Robert Martinek

Robert Martinek
Born 2 February 1889
Died 28 June 1944(1944-06-28) (aged 55)
Berezino, Soviet Union
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Army (Wehrmacht)
Rank General der Artillerie
Commands held 267th Infantry Division
XXXIX Panzer Corps
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Robert Martinek (2 February 1889 – 28 June 1944) was an Austrian general who served in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Biography

Born in 1889, Martinek enlisted in the army of Austria-Hungary in 1907 and served during World War I. During World War II, he commanded the 267th Infantry Division from late 1941–1942, and the 7th Mountain Division during 1942. He was in command of the heavy concentrations of artillery in the Siege of Sevastopol. On 1 December 1942 Martinek took command of XXXIX Panzer Corps.

In June 1944, the XXXIX Panzer Corps was assigned to Army Group Centre in the Belorussian SSR. Shortly before the Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration, a battalion commander in the 12th Infantry Division raised concerns about a possible attack with Martinek, who was on a tour of inspection. Martinek agreed but in response cited the proverb "Whom God would destroy, he first strikes blind".[1] Soviet forces launched the offensive on 23 June; Martinek's corps was rapidly outflanked. Martinek was killed in an air attack on 28 June near Berezino.

Awards and decorations

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Glantz 1995, p. 219.
  2. ↑ Thomas 1998, p. 62.
  3. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 296.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 303.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 78.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Glantz, David. When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler, 1995.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Friedrich-Karl von Wachter		 Commander of 267th Infantry Division
10 November 1941 – 1 January 1942 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Friedrich-Karl von Wachter
Preceded by
Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim		 Commander of XXXIX Panzer Corps
1 December 1942 – 13 November 1943 		Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Carl Püchler
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Carl Püchler		 Commander of XXXIX Panzer Corps
18 April 1944 – 28 June 1944 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Otto Schünemann
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