Johannes Blaskowitz

Johannes Blaskowitz (July 10th 1883 - February 5th 1948) was a Général Third Reich during the Second world war.

Youth and First World War

Born in Paterswalde, Kreis Wehlau (Prussia-Eastern), he is the son of Pasteur Lutheran. In 1894, it enters to the school of juniors by Koszalin and, later, to that of Berlin-Lichterfelde. In 1899, it begins its military career as an candidate-officer in a regiment from Prussia-Eastern with Osterode. During the First World War, it is useful on the faces of the East and the West and works for the staff. After the war, it continues its military service in the Reichswehr under the Weimar Republic. It is indifferent to the catch to be able of the Nazis because it believes that the armed forces must be “neutral politically”.

Poland 1939

It orders the 8th German army at the time of the Invasion of Poland, it is the beginning of the Second world war. He is commander-in-chief of the East in Poland starting from the October 20th 1939. He is revolted by the atrocities made by the S and the Einsatzgruppen against the Poles and the Juifs. He forwards to the commander-in-chief, Walther von Brauchitsch, two memoranda detailed on these War crimes. He does not even hesitate to impose the capital punishment to the members of the S and the Gestapo which are implied in war crimes (these sentences will be abolished later by Hitler). He frankly uses extraordinary to speak:

the attitude of the troops towards the S and the police force oscillates between the dislike and hatred. Each soldier with nausea vis-a-vis these crimes committed against the Poles by citizens of the Reich and representatives of the government. (Memorandum January 1940).

The “ingenuous” attitude of Blaskowitz returns furious Hitler which raises it of its command in Poland the May 14th 1940 on the insistence of the general governor Hans Frank.

Countryside of France 1940 and its occupation

Blaskowitz is transferred to the command of the 9th army in the West at the time of the countryside of France. He becomes military governor of the north of France at the beginning of June 1940. He preserves this position until October 1940 and is then transferred to the command of the 1st army, station which he occupies until May 1944. He is then named commander-in-chief of the Groupe of armies G.

Countryside of the West 1944-1945

It is raised of the command of the group of armies G at the end of September 1944 after having protested officially against the atrocities S in Poland. It is restored at its station the December 24th 1944. The January 28th 1945, it is named commander-in-chief of the Groupe of armies H. This command is altered at the beginning of 1945 and Blaskowitz becomes commander-in-chief in the Netherlands. May 5th, Blaskowitz is convened with the Hôtel of Wereld, with Wageningen, by the general Charles Foulkes (commander-in-chief of the 1st Canadian body), in order to discuss the capitulation of the German forces of the Netherlands. The prince Bernhard zur Lippe Biesterfeld, who acts as a commander-in-chief of the interior troops Dutchwomen, also attends the meeting. Blaskowitz is of agreement with all the requests for Foulkes, however one does not manage to find a typewriter in the hotel (certain sources say now that there was not nowhere in the city). The document of the capitulation cannot be written. The parts meet again the following day, the document on the capitulation finally could be written. Blaskowitz the sign in the presence of the Foulkes general and of the prince.

Period of post-war period

Blaskowitz is shown war crimes and is judged in front of an American military tribunal at the time of the Procès of the high command. It commits suicide during the lawsuit the February 5th 1948 while jumping of a window of the prison of Nuremberg. The rumor which he was assassinated by S spreads within the other prisoners, but no proof comes to support it.

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