William cunning (* 14. May 1880 in Oberkirchberg with Ulm; "† 16 August 1971 in mixing part churches) was a German army officer (since 1940 general field marshal) and during the Second World War army and army group commander.

Life

Beginnings

Cunning occurs 1898 the Bavarian army, where it is promoted 1900 to second lieutenant and starting from the year 1904 as a battalion aide is used. In the year 1908 cunning changes as a first lieutenant to the Bavarian Kriegsakadamie and to the conclusion to the captain is carried. In the time up to beginning of the First World War it is then used in the Bavarian general staff.

The First World War

After outbreak of war 1914 cunning is used first as a general staff officer in the Bavarian IITH army corps, when it gets sick heavily. After its recovery it serves Strantz only as Ib in the army department and starting from 1917 as Ia of the Bavarian 8. Reserve infantry division. In January 1918 cunning is promoted to major. To the end of war it is used in the Bavarian war Ministry.

Intermediate wartime

In the time after the armistice cunning is involved as a member of the free corps Epp in different employments against the soviet republic.

Starting from April 1923 cunning is a battalion commander in the infantry regiment No. 19. In the following it, in the meantime to the lieutenant colonel carried, is used year as directors/conductors of the leader assistant training in the military district VII. The following approximately ten years is cunning predominantly in the training nature of the realm resistance active. Thus it changes 1926 into the realm military Ministry, in order first as adviser of the army training department to be used there. With that 1. March 1927 is promoted cunning to Colonel and entrusted at the same time with the line of the department.

In the year 1930 he transfers the line of the infantry school to Dresden. On this post cunning is promoted on 1 October 1930 to the major general and in the year 1932 to lieutenant general.

On 1 October 1933 cunning becomes then commander in the military district IV and commander of the 4. Infantry division. Two years later, on 1 October 1935, cunning is appointed the general of the infantry.

It is now Kommandierender general of the IVTH army corps. In February 1938 cunning transfers the position of the commander in chief of the group command 2. Already on 1 April 1938 will cunning after the connection of Austria at Germany commander in chief of the group command 5 in Vienna to integrate with the task, the Austrian federal army into the armed forces. On 1 April 1939 it is promoted to colonel general.

The Second World War

With the 14. Army participates cunning in the Poland campaign and receives on 30 September 1939 the knight cross. Succeeds to it in the France campaign in the year 1940 with the 12. Army the break-through by the Maginot line. On 19 July 1940 it is promoted to general field marshal.

On 6 April 1941 the Balkans campaign beginning sees cunning as a commander in chief of the 12. Army and in this position as a boss of the entire German military operations on the mainland. On 21 April 1941 cunning receives the Greek surrender, after on 17 April 1941 Yugoslavia had already capitulated. At the edge of the Greek surrender it comes to entangling with German allied Italy at that time. Cunning leaves dependent, by Hitler, which make signing of the surrender document without participation of Italian officers. After the Italian dictator Mussolini protests with Hitler against it, this sends the boss of the armed forces operations staff, Alfred Jodl, to Greece, thereby to these the act of the surrender a second time - this time with Italian participation - accomplishes.

After the conclusion of the Balkans campaign cunning becomes armed forces commander southeast. In this function the military commanders Serbia, as well as north and south Greece are subordinate to it. Due to an illness cunning delivers this post in October 1941 again.

Beginning of the yearly 1942 is assigned cunning by Hitler to accomplish an inspection tour by Norway occupied by Germany since 1940 to determine with the goal the defense readiness against a possible British landing at the Norwegian west coast.

Cunning, which an excessive proximity cannot be after-said to the national socialism and which did not hide this attitude also to Hitler opposite, became then however only on of different officers from armed forces and army guidance with a new task entrusted. On 1 July 1942 cunning gets the supreme command over the army group A in the south of the east front. In this position it comes already soon to disputes with Hitler over the conduct of operations. Already on 10 September 1942 cunning is again relieved of its tasks as a commander in chief of the army group A.

It is not again used to end of war. Even if cunning did not follow the military resistance, then it was registered nevertheless that he did not send a devotion address after the assassination attempt from 20 July 1944 - contrary to some other higher officers.

1945 it is imprisoned taken by US-American troops.

Post-war period

With the processes cunning is condemned 1948 to life imprisonment. It will dismiss however, since it is heavily gotten sick, 1952 from the detention in Landsberg.

Honors

• Wounding badge (1918) in black
• Iron cross (1914) 2. and 1. Class
• Iron cross (1939) 2. and 1. Class
• Knight cross of the royal house medal of Hohenzollern with swords
• Knight cross of the iron cross

See also

Process of generals in South-east Europe

Articles in category "William cunning"

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