Günther von Kluge

Germany state institutions Counter-revolutionary forces 1882–1944 ✕ Suicide

Commander of Army Group Centre over the northern attack at Kursk, a field marshal who killed himself after the 20 July plot

From a Prussian military family, he led the 4th Army in the invasions of Poland in 1939 and France in 1940 and was made field marshal. Amid the crisis of the Soviet counteroffensive before Moscow in December 1941 he replaced Fedor von Bock at the head of Army Group Centre, and at Kursk in 1943 Model's 9th Army, which made the northern attack, was under his command. Members of the resistance served on his staff and he knew of their activities, but refused to join unless Hitler was killed first. Appointed Supreme Commander West in July 1944, he could not stop the Allies in Normandy, and after the 20 July plot, recalled to Berlin, he killed himself on 19 August.

Also known as: Günther Adolf Ferdinand von Kluge