A Non-Nazi in Nazi Uniform? - Gerd von Rundstedt - WW2 Biography Special
World War Two・2 minutes read
Adolf Hitler's non-Nazi General, Gerd von Rundstedt, came from a noble Prussian military family and remained politically neutral despite serving in World War I and WWII. He refused to participate in a plot against Hitler and resigned after atrocities were committed in Poland, emphasizing his military loyalty over political allegiance.
Insights
- Many of Adolf Hitler's generals, like Gerd von Rundstedt, were not members of the Nazi Party but still actively participated in carrying out Hitler's wars and atrocities.
- Gerd von Rundstedt, despite his noble background and military career, maintained political neutrality and refused to join conspiracies against Hitler, showcasing a complex relationship between duty, morality, and political ideologies in times of conflict.
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Recent questions
Who was Gerd von Rundstedt?
A respected non-Nazi General born in 1875.
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Summary
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Gerd von Rundstedt: Non-Nazi General in WWII
- Most of Adolf Hitler’s generals are not Nazi Party members, but they still carry out his wars and atrocities.
- Gerd von Rundstedt, a respected non-Nazi General, was born in 1875 into a noble Prussian family with a strong military tradition.
- Rundstedt joins the military academy in 1903, serves in World War I, and receives the Iron Cross 1st Class for his administrative role.
- Despite Germany's defeat in WWI, Rundstedt remains in the Reichswehr, avoiding politics during the Weimar Republic.
- Rundstedt, a conservative monarchist, supports rearmament but maintains political neutrality, even during the Nazi rise to power.
- He plays a role in defending the Wehrmacht from Nazi control in the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair and refuses to join a conspiracy to oust Hitler.
- Rundstedt commands Army Group South in the Polish campaign, where atrocities occur, leading to his resignation and transfer to the Western Front.
