Gerd von Rundstedt

Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (12 December 1875 – 24 February 1953) was a German Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) in the Heer (Army) of Nazi Germany and Oberbefehlshaber West (Commander-in-Chief in the West) during World War II. At the end of the war, aged 69, with over 52 years of service, he was the Army's most senior officer.

Born into a Prussian family with a long military tradition, Gerd von Rundstedt entered the Prussian Army in 1892. During World War I, he served mainly as a staff officer. In the interwar period, he continued his military career, reaching the rank of Generaloberst (Colonel General) before retiring in 1938.

At the beginning of World War II in 1939, Rundstedt was recalled to military service to take part in Germany's successful invasion of Poland. Thereafter, in 1940, he commanded Army Group A during the Battle of France and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Field Marshal for his actions during the campaign. On 22 June 1941, Rundstedt led Army Group South during Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. In this role, he oversaw the largest encirclement in military history at the Battle of Kiev in September 1941. Later in December, Adolf Hitler relieved Rundstedt of his command when he authorized the withdrawal of German forces from Rostov to avoid destruction by a Soviet counteroffensive. However, in 1942, he was recalled and named Commander-in-Chief in the West.

After his defeat by the Western Allies at Normandy in July 1944, Field Marshal Rundstedt was dismissed from his command before once again being recalled as Commander-in-Chief in the West in September 1944. He subsequently held this post until Hitler dismissed him for the last time in March 1945. Though aware of various plots to depose Hitler, Rundstedt neither supported nor reported them. He also served as chairman of the Ehrenhof, a military committee discharging 20 July plotters from the Wehrmacht, so that they could be tried and murdered by the Volksgerichtshof, a show trial. Upon the war's end, Rundstedt was charged with war crimes, but did not face trial due to his age and poor health. He was released in 1949 and died in 1953.