungarian Army, 8th Italian Army, the Third and the Fourth Romanian Army. The 6th Army was assigned to take the city of Stalingrad and cover approximately 800 km of front.

Weichs warned about his lines being stretched too thinly, but Adolf Hitler ignored his warnings. Weichs' fears were realised when Operation Uranus smashed the Romanian armies on his flanks, cutting off the 6th Army inside Stalingrad. Suggesting retreat, Weichs fell out of Hitler’s favor. Consequently, parts of Army Group B were taken away from the command of Weichs and incorporated into a new "Army Group Don", led by Manstein. Later in February, the remaining part merged with the Don Group into a newly reinstated Army Group South, also led by Manstein. Weichs was put in leader reserve.

Weichs was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall on 1 February 1943. As the German situation was starting to become more dire, in August 1943 Weichs was appointed Commander of Army Group F in the Balkans defending against possible Allied invasion in what was seen as Germany’s weak underbelly and fighting off local partisan groups that were gaining strength. In late 1944, he oversaw the German retreat from Greece and most of Yugoslavia.

As Nazi Germany fell apart, Weichs was finally retired on 25 March 1945 and was arrested by American troops in May. During the Nuremberg Trials, Weichs was implicated in war crimes committed while suppressing the partisans, however, he was removed from the Hostages Trial due to medical reasons without having been judged or sentenced.

Weichs died at Burg Rösberg near Bonn.

Medals and decorations

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 29 June 1940 as General der Kavallerie and commander-in-chief of the 2. Armee[4] 731st Oak Leaves on 5 February 1945 as Generalfeldmarschall and commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe F, at the same time OB Südost (commander-in-chief south east)[4] Iron Cross of 1914 2nd Class (20 September 1914)[5] 1st Class (12 November 1915)[5] Clasp to the Iron Cross of 1939 2nd Class (18 September 1939)[5] 1st Class (29 September 1939)[5] Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918[6] Bavarian Military Merit Order, Fourth Class with Swords Baverian Service Award Cross 2nd class[6] Eastern Front Medal Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar Jubilee Medal for the Bavarian Army Bavarian Military Long Service Award 2nd Class Wehrmacht Military Long Service Award 1st Class Order of Franz Joseph, Knight's Cross Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht 8 times (11 April 1941; 6 August 1941; 7 August 1941; 23 September 1941; 18 October 1941; 19 October 1941; 10 September 1943; 19 January 1944)[6]

Wehrmachtbericht references

The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following:

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Wednesday, 6 August 1941	(Sondermeldung) In fast vierwöchigem Ringen haben die Armeen des Generalfeldmarschalls von Kluge, des Generalobersten Strauß und des Generalobersten Freiherr von Weichs sowie die Panzergruppen unter Generaloberst Guderian und Generaloberst Hoth dem Feinde ungeheuer blutige beigebracht. Rund 310000 Gefangen vielen hierbei in unsere Hand. 3205 Panzerkampfwagen, 3120 Geschütze und unübersehbares sonstiges Kriegsmaterial wurden erbeutet oder vernichtet.[7]	(Special Bulletin) In nearly four weeks of struggle, the armies of Field Marshal von Kluge, Colonel General Strauß and Colonel-General Freiherr von Weichs and the Panzer groups under Colonel General Guderian and Hoth have infringed tremendously bloody losses on the enemy. Roughly 310000 prisoners fell in our hands here. 3205 armored car, 3120 guns and incalculable other war materials were captured or destroyed.
Saturday, 18 October 1941	(Sondermeldung) An der Durchführung dieser Operationen waren die Armeen des Generalfeldmarschalls von Kluge, der Generalobersten Freiherr von Weichs und Strauß sowie Panzerarmeen der Generalobersten Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner und des Generals der Panzertruppen Reinhardt beteiligt.[8]	(Special Bulletin) In the execution of these operations were involved, the armies of Field Marshal von Kluge, the Colonel Generals Freiherr von Weichs and Strauss as well as tank armies of Colonel General Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner and General of Panzer Troops Reinhardt.
Sunday, 19 October 1941	An der Durchführung dieser Operationen waren die Armeen des Generalfeldmarschalls von Kluge, der Generalobersten Freiherr von Weichs und Strauß sowie Panzerarmeen der Generalobersten Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner und des Generals der Panzertruppen Reinhardt beteiligt.[9]	In the execution of these operations were involved, the armies of Field Marshal von Kluge, the Colonel-Generals Freiherr von Weichs and Strauss as well as tank armies of Colonel General Guderian, Hoth, Hoeppner and General of Panzer Troops Reinhardt.
19 January 1945 (extra)	Unter der sicheren Führung des Generalfeldmarschalls Freiherr von Weichs und des Generalobersten Löhr haben Truppen aller Waffengattungen des Heeres und der Waffen-SS in vorbildlicher Kampfgemeinschaft mit Verbänden der Luftwaffe und Kriegsmarine erst bei tropischer Hitze und dann in Schneestürmen der kroatischen Berge, die besonderen Schwierigkeiten dieses Gebirgs- und Bandenkrieges gemeistert und sämtliche gegen Flanken und Rücken ihrer Bewegungen gerichteten feindlichen Angriffe erfolgreich abgewehrt.[10]	Under the secure leadership of Field Marshal von Weichs and Colonel General Löhr, troops of all branches of the Army and the Waffen-SS in an exemplary combat alliance with forces of the Air Force and Navy, at first in tropical heat and then into snow storms of the Croatian mountains, have overcome the particular difficulties of this mountain- and partisan-war, and successfully defended all hostile attacks against their flanks and rear movements.

Dates of ranks

Fähnrich— Leutnant—9 March 1902 Oberleutnant—3 March 1911 Rittmeister— Major—1 February 1921 Oberstleutnant—1 February 1928

Oberst—1 November 1930 Generalmajor—1 April 1933 Generalleutnant—1 April 1935 General der Kavallerie—1 October 1936 Generaloberst—1 July 1940 Generalfeldmarschall—1 February 1943

References

Citations

1. Showalter 2009, p. 47.
2. Showalter 2009, p. 59.
3. Adam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. p. 25. ISBN 9781473833869.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 772.
5. Thomas 1998, p. 422.
6. Miller, Michael D. "Generalfeldmarschall Maximilian Maria Joseph Karl Gabriel Lamoral Reichsfreiherr von und zu Weichs [an der Glon]". Axis Biographical Research (in German). Retrieved 30 May 2014.
7. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 635.
8. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, pp. 701–702.
9. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 702.
10. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, pp. 408, 409.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Hürter, Johannes (2006). Hitlers Heerführer - Die deutschen Oberbefehlshaber im Krieg gegen die Sowjetunion 1941/42 (in German). München, Germany : Oldenbourg: Oldenbourg. ISBN 978-3-486-57982-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Showalter, Dennis E. (2009). Hitler's Panzers: The Lightning Attacks That Revolutionized Warfare. New York: Berkley. ISBN 978-0-425-23004-6.
• Stockert, Peter (2008). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 8 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 8] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• Biography (in German)