Alfred Jodl Biography and Timeline

Birth of Alfred Jodl

Alfred Jodl is born in Würzburg into a Bavarian military family.

Bavarian Cadet Corps Entry

Jodl enters the Bavarian Cadet Corps in Munich and begins formal military education.

Officer Candidate in 4th Bavarian Field Artillery

Jodl joins the 4th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment as a Fähnrich after completing cadet schooling.

Bavarian War School Training

Jodl attends the Bavarian War School as part of his preparation for commissioned service.

Promotion to Lieutenant

Jodl is commissioned as a lieutenant in the Bavarian artillery.

Battle of Sarrebourg Service

Jodl serves with his artillery unit during the fighting around Sarrebourg.

Wounded at Sarrebourg

Jodl is wounded in the thigh during fighting on the Western Front.

Iron Cross Second Class Award

Jodl receives the Iron Cross Second Class after his early wartime service and wounding.

Return to Front Line Service

Jodl returns to active service after recovering from his 1914 wound.

Promotion to Oberleutnant

Jodl is promoted to Oberleutnant while serving in the First World War.

Transfer toward Eastern Front

Jodl leaves the Western Front for service connected with an Austro-Hungarian artillery formation.

Regimental Adjutant Appointment

Jodl serves as a regimental adjutant after his period of battery command.

Return to Western Front Staff Duty

Jodl returns west as adjutant to an artillery commander.

Hungarian Artillery Battery Command

Jodl commands a battery in the 72nd Royal Hungarian Field Artillery Regiment.

Western Front Staff Officer Service

Jodl serves in a staff role on the Western Front during the final year of the war.

Iron Cross First Class Award

Jodl receives the Iron Cross First Class for wartime service.

Volkswehr Battery Augsburg Command

Jodl commands the Volkswehr Battery Augsburg during the transition from the imperial army to the Reichswehr.

Acceptance into Reichswehr

After leading a Volkswehr battery in Augsburg, Jodl is accepted into the postwar Reichswehr.

Führergehilfen Staff Training Begins

Jodl begins Führergehilfen training, the Reichswehr's concealed system of general staff education.

Berlin University and Staff Studies

Jodl begins a year of university study in Berlin as part of his continuing staff education.

Seventh Bavarian Division Staff Service

Jodl begins extended staff service with the 7th Bavarian Division in Munich.

Bavarian Division Operations Work

Jodl performs staff duties in Munich dealing with training and operational planning.

Battery Command Interruption to Staff Service

Jodl temporarily leaves divisional staff work for a period of battery command.

Transfer to Truppenamt Operations Department

Jodl transfers to the Truppenamt in Berlin and works in its operations department under Ludwig Beck.

Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel

Jodl is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while serving in the Truppenamt.

Head of National Defence Section

Jodl takes charge of the new National Defence Section under the Reich War Ministry.

Promotion to Colonel

Jodl is promoted to Colonel while serving in the Reich War Ministry.

National Defence Planning Expanded

Jodl develops inter-service planning within the National Defence Section as German rearmament accelerates.

Austria Military Pressure Planning

Jodl records and supports military pressure used during the crisis leading to the annexation of Austria.

Case Otto Directive Initialled

Jodl initials and supplements directives connected with Case Otto during the Austrian crisis.

Post Munich Strategic Assessment Recorded

After Munich, Jodl records approval of Hitler's success in neutralising Czechoslovakia without immediate war.

Role range: 1939-1945

Czechoslovakia Attack Planning Participation

Jodl participates in detailed planning connected with a possible German attack on Czechoslovakia.

Role range: 1939-1945

Sudeten Crisis Operational Timing Discussed

Jodl discusses operational timing requirements for a manufactured incident before any planned attack on Czechoslovakia.

Role range: 1939-1945

Artillery Commander 44

Jodl leaves staff work temporarily to command Artillery Command 44 in the Linz area.

Promotion to Generalmajor

Jodl is promoted to Generalmajor while serving as Artillery Commander 44.

Chief of Wehrmachtführungsamt

Shortly before war begins, Jodl returns to the OKW to head the Wehrmachtführungsamt.

Return to OKW before Polish Campaign

Jodl returns from troop command to senior operational work at OKW shortly before the invasion of Poland.

Role range: 1939-1945

Polish Campaign Operational Coordination

Jodl serves in the OKW operations leadership as Germany begins the invasion of Poland.

Role range: 1939-1945

Western Offensive Planning Begins

Jodl participates in planning for a German offensive through the Low Countries and France.

Role range: 1939-1945

Netherlands Invasion Question Reviewed

Jodl works on plans as Hitler considers whether the western offensive should include the Netherlands.

Role range: 1939-1945