What was the Allies' nickname for the German general who set up a defensive line in the Apennine Mountains during World War II?
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Gothic Line The Gothic Line (German: "Gotenstellung" ; Italian: "Linea Gotica" ) was a German defensive line of the Italian Campaign of World War II. It formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence along the summits of the northern part of the Apennine Mountains during the fighting retreat of the German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy, commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.
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Albert Kesselring Albert Kesselring (30 November 1885 – 16 July 1960) was a German "Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall" during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, and one of the most highly decorated, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Nicknamed "Smiling Albert" by the Allies and "Uncle Albert" by his troops, he was one of the most popular generals of World War II with the rank and file.
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Paul Laux Paul Laux (11 November 1887 – 2 September 1944) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 16th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
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Ernst Meiners Ernst Meiners (13 June 1893 – 11 June 1959) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
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Arthur Hauffe Arthur Hauffe (20 December 1892 – 22 July 1944) was a German general during World War II and commanded the XIII Army Corps. He was recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
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Gustav Anton von Wietersheim Gustav Anton von Wietersheim (11 February 1884 – 25 April 1974) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He led the XIV Motorized Corps (after 21 June 1942, XIV Panzer Corps) from its creation in 1938 until 14 September 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad.
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Josef Rintelen Josef Rintelen (7 March 1897 – 14 July 1981) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
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Operation Barbarossa Operation Barbarossa (German: "Unternehmen Barbarossa") was the code name for the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, starting Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II.
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Friedrich Zickwolff Friedrich Zickwolff (1 August 1893 – 17 September 1944) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
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Panzer ace "Panzer ace" ("tank ace") is a contemporary term used in English-speaking popular culture to describe highly-decorated German tank ("Panzer") commanders and crews during World War II. While not prevalent in World War II within the Wehrmacht, it was at times used by the Waffen-SS to publicise its most successful personnel, as the SS organisation was far more attuned to the propaganda imperatives of Nazi Germany. These commanders were credited with the destruction of large numbers of tanks and other armoured vehicles. The British and United States militaries did not recognise any of their tank commanders for "tank kills" or publicise their achievements, though some were also responsible for destroying a large number of enemy tanks.
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Erwin Menny Erwin Menny (18 August 1893 – 6 December 1949) was a German general (Generalleutnant) in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
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Dietrich von Müller Dietrich von Müller (16 September 1891 – 3 January 1961) was a German general during World War II. Just before the end of World War II he was promoted to Generalleutnant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
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Gustav-Georg Knabe Gustav-Georg Knabe (8 July 1897 – 13 December 1972) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
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OB West The German Army Command in the West ("Oberbefehlshaber West" (German: initials OB West) was the overall command of the Westheer, the German Armed Forces on the Western Front during World War II. It was directly subordinate to German Armed Forces High Command. The area under the command of the OB West varied as the war progressed. At its farthest extent it reached the French Atlantic coast. By the end of World War II in Europe it was reduced to commanding troops in Bavaria.
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Schlieffen Plan The Schlieffen Plan (German: "Schlieffen-Plan" , ] ) was the name given after World War I to the thinking behind the German invasion of France and Belgium on 4 August 1914. Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen, the Chief of the Imperial Army German General Staff from 1891 to 1906, devised a deployment plan for a war-winning offensive, in a one-front war against the French Third Republic from 1905–06. After the war, the German official historians of the "Reichsarchiv" and other writers, described the plan as a blueprint for victory. German historians claimed that the plan had been ruined by "Generaloberst" (Colonel-General) Helmuth von Moltke the Younger, the Commander-in-Chief of the German army after Schlieffen retired in 1906, who was dismissed after the First Battle of the Marne (5–12 September 1914).
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Karl Angerstein Karl Angerstein (4 December 1890 – 20 September 1985) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 1st Air Corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany
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Friedrich Franek Friedrich von Franek (16 July 1891 – 8 April 1976) was an Austrian general in the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
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Werner Sanne Werner Otto Sanne (5 April 1889 – 26 September 1952) was a German general (Generalleutnant) in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
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Wilhelm Keitel Wilhelm Keitel (22 September 1882 – 16 October 1946) was a German field marshal who served as Chief of the Armed Forces High Command ("Oberkommando der Wehrmacht" or OKW) in Nazi Germany during World War II. According to David Stahel, Keitel was "well known and [...] reviled as Hitler's dependable mouthpiece and habitual yes-man" among his military colleagues.
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Erich Schneider Erich Schneider (12 August 1894 – 3 August 1980) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
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General der Gebirgstruppe General der Gebirgstruppe (Literally: General of the Mountain Troops) was a category of German Army three-star, a new example of the traditional German 'General der' rank introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1940, comparable to the NATO grade OF-8.
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Erich von Falkenhayn General Erich Georg Anton von Falkenhayn (11 September 1861 – 8 April 1922) was the Chief of the German General Staff during the First World War from September 1914 until 29 August 1916. He was removed in the late summer of 1916 after the failure at the battle of Verdun, the opening of the Allied offensive on the Somme, the Brusilov Offensive and the entry of Romania into the war. He was later given important field commands in Romania and Syria. His reputation as a war leader was attacked in Germany during and after the war, especially by the faction which supported Hindenburg. Falkenhayn held that Germany could not win the war by a decisive battle but would have to reach a compromise peace; his enemies said he lacked the resolve necessary to win a decisive victory. Falkenhayn's relations with the Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg were troubled and undercut Falkenhayn's plans.