1942 5th February
Battle of Rzhev
Traps a large number of Russian units, the line is closed with 26,000 Russians dead. Begins to attack the Russians in order to hold Rzhev & stop the Russian advance
Second World War · permanent subject timeline
Walter Model
German field marshal associated with defensive operations on both fronts. This page combines historical context with 19 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database World War II battle archive.
Historical context
Walter Model: overview and significance
What happened?
Walter Model developed a reputation as a commander sent to stabilize difficult fronts. His wartime commands included major formations on the Eastern Front and later Army Group B in the west.
Why was it important?
Model's career connects the retreat from the Soviet Union with the battles of Arnhem and the Bulge. He became closely associated with emergency defensive command during Germany's deteriorating strategic position.
World History Database records
Walter Model timeline
The records below are selected from the 797-record World War II battles archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1942
1942 1st March
Battle of Rzhev
Russian forces are trapped & then destroyed
1943
1943 3rd April
Battle of Rhzev
The Russians lose 42,000 men. Awarded the Swords to the Oak Leaf for the withdrawal from Rhzev
1943 5th July
Battle of Kursk
Leads the northern arm of the siege of Kursk
1943 12th July
Battle of Kursk
Final day of the abortive siege of Kursk as the Russians launch a counter-offensive
1944
1944 13th February
Battle of Riga
The 16th & 18th Armies are ordered back to the Panther Line. Luga is liberated by the Russians
1944 21st August
Battle of Falaise Gap
The final pocket of resistance in the Falaise Gap is removed by the Alies
1944 17th September
Battle of Arnhem
1st day of the Battle of Arhem
1944 21st September
Battle of Arnhem
Model arranged for units to be sent straight to the units in action in order to avoid long-winded logistics, and rushed in specialist street fighting and machine gun battalions. Each day of the battle, the German military strength increased whilst the British supplies diminished. By 21 September, the fifth day of the battle, German forces outnumbered the British by 3:1 and continued to increase
1944 26th September
Battle of Arnhem
Halts the Allied advance
1944 September
Battle of Arnhem
Arnhem was a victory for the Germans (albeit tempered by their losses further south) and a major defeat for the British army.
1944 September
Battle of Arnhem
Model moved his headquarters to Arnhem and was re-establishing defences in the area and co-ordinating the reorganisation of the scattered units so that by the time the Allies launched Market Garden there would be several units opposing them.
1944 September
Battle of Arnhem
The Allies withdrew from the southern bank of the Rhine and the front stabilised on "the island" between the Rhine and Waal rivers.
1944 October
Battle of Arnhem
Although the Germans counterattacked in October they were repulsed and subsequently the front line in The Netherlands would not move until after the winter
1944 2nd December
Battle of Bulge
At a conference Model presses for the "small solution", Hitler refuses
1944 16th December
Battle of Bulge
The closest the Germans get to Antwerp is Dinant, well to the east of the Maas. Ordered by Hitler, Model prefers just to take out the US salient at Aachen
1944 27th December
Battle of Bulge
Hitler orders the "small solution", the battle is lost & Germans retreat into Germany
1945
1945 15th January
Battle of Bulge
Final day of the Battle of the Bulge, gives way to the Allied advance
1945 April
Battle of Ruhr
The Allies encircle Models Army. Model holds out for 18 days until handing over 300,000 troops. Hitler refuses to let Army Group B withdraw. Hitler orders the destruction of the Ruhr, Model refuses
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Second World War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Imperial War Museums · National WWII Museum · Australian War Memorial
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