Gerd Von Rundstedt-Knights Cross

[jobee]

field marshall ‘gurd von rundstedt’.kc.

gerd von rundstedt was born in 1875 at
aschersleben in Saxony- the son of a
hussar officer who later became a
major general-at the tender age of
twelve gerd entered the cadet military
academy- then rose to command the
german army.

field marshall ‘gerd von rundstedt’
1875-1953

twelve years of age his career began
quickly maturing from boy to man
a junior ensign at just seventeen
quickly adapting to military routine.

sardonic by nature- true to his line
inefficiency - quick to malign
standard uniform studiously dressed
military know how, his family blessed

a major general- his father became
gerd determined to better his game
gaining experience through the Great War
surviving this- as company major.

not a supporter of nazi success
but government orders he would address
In '32 came martial law
social democrats- made to withdraw

conflicting earnestly with hitlers men
calling hitler a comedian
taking retirment in '38
hitler then would reinstate.

making him commander of army group north
into poland he immediately set forth
polands defeat a great success
but rundstedt disliking the murderous ss.

getting a move away from them,
torture and cruelty he did condemn,
with army group south he took command,
leading the invasion of soviet land.

barbarossa initially- a great success,
but winters chill the russians would bless,
rundstedt requestd to withdraw his men,
to re-equip and attend to them.

hitler refused and ordered them on,
orchestrating- his own swan song,
sacking rundstedt- on the spot,
rundstedt lucky- not to be shot.

reinstated the very next year,
supreme commander and showing no fear,
arguing with hitler- goering as well,
hitler again- bid him farewell.

In '44 reinstated again
as supreme commander he would remain,
hitler demanding gurd stop the rot,
at last conceding he’d lost the plot.

never tried at Nuremburgh,
a soldiers soldier undeterred,
straight honest, the thinking kind,
one of the few that kept his mind.

Jb. A coy 3 para. ©