Georg-Hans Reinhardt

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Georg-Hans Reinhardt (March 1, 1887 - November 23, 1963) was a German general of World War II, who was Colonel General of Panzer Group 3 (later 3rd Panzer Army), Army Group Center. He was sentenced to a 15 year sentence at the Nuremberg Trials for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

[edit] Biography

Reinhardt was born in Bautzen, Saxony, and fought during World War I in an infantry regiment.

In February of 1934 Reinhardt was promoted to Colonel and soon after to Major General in the German Army. For his achievements in the Polish campaign, the beginning of World War II, he was awarded the Knight's Cross and promoted to Lieutenant General. During the Polish campaign, he commanded the 4th Panzer Division, the first Division to break through the Warsaw defenses in the Siege of Warsaw. After this victory, most of the Polish forces retreated out of Warsaw, leaving only four battalions left to defend against the incoming divisions of Germans. After the Polish campaign, he was moved to the western front, where his raids in the Ardennen and English Channel got him promoted to General of the Armor Branch in June of 1940. After the French campaign, Reinhardt and his Division were preparing for Operation Sealion, the invasion of Great Britain. Under the command of General Rundstedt, he was to be among the first Divisions to land. However, the operation never occurred.

in June of 1941, Reinhardt was moved to the eastern front where he took command of the XXXXI Army corps in Russia. He led attacks through Russia until Leningrad, the farthest north of any other German Commander. After being pushed back during the winter of 1941/42, he was awarded the Oak Leaves for his defensive efforts against the Russian counter-attacks. Through 1944 he led defensive fights back through Russia back to Poland and Prussia.

On August 16th, 1944, he became the Commander in Chief of the army group center, later known as the Army Group North. This new post consisted of all troops and defensive measures in Poland and East Prussia to prepare for the Russian attacks. He was soon relieved of command after differing opinions with Adolf Hitler. He shortly retired from all active duty in early 1945.

In June, 1945, Geor-Hans Reinhardt was arrested by the United States Army and tried during the Nuremburg Trials. He was found guilty War Crimes, consisting of murder and ill-treatment of POW's and Crimes Against Humanity for the murder, deporation, and hostage-taking of civilians in occupied countries after pleading not-guilty during the High Command Trials of the Nuremburg Trials. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but released in 1952.

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  • Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5

[edit] External Links

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