Birth of Guenther Hans von Kluge30 October 1882
Birth of Guenther Hans von Kluge
Historical person
Guenther Hans von Kluge Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Guenther Hans von Kluge, based on 37 World History Database records associated with Germany.
37 records1882–194426 events8 places
Chronological biography
1882
1934
Commander of Military District1934
Appointed Commander of the Military District VI
Divisional Commander1934
Appointed Divisional Commander
1939
Invasion of Poland31 August 1939
The 4th Army is commanded by General of Artillery Guenther von Kluge
Commander of 4th Army1 September 1939
Appointed Commander of the 4th Army in Poland
Commander of 4th Army1 September 1939
Appointed Commander of the 4th Army in Poland
1940
Commander of 4th Army10 May 1940
Appointed Commander of the 4th Army in France
Commander of 4th Army10 May 1940
Appointed Commander of the 4th Army in France
Field Marshal19 July 1940
Appointed Field Marshal
Field Marshal19 July 1940
Appointed Field Marshal
1941
Commander of Army Group Centre1941
Appointed Commander Army Group Centre, December
Invasion of Russia21 June 1941
The 4th Army reaches the outskirts of Moscow
Operation Barbarossa21 June 1941
The 4th Army reaches the outskirts of Moscow
Siege of MoscowNovember 1941
Sends a force up the Minsk Chausee, where Napoleon had marched
Commander of Army Group CentreDecember 1941
Appointed Commander Army Group Centre
1943
Battle of Kursk16 July 1943
The Germans fail to hold Kursk
Battle of OrelOctober 1943
Orel falls to the Russians
Health of Guenther Hans von Kluge27 October 1943
Invalided from command after a car crash
1944
Commander in Chief1 July 1944
Appointed Commander in Chief, West, replaces von Rundstedt
Commander in Chief1 July 1944
Appointed Commander in Chief, West
Commander in Chief6 July 1944
Appointed Commander of the German forces in Normandy, replaces Rundstredt
Commander in Chief6 July 1944
Appointed Commander of the German forces in Normandy, replaces Rundstredt
Death of Guenther Hans von Kluge20 July 1944
Becomes involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler
Plot20 July 1944
Becomes involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler
Operation Overlord2 August 1944
The Germans attack Avranches & gain 20km but are driven back by fighter-bombers. Hitler orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divisions to cut off Patton. Can only assemble 4 Divisions with a total of 250 tanks to defend Avranches
Siege of Avranches2 August 1944
The Germans attack Avranches & gain 20km but are driven back by fighter-bombers
Battle of Avranches6 August 1944
Begins a German counter-attack at Avranches
Commonwealth7 August 1944
The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B
Operation Lutch7 August 1944
The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B
Siege of Falaise7 August 1944
The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B
Battle of Britain9 August 1944
Defeated by the Americans & forced into retreat
Operation Tractable16 August 1944
Refuses to carry out an order from the OKW to counter-attack
Dismissal17 August 1944
Dismissed after the loss of Avranches & replaced by Model
Death of Guenther Hans von Kluge18 August 1944
Death of Kluge, suicide
Suicide18 August 1944
Kills himself while on his way back to Germany to explain himself to Hitler. Death of Kluge, suicide
Death of Guenther Hans von Kluge19 August 1944
Committs suicide by poison at Metz
Suicide19 August 1944
Committs suicide by poison at Metz
Titles and roles
Commander in Chief · Commander of 4th Army · Commander of Army Group Centre · Commander of Military District · Divisional Commander · Field Marshal · General
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.