Fedor von Bock (Bock)

Bock, Fedor von (Bock), (1880-1945), Field-Marshal of the armed forces of Nazi Germany (1940). Born December 3, 1880 in the ancient city-fortress Kustrin, Brandenburg, the son of a famous Prussian general Moritz von Bock.

Obtained in the family upbringing has made the main purpose of his life military service. After graduating from Potsdam Cadet Corps von Bock in 1898 was sent to the 5 th Infantry Regiment of Potsdam. In 1904 he became adjutant of the battalion, and in 1906 - an adjutant of the regiment. After the Potsdam Military Academy, von Bock in 1912 became an officer of the General Staff.


Participated in the 1 st World War, commanded an infantry battalion, 4 th Regiment of the Prussian. In 1917, for his personal courage in the Battle of the Somme, was awarded the medal "For Merits" ( "Pour le Merite"). In the future, von Bock served as a senior officer of the General Staff in the 20 th Infantry Division, stationed in southern Germany, which was considered one of the best divisions Germanic army. Extremely ambitious and arrogant von Bock, . to focus exclusively on official duties, . absolute seriousness and lack of humor caused him a negative attitude on the part of other staff officers, . but he took it for granted.,
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. After the 1-st World War, von Bock was a member of the Armistice Commission in 1918, then served in the Reichswehr, the Chief of Army Staff, General Hans von Zeekta
. Von Bock was one of the organizers of t. n. "Black Reichswehr" - illegal militias whose aim was to overthrow the Weimar Republic and the restoration of the monarchy in Germany. After the uprising of black Reichswehr "in September 1923 and its subsequent repression by government troops, von Bock was brought before the court as a witness, but the lack of evidence of guilt was released.
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. Professional career von Bock has developed very successfully
. Since 1925, he commanded the 3rd Army Group, in 1925-26 - an officer of the Ministry of Defense, in 1928 - commander of the 1 st Cavalry Division in 1930 - commander of the 1 st Infantry Division in Vost. Prussia, in 1931-35 - commander of the 12 th Military District in Stettin. By the time Hitler came to power, von Bock had the rank of Infantry General. Not being a Nazi, von Bock nevertheless wholeheartedly supported the militarist policies of Hitler. 1 March 1938 he was awarded the rank of full general (General-Oberst) and entrusted the command of 8-th Army during the Anschluss of Austria, and then 2 nd Army Group during the occupation of the Sudetenland.
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. By the beginning of 2 nd World War, von Bock was the third in rank among the senior officers of the armed forces of Germany
. Command of Army Group North during the Polish campaign of 1939, he emptied the "Polish Corridor" and came to the Brest-Litovsk, where his troops met with the Red Army. On October 5, 1939 to September 12, 1940, he headed the Army Group "B" in the French campaign. July 19, 1940, the eve of the surrender of France, Hitler awarded the background side, along with eleven other senior officers of the Reich, the rank of Field Marshal.
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. Although von Bock did not support the invasion of the Soviet Union, Hitler ordered it to him the command of Army Group Center during the preparation and the beginning of Germany's attack on the Soviet Union (he was in office from 1 April to 18 December 1941)
. Von Bock's Army from reaching the tank in front of groups of Hermann Hoth and Heinz Guderian scored one victory after another. Only in the Battle of Smolensk was captured more than 300 thousand. Soviet soldiers captured and destroyed more than 3200 tanks and about 3100 guns. By the end of August 1941 the loss of Army Group "Center" amounted to about 100 thousand. killed and wounded, while the loss oppose the Soviet troops were approaching 750 thousand. man. At a time when the road to Moscow was opened, Hitler suddenly moved center of gravity of the offensive at Leningrad and Kiev, taking von Bock, despite his protests, four of the five tank shells and three infantry corps. Von Bok had no choice but to go on the defensive, as fresh Red Army forces launched a fierce attack on Elninskaya ledge background Bok could not keep. In other parts of the front half a million Army Group "Center" was able to stand on their positions. After the fall of Kiev center "blitzkrieg" again shifted the direction of Moscow. Defeat in the battle of Vyazma 81 division of the Red Army, von Bock in the period from September 30 to October 17, captured more than 600 thousand. Soviet soldiers. But fierce resistance and heavy rains began to halt the advance of Army Group Center.

Played in fighting the troops von Bock, made a last desperate offensive of November 14, to take Moscow and was not destined. A powerful counter-offensive of the Red Army, which began on December 6, set the Army Group "Center" before the threat of destruction. Von Bock did not find anything better than a personal aide Fuhrer Rudolf Schmundt complain to Hitler on the aggravation of gastric ulcers. Furious, Hitler dismissed von Bock from command, appointing in his place of Field Marshal Gunther von Kluge.
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. From 16 January to 15 July 1942 von Bock commanded Army Group South, but Hitler intended purpose - to prepare a base for attacks on Stalingrad and the Caucasus - has failed to achieve, although scored a major victory in the battle of Kharkov
. Hitler, von Bock shifting from the post commander, sent him to the rates in the future to the serious work has not attracted. Von Bock immediately went to Hamburg, but on the way his car was fired upon by British aircraft, bringing himself and was with his wife and daughter died. It happened May 4, 1945.

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Bock (Bock) Fedor von (03.12.1880, Kustrin, Brandenburg - 04.05.1945) The military commander, General-Field Marshal (19.07.1940). General's son from a family of professional Prussian military. The result obtained in the family education grew ambitious, arrogant, self-willed man. Educated in the Cadet Corps. In 1898 joined the 5 th Potsdam regiment. Since 1904 the battalion adjutant, from 1906 - Regiment. In 1910 he graduated from the Military Academy. From 1912 he served in the General Staff, Private 1 st world war: in 1914-15 Chief of the Operations Division of Headquarters 6 th Army. From 1915, the battalion commander 4-th Pruskogo Guards Regiment. For military distinctions awarded the Iron Cross 1 st and 2 nd class and the Order "Pour le Merite". After the uprising in September 1923, part of "black Reichswehr" Bok has been brought to trial as a witness, while the left accused the press without proof of involvement in Boca political killings. In 1924 the commander of the 2 nd Battalion, 4 th Infantry Regiment (Kolberg), in 1925-26 he served in the War Ministry. Since the end of 1928 the commander of 1 st Cavalry Division (Frankfurt / Oder), 1930 - 1 st Infantry Division and the Military District in Koenigsberg. 01/04/1935 after the establishment of the 3rd Army Group Command in Dresden Bok was appointed its commander. 31/10/1938 headed the most important - 1-e command in Berlin. In 1938 during the Anschluss of Austria, commanded the forces of 8 th Army, occupied the territory of the country. At the end of 1938 troops under the command of Boca occupied the Sudetenland. In August 1939 the commander of Army Group North. During the Polish campaign troops Boca (about 60 thousand. people) captured the so-called "Polish Corridor" and went to Brest-Litovsk, which merged with the Soviet troops. 30/09/1939 awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In the French company took the Netherlands, Belgium, and, breaking the Franco-British troops,

commanded troops which were engaged in a cover-Soviet demarcation line in Germany. Negative attitude to melt A. Hitler's war against the USSR. On 21.06.1941 the commander of Army Group "Center", which is ahead in the direction of Moscow. June 29 surrounded a large grouping of the Soviet army near Minsk, capturing about 324 thousand 03/07/1941. people and destroying 3,332 tanks and 1,809 guns. In Smolensk cauldron Bok 05.08.1941 picked llen 310 thousand. people in the Gomel boiler (24. August), about 84 thousand. Man. This loss of Boca less than 1 / 5 of the Soviet. 30.09-19.10.1941 carried out the operation in the area of Vyazma and Bryansk, capturing about 665 thousand. man. Supporter of continuing the offensive, despite the bad weather conditions and lack of training army to fight in winter conditions. Participating in the battle for Don, and despite the orders of Hitler, was involved in the battle of Voronezh and 15.07. 1942 under the pretext of illness was removed from command. In early May 1945 went to K. Doenitz decided to offer his services. On the way to Kiel, his car was shot by British aircraft, and Bock, along with his wife and daughter died.