Erich Hoepner

Erich Hoepner (September 14th 1886, August 8th 1944) is a German general during the Second world war.

Biography

Born with Frankfurt-on-the Oder, in Germany, he is officer of cavalry during the First World War. He remains in the Reichswehr after the war and reached the row of general in 1936. Hoepner is one of the first partisans of the use of the armoured tanks to the combat, it is promoted lieutenant-general of army and receives the command of the 16th body of Panzer in 1938.

Hoepner, commonly called " Der Alte Reiter " (the old rider), directs the troops during the invasion of the Poland and the France, which is worth the to him Croix of knight. He is high with the rank of general colonel in 1941 and receives the command of the 4th group of Panzer during the invasion of the Soviet Union. In 1942, Hoepner folds up its troops vis-a-vis the major counter-offensive of the Russians with Moscow, it is raised of its command.

Although opposed under the terms of the Treated of Versailles, it is one of the first opponents to the accession of Hitler to the capacity. It takes part in several plots to reverse Hitler. At the time of one of these attempts in 1938, its troops have the task to remove the S following the assassination of Hitler, but the plan fails and the role that Hoepner plays there is not discovered.

Hoepner holds a leading role at the time of the first plots against Hitler. Just like of other resistant conservatives, Hoepner believes that the strategic decisions of Hitler will lead Germany to its loss. After the Battle of France, fears which the expansionist aimings of Hitler lead Germany to its loss seem nonfounded and Hoepner becomes less critical towards Hitler. It is only when the Opération Barbarossa falls at the died point to the doors from Moscow, and that it is driven out in a way humiliating by Hitler, that it becomes again active.

Hoepner takes part in the Complot of July 20th, 1944 against Adolf Hitler, but this time it is made take after the failure of the coup d'etat. It is stopped and tortured by the Gestapo, it is summarily judged by the court of the people (Volksgerichtshof) and is condemned to death. It is carried out (hung naked) the August 8th with Berlin, in the Prison of Plötzensee.

Sources

Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), Die Träger of Ritterkreuzes of Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5
Geralf Gemser, Darf eine Schule diesen Namen tragen? Zur Vorbildwirkung of Wehrmachtsgenerals Erich Hoepner, Germany, Marbourg 2005, ISBN 3-8288-8927-1

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