Generalfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge Born: 30 Oct 1882 in Posen Died: 19 Aug 1944 between Verdun & Metz (Suicide) Promotions:
Leutnant (22 Mar 1901); Oberleutnant (16 Jun 1910); Hauptmann (02 Aug 1914); Major (01 Apr 1923); Oberstleutnant (01 Jul 1927); Oberst (01 Feb 1930); Generalmajor (01 Feb 1933); Generalleutnant (01 Apr 1934); General der Artillerie (01 Aug 1936); Generaloberst (01 Oct 1939); Generalfeldmarschall (19 Jul 1940) Career:
Entered Army Service (22 Mar 1901)
Leutnant in the 46th Field-Artillery-Regiment, Wolfenbüttel; Adjutant of II. Battalion of the 46th Field-Artillery-Regiment (22 Mar 1901-22 Mar 1912)
Detached to the War Academy (01 Oct 1908-00 Jul 1911)
Detached to the Grand General Staff (22 Mar 1912-02 Aug 1914)
Transferred into the General-Staff of XXI. Army-Corps (02 Aug 1914-1916)
In the General-Staff of South Army, and Aircraft-Observer (1916-1917)
In the General-Staff of the Alpine-Corps (1917-Spring 1918)
Chief of Operations (Ia) in the General-Staff of 236th Infantry-Division (Spring 1918-00 Oct 1918)
Severely wounded at Verdun (00 Oct 1918-01 Oct 1919)
With the Army Peace Commission (01 Oct 1919-15 Jun 1921)
With the Staff of the 3rd Division (15 Jun 1921-01 Apr 1923)
Transferred into the RWM, Army Training Department T 4 (01 Apr 1923-01 Aug 1926)
Commander of V. (Mounted) Battalion of the 3rd Artillery-Regiment, Sagan (01 Aug 1926-01 Feb 1929)
Chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry-Division, Frankfurt/Oder (01 Feb 1929-01 Mar 1930)
Commander of the 2nd Artillery-Regiment, Stettin (01 Mar 1930-01 Oct 1931)
Artillery-Leader III, Berlin (01 Oct 1931-01 Oct 1933)
Inspector of Signals Troops (In 7) (01 Oct 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Commander of the 6th Division & Commander in Military-District VI, Münster (01 Oct 1934-01 Apr 1935)
Commanding General of VI. Army-Corps & Commander in Military-District VI (01 Apr 1935-24 Nov 1938)
Commander-in-Chief of Group-Command 6, Hannover (24 Nov 1938-26 Aug 1939)
Commander-in-Chief of 4th Army (26 Aug 1939-19 Dec 1941)
Commander-in-Chief of Army-Group Centre (19 Dec 1941-12 Oct 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (12 Oct 1943-28 Oct 1943)
Severely wounded in an Automobile Accident (on a trip from Orscha to Minsk), out for 6 months for, among other things, damaged right shoulder & right arm, after re-establishment, Continual Guest with Special Duties at the Führer-Headquarters (over weeks) (28 Oct 1943-02 Jul 1944)
Commander-in-Chief West & Commander-in-Chief of Army-Group D (02 Jul 1944-15 Aug 1944)
At the same time, Commander-in-Chief of Army-Group B (19 Jul 1944-15 Aug 1944) During a frontline visit in the direction of Gruppe Eberbach, the Generalfeldmarschall was caught in enemy fire , his radio vehicle was disabled and he could not be reached by headquarters for the entire day. Hitler sensed treason and alleged capitulation talks with the allies (15 Aug 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH (16 Aug 1944-19 Aug 1944) In the morning Generalfeldmarschall Model appeared in Paris as the new Commander-in-Chief and had with him Hitlers relief of command letter for von Kluge. Model arrived at von Kluge at La Roche-Guyon close to 20:00 hrs and handed over Hitler's handwritten letter (17 Aug 1944) Suicide because of knowledge of the 20 Jul 1944 attempt on Hitler.
Advised for a long time of the military resistance plans against Hitler via the officers on the staff of Army-Group Centre and acquainted with Goerdeler. On 20 Jul 1944 he undecidedly vaccilates and because Hitler remained alive he decided against the conspitators and sends Hitler a letter of devotion.East of the river Aire and west of Verdun Generalfeldmarschall von Kluge made a midday stop next to the main route between Clermont-en Argonnes and Dombasle. Kluge took cyanide after writing a letter to his brother. Another letter critisising Hitler was given to Sepp Dietrich in the night between 14/15 Aug 1944. Dietrich forwarded the letter to the FHQ (19 Aug 1944)
Decorations & Awards:
- Ritterkreuz (1): am 30.09.1939 als General der Artillerie und Oberbefehlshaber der 4. Armee
- Eichenlaub (181): am 18.01.1943 als Generalfeldmarschall und Oberbefehlshaber der Heeresgruppe Mitte
- Schwerter (40): am 29.10.1943 als Generalfeldmarschall und Oberbefehlshaber der Heeresgruppe Mitte
- RK des Kgl. Preuss. Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern
- Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militär-Verdienstkreuz II. Klasse
- Grossherzoglich Oldenburgische Verdienstmedaille für Rettung aus Gefahr
- k.u.k. Österr. Orden der Eisernen Krone III. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
- k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
- Kgl. Preuss. Flugzeugbeobachter-Abzeichen
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Spange zum EK I: 17.09.1939
- Spange zum EK II: 05.09.1939
- Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942"
- Wehrmachtbericht: 07.08.1941; 18.10.1941; 19.10.1941; 03.09.1943
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