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Georg-Hans Reinhardt
1 March 1887(1887-03-01) – 22 November 1963 (aged 76)
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-209-0076-02, Russland, Georg-Hans Reinhardt, Walter Krüger.jpg
Northern Soviet Union. Conference between generals Georg-Hans Reinhardt (2nd from the left), and Walter Krüger
Place of birth Bautzen
Place of death Tegernsee, Bavaria
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Rank Generaloberst
Commands held 4. Panzer-Division
3. Panzer-Armee
Heeresgruppe Mitte
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords


Georg-Hans Reinhardt (1 March 1887 – 23 November 1963) was a German general of World War II, who was Colonel General of Panzer Group 3 (later 3rd Panzer Army), Army Group Center. He was sentenced to a 15 year sentence at the Nuremberg Trials for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

Biography

Reinhardt was born in Bautzen, Saxony, and fought during World War I in an infantry regiment.

In February 1934 Reinhardt was promoted to Colonel and soon after to Major General in the German Army. For his achievements in the Polish campaign, the beginning of World War II, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and promoted to Lieutenant General. During the Polish campaign, he commanded the 4th Panzer Division. Although he lost his first battle - two-days battle of Mokra and Ostrowy on 1 and 2 September, 4th Division was the first Division to break through the Warsaw defenses in the Siege of Warsaw. After this victory, most of the Polish forces retreated out of Warsaw, leaving only four battalions left to defend against the incoming divisions of Germans. In May 1940 during the invasion of France Reinhardt commanded the 41st Panzerkorps in Panzergruppe Kleist as part of Gerd von Rundstedt's Army Group A in the famous 'dash to the sea' following the German breakthrough in the Ardennes. He was promoted to General der Panzertruppe on 1 June 1940. After the French campaign, Reinhardt and his Division were preparing for Operation Sealion, the invasion of Great Britain. Under the command of General Rundstedt, he was to be among the first Divisions to land. However, the operation never occurred.

In June 1941, Reinhardt was moved to the eastern front where he took command of the XXXXI Army Corps in Russia. He led attacks through Russia until Leningrad, the farthest north of any other German Commander. After being pushed back during the winter of 1941/42, he was awarded the Oak Leaves for his defensive efforts against the Russian counter-attacks. Through 1944 he led defensive fights back through Russia back to Poland and Prussia.

On 16 August 1944, he became the Commander in Chief of the army group center, later known as the Army Group North. This new post consisted of all troops and defensive measures in Poland and East Prussia to prepare for the Russian attacks. He was soon relieved of command after differing opinions with Adolf Hitler. He shortly retired from all active duty in early 1945.

In June, 1945, Georg-Hans Reinhardt was arrested by the United States Army and tried during the Nuremberg Trials. He was found guilty of War Crimes, consisting of murder and ill-treatment of POWs and Crimes Against Humanity for the murder, deportation, and hostage-taking of civilians in occupied countries after pleading not-guilty during the High Command Trials of the Nuremberg Trials. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but released in 1952.

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 620.
Bibliography
  • Berger, Florian, Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
none		 Commander of 4. Panzer-Division
1 September 1939 – 5 February 1940		 Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Ludwig Ritter von Radlmeier
Preceded by
none		 Commander of 3. Panzer-Armee
5 October 1941 – 15 August 1944		 Succeeded by
Generaloberst Erhard Raus
Preceded by
Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model		 Commander of Heeresgruppe Mitte
16 August 1944 – 17 January 1945		 Succeeded by
Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner







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