Walther Model (Model)

Model, Walther (Model), (1891-1945), General-Field Marshal (1944) Germanic army. Born January 24, 1891 in Genthin. In the army since 1909, member 1-WWI. One of the first supported Hitler and always remained faithful to the Nazi regime.

Since November 1940 commanded the 3rd Armored Division, which participated in Germany's attack on the USSR. From October 1941 the commander of 41 Panzer Corps, from January 1942 to November 1943 (with breaks), commander of the 9 th Army on the Eastern Front. In February-March 1944 in command of Army Group North, in April-June 1944 - Army Group North Ukraine, in June-August 1944 - Army Group "Center". Was considered the "master retreat, pursued the tactics of" scorched earth ", was particularly savage. In August 1944 model was replaced by Field Marshal Gunther von Kluge (not to obey the order of Hitler dated 16 August 1944 "fight to the death" and retreated to the area of Falaise in North. France) as commander of the West. From September 1944 in command of Army Group "B" in France. In April 1945 Model forces were defeated in the Ruhr during the operation and surrendered on April 18 (has surrendered more than 325 thousand. soldiers and 30 generals), and then on April 21 Model shot in the woods near Duisburg.