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Rundstedt, von, Gerd

Date of birth:
December 12th, 1875 (Aschersleben/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
February 24th, 1953 (Schloß Oppershausen(Celle)/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Graves Hannover-Stöcken
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Awarded on:
August 11th, 1937
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Awarded on:
June 7th, 1938
Ordine della Corona d'Italia - Cavaliere della Croce Grande
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 16th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 21st, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1939
Awarded for his leadership of Heeresgruppe Süd during the Polish campaign. In the ten-day battle of the Bzura (09-19.09.1939) the bulk of the Polish army was destroyed. On 27.09.1939 Warsaw was captured.

1st Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 6th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 8th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1941

Royal Decree no. 2628, dated 19th September 1941.
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1941

Royal Decree no. 2628, dated 19th September 1941.
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 2
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 11th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 12th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber Heersgruppe West
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1942

Royal Decree no. 2550 dated 1 September 1942.
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 1
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 10th, 1943
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber West
Awarded on:
July 1st, 1944
Awarded for the German defense along the Invasion Front, as well as his success in leading Heeresgruppe Süd during Operation Barbarossa. Rundstedt oversaw the Heeresgruppe during the victorious encirclement battles at Uman and Kiev, as well as the capture of the critically important Donez basin.

519th Award
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber West
Awarded on:
February 18th, 1945
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded for his conduct of the war on the western front following the Normandy battles, including the Battle of the Bulge.

133rd Award
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)

War Diary mentions

17 December 1944 WO 171/607 - 6 Guards Tank Brigade
Detailed news of the German attack is difficult to get. Gen Eisenhower has ordered restrictions on communiques giving dispositions of troops in the affected sector. Orders of the Day issued by von Rundstedt and Hitler indicate that this is in fact a supreme effort.

Sources