TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Bock, von, Moritz Albrecht Friedrich Franz Fedor

Date of birth:
December 3rd, 1880 (Kustrin/Brandenburg, German Empire)
Date of death:
May 4th, 1945 (Oldenburg/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Graves St. Katharinafriedhof
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Fedor von Bock was born December 3rd, 1880 in Kustrin, Germany as son of an army officier. He completed officer's training in 1898 and became a Lieutenant (Leutnant). In 1910, he started schooling to join the General Staff and was admitted in 1912 in the rank of Captain. A year after, he joined the General Staff of the Guards Corps (Garde Korps) in which he entered WW 1. in 1914. During this war he saw action on the Eastern, as well as on the Western front. In April 1918, he was awarded Germany's highest decoration, the Pour le Mérite.

When Hitler had risen to power, he took a neutral stand concerning the Nazis. In 1936, he was married to Wilhelmine von der Osten and in 1938, he was promoted to Colonel-general (? Generaloberst ?). Following the German take-over of the Sudetenland, he was named its 'Verwalter' i.e. the highest authority. November 1st, 1938, he was put in command of Heeresgruppe 1 (Armygroup) in Berlin. He was involved in the invasion of Poland and at the end of the Polish campaign was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross). During the invasion of France and the Low Countries in May and June 1940, Von Bock was Commander in Chief of Heeresgruppe B. June 22nd, 1941, saw the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union and Von Bock was put in command of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Armygroup Centre). Hitler and von Bock were soon in disagreement over military strategy in the Soviet Union. October 1941, he was ordered to capture Moscow but Operation Typhoon failed dramatically. Because of the horrendous losses in this operation, Von Bock suggested a retreat and in doing so suffered the same fate as nearly 40 other generals, sacked by Hitler for defeatism. A few weeks later however, after the unexpected death of Fieldmarshall Walter von Reichenau, commander of Heeresgruppe Süd, Von Bock was back in favor and named his successor. Summer 1942, he clashed with Hitler again and this time was relegated to the Reserves. He spent the last years of the war quietly in Bavaria. After Hitler's death, he offered his services to the new government, led by Dönitz in Flensburg. May 3rd, 1945, on his way to Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, his car was attacked by RAF fighterbombers. Fedor von Bock was mortally wounded and died the next day.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Hauptmann i.G.
Awarded on:
September 18th, 1914
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Hauptmann i.G.
Awarded on:
October 30th, 1915
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Hauptmann i.G.
Awarded on:
June 24th, 1915
Militärverdienstkreuz III. Klasse
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Hauptmann i.G.
Awarded on:
October 25th, 1916
Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major i.G.
Awarded on:
February 9th, 1917
Ritter III. Klasse zum Kaiserlicher Orden der Eisernen Krone
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major i.G.
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1917
Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major i.G.
Awarded on:
January 10th, 1918
Ritter I. Klasse zu dem Orden der Löwen von Zähringen
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major i.G.
Awarded on:
January 25th, 1918

With swords
Orden der Württembergischen Krone
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major i.G.
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1918
Pour le Mérite
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Major i.G.
Awarded on:
August 2nd, 1918
Order of Military Merit 3rd Class
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1920
Dienstauszeichnung
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Awarded on:
December 14th, 1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1938
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung für den Reichsarbeitsdienst 25 Jahre
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Awarded on:
November 21st, 1938
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Awarded on:
June 1st, 1939
Order of the Crown 1st Class
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Awarded on:
September 12th, 1939
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht mit Eichenlaub Sonderklasse, 40 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Awarded on:
September 22nd, 1939
Awarded for:
Operation Fall Weiss
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Unit:
Heeresgruppe Nord, Heer
Awarded on:
September 22nd, 1939
Awarded for:
Operation Fall Weiss
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generaloberst (General)
Unit:
Heeresgruppe Nord, Heer
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1939
Awarded for:
Operation Fall Weiss
Awarded for the successes of his Heeresgruppe during the Polish campaign. Bock was credited with being a great leader during this time, driving around 6000 km during the first days of the combat in order to ensure that every opportunity was being utilized. He made particular care to ensure that the artillery and heavy weapons were always in a position to support the infantry’s swift advance.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
August 27th, 1940
Ordine della Corona d'Italia - Cavaliere della Croce Grande
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
August 7th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
October 18th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
October 19th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
May 30th, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
July 29th, 1942
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
July 29th, 1942
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 2
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Unit:
Heersgruppe Süd, Heer
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1942

Royal Decree no. 2550
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 1
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
November 27th, 1942

Sources