Walter von Reichenau
Walter von Reichenau | |
|---|---|
Reichenau in 1941 | |
| Birth name | Walter Karl Gustav August Ernst von Reichenau |
| Born | 8 October 1884 Karlsruhe, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire |
| Died | 17 January 1942 (aged 57) Poltava, Soviet Union |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | German Army |
| Years of service | 1903–1942 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands | 10th Army 6th Army |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class |
| Signature | |
Walter Karl Gustav August Ernst von Reichenau (8 October 1884 – 17 January 1942) was a German Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) in the Heer (Army) of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was nicknamed "The Bull" (German: Der Bulle). Reichenau commanded the 6th Army, during the invasions of Belgium and France. During Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, he continued to command the 6th Army as part of Army Group South as it captured Ukraine and advanced deep into the USSR.
While in command of the 6th Army during Operation Barbarossa in 1941, he issued the notorious Severity Order which encouraged German soldiers to murder Jewish civilians on the Eastern Front. Reichenau's troops cooperated with the SS Einsatzgruppen in the commission of the massacre of over 33,000 Jews at Babi Yar, and assisted with other crimes against humanity that occurred in areas under his command during the Holocaust.