Walter von Reichenau

Walter was a leader in the German army.

He liked to run in the woods. He was also very ambitious. He wanted to have a big job. He joined the Nazi party to help his career. During a big war, he led many soldiers. He did very bad and unfair things to people. He gave orders that caused much harm. This was very wrong. He died in 1942 after a plane crash. We remember these hard truths today.

Walter von Reichenau was a high leader in the German army.

He was born in 1884. He grew up to be a very ambitious man. He wanted to reach the top of his career. To do this, he joined the Nazi Party.

During World War II, he led many soldiers. He was a Field Marshal. He led the 6th Army into the Soviet Union in 1941. While in charge, he did very bad things. He gave a famous order called the Severity Order. This order told soldiers to kill Jewish people. His troops helped with many crimes. They were part of the massacre at Babi Yar. This was a place where over 33,000 Jews were killed.

Reichenau was a runner. In 1942, he had a stroke after a run in the cold. Then, his plane crashed. It is not known if the stroke or the crash killed him. He was a key part of the Nazi military leaders.

Walter von Reichenau was a high-ranking leader in the German army. He was born in 1884 in Karlsruhe, Germany. His father was also a general in the Prussian army. Walter joined the army in 1903 as a young officer. He fought in the First World War as a staff officer. During that war, he earned the Iron Cross.

He was known as an outdoors man and a runner. Some people said he was very strict with his soldiers. He even punished soldiers who left their posts without permission.

After the First World War, Reichenau wanted to grow his career. He joined the new German army in 1919. In 1932, his uncle introduced him to Adolf Hitler. Reichenau became a devoted member of the Nazi Party. This was a choice that broke old military rules. He worked closely with other leaders like Werner von Blomberg. He helped the Nazi Party gain more power over the army.

He used his position to help the party grow.

Reichenau led many large groups of soldiers during World War II. In 1939, he commanded the 10th Army in Poland. He was the first German to cross the Vistula river. He even swam across the river to reach the other side. In 1940, he led the 6th Army into Belgium and France. Hitler promoted him to the rank of Field Marshal in 1940. He was considered one of Hitler's favorite generals. He was very ambitious about his military rank.

In 1941, Reichenau led the 6th Army into the Soviet Union. His troops captured many cities like Kiev and Kharkov. During this time, he did very terrible things. He wrote the Severity Order in October 1941. This order encouraged soldiers to murder Jewish civilians. His troops helped with the massacre of 33,000 Jews at Babi Yar. He also took part in the killings of children in Bila Tserkva. These were serious crimes against humanity.

Reichenau died in January 1942. He had a stroke after a run in the cold weather. Then, the plane carrying him crashed while landing in Lemberg. It is not clear if the stroke or the crash killed him. He was given a state funeral by the Nazi government. Later, leaders at the Nuremberg trials were held responsible for these actions. Reichenau was part of the group they named in their legal case. His life shows how even high leaders can commit great wrongs.

Walter von Reichenau was a high-ranking German military leader. He held the rank of Generalfeldmarschall, or Field Marshal, in the Heer. The Heer was the German army during the era of Nazi Germany. Reichenau was a central figure in the military during World War II. He was known by the nickname "The Bull." His life is studied because of his military career and his role in war crimes.

Reichenau was born in 1884 in Karlsruhe, Germany. His father, Ernst August von Reichenau, was a Prussian Lieutenant General. Walter began his military service in 1903 as an artillery officer cadet. During the First World War, he served as a staff officer. He worked under Max Hoffmann, a notable military leader. Reichenau earned the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class during this conflict. Some accounts describe his early years as being both progressive and brutal. He was known to execute soldiers who were absent without leave. He was also an avid outdoorsman and a runner.

After the First World War, Reichenau joined the Reichswehr in 1919. This was the new armed force of the Weimar Republic. The officer corps was limited to only 4,000 people at that time. Reichenau was very ambitious about his career. In April 1932, his uncle introduced him to Adolf Hitler. Reichenau chose to join the Nazi Party to advance his position. This choice broke the rules intended to keep the army separate from politics. He became a devoted supporter of the Nazi government.

Reichenau played a major role in changing the power of the German military. He worked with General Werner von Blomberg to advance Nazi interests. Reichenau helped persuade Nazi leaders to break the power of the SA. This led to the "Night of the Long Knives" in June 1934. He later served in various high-level positions. In 1935, he became a lieutenant general. He was often Hitler's first choice for top military leadership. However, some older leaders sometimes refused to serve under him. He was eventually given command of the group at Leipzig.

During World War II, Reichenau led several major military campaigns. In September 1939, he commanded the 10th Army during the invasion of Poland. He was the first German to cross the Vistula river by swimming. In 1940, he led the 6th Army during the invasions of Belgium and France. Hitler promoted him to Field Marshal in 1940. In 1941, he led the 6th Army during Operation Barbarossa. This was the massive invasion of the Soviet Union. His troops captured several large cities, including Kiev, Belgorod, Kharkov, and Kursk.

While commanding the 6th Army, Reichenau committed serious crimes against humanity. He was an anti-Semite who targeted Jewish people. In October 1941, he issued the Severity Order. This order encouraged German soldiers to murder Jewish civilians on the Eastern Front. His troops cooperated with the SS Einsatzgruppen. These groups were responsible for the massacre of over 33,000 Jews at Babi Yar. Reichenau also took part in the Bila Tserkva massacre involving ninety children. He even suggested ways to save ammunition during these killings. These actions were part of the Holocaust.

Reichenau's life ended abruptly in early 1942. He suffered a stroke after a routine run in cold weather. While being flown to Leipzig for medical help, his plane crashed in Lemberg. It is unknown if the stroke or the crash caused his death. He was given a state funeral by the Nazi government. Although he died before the end of the war, he was still significant. At the Nuremberg trials, the High Command of the Armed Forces was indicted. Reichenau was specifically cited in that indictment because of his orders. His actions remain a dark part of military history.