| Ernst Busch | |
|---|---|
Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch |
|
| Born | 6 July 1885 Steele, Kreis Essen |
| Died | 17 July 1945 (aged 60) Camp Aldershot near London, England |
| Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1904-1945 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands held | 16. Armee |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves |
Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch (6 July 1885 - 17 July 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Contents |
He was born in Essen-Steele, Germany, and was educated at the Groß Lichterfelde Cadet Academy. Busch entered the Prussian Army in 1904 and served on the Western Front during World War I. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite in 1918. After the war, Busch remained in the army and was appointed Inspector of Transport Troops in 1925. He was promoted in 1930 to lieutenant-colonel and given command of the Infantry Regiment No. 9.
Busch served under Wilhelm List during the Invasion of Poland of 1939, and the following year he led the German Sixteenth Army during the Western Offensive. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Hitler for his efforts.
Busch took part in Operation Barbarossa and on 8 September 1941 his 16th Army took Demyansk before taking part in the siege of Leningrad. Despite a counter-attack by the Red Army, Busch's troops held the line from Staraya Russa to Ostashkov. After a brave defence of his position he was promoted to field marshal. He commanded Army Group Centre in 1943 and 1944 but after the disastrous defeat of June 1944, he was sacked by Hitler early in July 1944 and replaced by Field Marshal Walther Model.
Busch was recalled in March 1945 when he became head of Army Group Northwest. Along with Kurt Student and his 1st Parachute Army, Busch had the task of trying to halt the advance of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and the Allies into Germany. Busch surrendered to Montgomery on 3 May 1945, and died in a prisoner of war camp in Aldershot, England, on 17 July 1945. He is buried at Cannock Chase German war cemetery, Staffordshire.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none |
Commander of 23. Infanterie-Division October 1935 – February 1938 |
Succeeded by General der Infanterie Walter von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt |
| Preceded by none |
Commander of 16. Armee January, 1940 – 12 October 1943 |
Succeeded by General der Artillerie Christian Hansen |
| Preceded by Generalfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge |
Commander of Heeresgruppe Mitte 12 October 1943 – 28 June 1944 |
Succeeded by Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model |
| Preceded by Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz |
Commander of Heeresgruppe H 15 April 1945 – 3 May 1945 |
Succeeded by none |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||