Erwin von Witzleben Biography and Timeline

Army Opposition

Witzleben is associated with senior army officers who oppose Hitler and fear the consequences of Nazi military policy

Role range: 1939-1945

Army Group Command

Witzleben holds senior army command during the early phase of the war

Role range: 1939-1945

Western Front

Witzleben commands German forces in the west as the war begins

Role range: 1939-1945

Campaign in France

Witzleben commands First Army during the German offensive in the west

Role range: 1939-1945

Promotion

Witzleben is promoted to Field Marshal after the victory over France

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of Army Group D

Appointed Commander of Army Group D

Commander of Army Group D

Appointed Commander of Army Group D

Role range: 1939-1945

Occupation

Army Group D occupies France after A, B & C are moved to the Eastern Front

Role range: 1939-1945

First Army

Witzleben leads First Army during operations against France

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of Army Group A

Appointed Commander of Army Group A

Commander of Army Group A

Appointed Commander of Army Group A

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1941-1942

Atlantic Wall

Complains to the OKH too many troops & resources are at the Russian & Med Fronts

Role range: 1939-1945

Atlantic Wall

Orders the construction of coastal defences in Northwest France

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1941-1942

Army Group D

Witzleben is appointed Commander in Chief West and commander of Army Group D

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander in Chief West

Witzleben holds a major western command responsible for German forces in occupied western Europe

Role range: 1939-1945

Military Opposition

Witzleben remains connected to officers critical of Hitler and the Nazi leadership

Role range: 1939-1945

Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH)

Appointed Member of OKH Fuhrer Reserve

Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW)

Appointed Member of OKH Fuhrer Reserve

Role range: 1939-1945

Dismissal

Witzleben is removed from active command after disputes with the Nazi leadership

Role range: 1939-1945

Resistance

Witzleben becomes a symbolic senior military figure for officers planning action against Hitler

Role range: 1939-1945

Retirement

After dismissal from command Witzleben is placed in retirement but remains important to the military opposition

Role range: 1939-1945

Carl Goerdeler

Witzleben is associated with civilian and military opponents of the Nazi regime including Carl Goerdeler

Role range: 1939-1945

Future Commander

The conspirators expect Witzleben to serve as a senior military leader in a post Hitler government

Role range: 1939-1945

German Resistance

Witzleben is considered by conspirators as a possible senior commander after Hitler is overthrown

Role range: 1939-1945

Ludwig Beck

Witzleben is linked with Ludwig Beck and other senior figures in the anti Hitler opposition

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Walkure

Witzleben is included in plans to use Operation Walkure after the assassination of Hitler

Role range: 1939-1945

Reserve Army

The conspirators plan to use Reserve Army orders to seize control after Hitler is killed

Role range: 1939-1945

Bendlerblock

Witzleben appears at the Bendlerblock during the attempted seizure of power

Role range: 1939-1945

Bendlerblock

Witzleben leaves the Bendlerblock as the coup attempt collapses

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander in Chief

The conspirators intend Witzleben to act as Commander in Chief of the armed forces after the coup succeeds

Role range: 1939-1945

Coup Attempt

Witzleben travels to Berlin as the coup attempt begins to unfold

Role range: 1939-1945

Failed Coup

The conspiracy weakens as reports confirm that Hitler survived the bomb attack

Role range: 1939-1945

July Plot

The bomb placed by Stauffenberg fails to kill Hitler

Role range: 1939-1945

Ludwig Beck

Witzleben is connected with Beck in the planned replacement leadership after Hitler is removed

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Walkure

After the bombing the conspirators attempt to activate Operation Walkure in Berlin

Role range: 1939-1945

Rastenburg

The assassination attempt against Hitler takes place at the Wolfs Lair near Rastenburg

Role range: 1939-1945

Reserve Army Orders

The coup depends on issuing Reserve Army orders to arrest Nazi officials and secure command centres

Role range: 1939-1945

Stauffenberg Plot

A conspirator in the Stauffenberg plot to assassinate Hitler & sieze Berlin

Role range: 1939-1945

Stauffenberg Plot

A conspirator in the Stauffenberg plot to assassinate Hitler and seize Berlin for the resistance

Role range: 1939-1945

Arrest of Erwin von Witzleben

Witzleben is arrested after the failure of the July Plot

Role range: 1939-1945