| Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 March 1886 Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Died | 27 January 1974 (aged 87) Irschenhausen near Munich, West Germany |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Wehrmacht |
| Rank | General der Panzertruppe |
| Battles/wars | World War I, World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Leo Dietrich Franz Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg (2 March 1886 – 27 January 1974) was a German cavalry officer in World War I and a general during World War II. He was particularly noted for his expertise in armoured warfare and his command of Panzer Group West during the Invasion of Normandy.
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Geyr was born in Potsdam and joined the German Army in 1904. From 1933-37, he was a military attaché to the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands, residing in London.
On 10 June 1944, Geyr was wounded when Royal Air Force aircraft attacked his newly established headquarters at La Caine in Normandy.[1]
From 1945-47, Geyr was in American captivity.
During the early 1950s Geyr was instrumental in advising how to restructure the newly built German Army (Bundeswehr) of West Germany. [See: Searle's "Wehrmacht Generals."]
He died in Irschenhausen near Munich. His daughter Blanche Freiin Geyr von Schweppenburg (* 24. März 1918; † 21. Mai 2003) was married to Curt-Christoph von Pfuel (* 2. September 1907, Berlin; † 5. August 2000, Bonn), prussian assessor, member of the Council of Europe, last Fideikommiss, Lord of Jahnsfelde.
Regarding personal names: Freiherr was a title, translated as Baron, not a first or middle name. The female forms are Freifrau and Freiin. In Germany, however, since 1919 Freiherr is no title any more but part of the surname, thus following the given name(s) and not to be translated. The titles of former German nobility were retained as middle names after the collapse of Imperial Germany and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Generalmajor Ernst Feßmann |
Commander of 3. Panzer-Division 1 September 1939 – 7 October 1939 |
Succeeded by Generalleutnant Horst Stumpff |