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Blaskowitz, Johannes (Generaloberst)

    Date of birth:
    July 10th, 1883 (Peterswalde/East Prussia, Germany)
    Date of death:
    February 5th, 1948 (Nuremberg/Bavaria, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Generaloberst Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz

    Promotions:
    00.00.1899: Kadett
    02.03.1901: Fähnrich
    27.01.1902: Leutnant - Patent 10.07.1900
    27.01.1910: Oberleutnant
    17.02.1914: Hauptmann
    01.06.1921: Major
    06.04.1926: Oberstleutnant
    01.10.1929: Oberst
    01.10.1932: Generalmajor
    01.12.1933: Generalleutnant
    01.08.1936: General der Infanterie
    01.10.1939: Generaloberst

    Career:
    00.00.1894: Kadett in Köslin
    00.00.1897: Hauptkadettenanstalt, Groß-Lichterfelde, Berlin
    02.03.1901: Fähnrich, Infanterie-Regiment „von Grolmann" (1. Posensches) Nr. 18, Osterode
    00.00.1901: Kriegsschule Engers
    27.01.1902: promoted to Leutnant
    00.00.1908-00.00.1911: Kriegsakademie in Berlin
    00.00.1911: promoted to Oberleutnant, 3. Kompanie, 9. Badischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 170, Offenburg
    01.04.1914: Olt., Stab, Infanterie-Regiment „Markgraf Ludwig Wilhelm" (3. Badisches) Nr. 111
    00.00.1914-00.00.1918: Hauptmann und Kompaniechef - Eastern front, Lothringen, Flandern, Tirol, Serbia
    00.04.1916: Generalstabsoffizier - Kovel, Riga
    00.00.1919: Hauptquartier, X. Armee-Korps, Hannover
    00.00.1919: Generalstabsoffizier, Hauptquartier, Wehrkreis V, Stuttgart
    01.10.1924: Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, 13. (Württembergischen) Infanterie-Regiment, Ulm
    00.00.1926: promoted to Oberstleutnant
    00.00.1928: Chef des Stabes, 5. Division, Stuttgart
    01.10.1929: promoted to Oberst und Landeskommandant Baden
    00.10.1930: Oberst, Kommandeur, 14. (Badisches) Infanterie-Regiment „Seehasen", Konstanz
    01.10.1932: promoted to Generalmajor
    01.02.1933: Generalmajor, Inspekteur der Waffenschulen, Reichswehrministerium Berlin
    01.12.1933: promoted to Generalleutnant
    00.00.1935: Generalleutnant, Kommandierender General, Wehrkreis II, Stettin
    00.00.1936: promoted to General der Infanterie
    00.00.1938: Oberbefehlshaber (OB), Heeresgruppe 3, Dresden
    00.10.1938: occupation of the Sudetenland
    00.04.1939: occupation of the remain of Czecho-Slowakia
    00.09.1939: Befehlshaber, 8. Armee - invasion of Poland, Bzura, Leczyca, Lodz
    28.09.1939: received the surrender of Warsaw
    01.10.1939: promoted to Generaloberst
    26.10.1939: Oberbefehlshaber Ost
    00.11.1939: Chef des deutschen Besatzungsheeres in Polen, replaced by Hans Frank after protest against the brutality shown by SS troops
    00.05.1940: Befehlshaber, 9. Armee - campaign in the West
    09.06.1940-00.05.1944: Militärbefehlshaber Nordfrankreich, fighting the resistance
    00.05.1944: Kdr, Armeegruppe G
    15.08.1944: moved to Elsass
    00.09.1944: Kdr, Heeresgruppe G - to prevent the Allies from staging an invasion in the south of France
    00.01.1945: ordered to launch an offensive, comparable to the Ardennes offensive that failed
    00.01.1945: Kdr, Heeresgruppe H - participated in the negotiations concerning the dropping of food, Operation Manna, to relieve the starving population in those parts of the Netherlands that had not yet been liberated by the Allies
    06.04.1945: Oberbefehlhaber, 25. Armee und Oberbefehlshaber, „Festung Holland"
    06.05.1945: capitulated to Canadian general Foulkes in hotel 'De Wereld', Wageningen
    07.05.1945: POW camp Dachau, then POW camp Allendorf bei Marburg and finally in POW camp Nürnberg
    00.00.1946: indicted for war crimes
    00.02.1948: committed suicide by jumping off a balcony in prison, Nürnberg

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    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    September 27th, 1914
    Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    March 2nd, 1915
    Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit Schwertern
    Awarded on:
    1915
    with swords
    Ritter II. Klasse zu dem Orden der Löwen von Zähringen
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit der Kriegsdekoration
    Awarded on:
    February 10th, 1916
    with war device
    Militärverdienstkreuz III. Klasse
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit Schwertern
    Awarded on:
    May 15th, 1916
    with swords
    IV. Klasse des Militärverdienstordens
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit Schwertern
    Awarded on:
    May 26th, 1916
    Friedrich-August Kreuz 2.Klasse
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit Schwertern
    Awarded on:
    May 26th, 1916
    Friedrich-August Kreuz 1.Klasse
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    June 4th, 1916
    Kriegverdienstkreuz 1914-1918 für Kämpfer 2. Klasse
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    July 11th, 1917
    Harp Madalyasi
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit Schwertern
    Awarded on:
    September 1st, 1917
    with swords
    Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    1918
    Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Inspekteur, RWM
    Awarded on:
    November 10th, 1934
    Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Kommandierenden General, Wehrbereich II (Commanding General in Military district II)
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1936
    Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Kommandierenden General, Wehrbereich II (Commanding General in Military district II)
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1936
    Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Kommandierenden General, Wehrbereich II (Commanding General in Military district II)
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1936
    Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
    Rank:
    Generalleutnant (Major-general)
    Unit:
    Kommandierenden General, Wehrbereich II (Commanding Genreal in Military district II)
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1936
    Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    December 11th, 1936
    Haborus Emlékérem kardokkal és sisakkal
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    mit Schwertern
    Awarded on:
    January 12th, 1937
    with swords
    Kriegserinnerungsmedaille
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    January 19th, 1937
    Bulgarian Royal WW1 Veteran Medal
    Awarded on:
    1938
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
    Awarded on:
    October 1st, 1938
    further details unknown
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
    Awarded on:
    October 1st, 1938
    Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, 8. Armee (Commander in Chief 8th Army)
    Awarded on:
    September 11th, 1939
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, 8. Armee (Commander in Chief 8th Army)
    Awarded on:
    September 21st, 1939
    1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, 8. Armee (Commander in Chief 8th Army)
    Awarded on:
    September 27th, 1939
    Wehrmachtbericht
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, 8. Armee (Commander in Chief 8th Army)
    Awarded on:
    September 30th, 1939
    Awarded for his command achievements during the Polish campaign, particularly for his achievements in the battles near Kutno and along the Bzura river.

    1st Award.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generaloberst (General)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, 1. Armee (Commander in Chief 1st Army)
    Awarded on:
    January 28th, 1941
    Ordine della Corona d'Italia - Cavaliere della Croce Grande
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    further details unknown
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    further details unknown
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generaloberst (General)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, 1. Armee (Commander in Chief 1st Army)
    Awarded on:
    October 30th, 1943
    Deutsches Kreuz in Silber
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generaloberst (General)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber, Heeresgruppe G (Commander in Chief Army Group G)
    Awarded on:
    October 29th, 1944
    The following press notice from Führer Headquarters (dated 06.11.1944) describes why Blaskowitz was awarded the Oakleaves…

    “Generaloberst Blaskowitz… commanded the German forces in south/southwestern France as the Allies landed on the southern French coast with overwhelming forces and simultaneously broke through the German front in Normandy. However his determination and superior leadership proved sufficient to ensure that his subordinated formations were able to escape all enemy encirclement attempts. All while fighting heavy battles against a much-larger enemy, he led his Armeegruppe back in a completely battle-worthy state. It could thus be successfully incorporated into the new German western front.”

    640th Award.
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Generaloberst (General)
    Unit:
    Oberbefehlshaber Niederlande (Commander in Chief the Netherlands)
    Awarded on:
    April 25th, 1945
    Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
    Awarded for his skillful combat leadership in the Netherlands during the late war period. He was especially recognized for holding off the Allies in such a way that they were unable to ascertain his timetable.

    146th Award.

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