Johannes Blaskowitz

Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz (10 July 1883 – 5 February 1948) was a German Generaloberst (colonel general) during World War II. After joining the Imperial German Army in 1901, Blaskowitz served throughout World War I, where he earned the Iron Cross for bravery. During World War II, Blaskowitz led the 8th Army during the Invasion of Poland and was the Commander in Chief of occupied Poland from 1939 to 1940. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He commanded Army Group G during the Allied invasion of Southern France and Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive of World War II on the Western Front. Blaskowitz later commanded the remnants of Army Group H as it withdrew to Northern Netherlands before surrendering to Allied forces. Blaskowitz wrote several memoranda to the German high command objecting to the criminal conduct of the SS and its Einsatzgruppen during and after the 1939 invasion of Poland. He court-martialed several SS members for war crimes against Jewish and Polish civilians. As a result, Adolf Hitler limited Blaskowitz's future commands and career advancement. After the war, Blaskowitz was charged with war crimes in the High Command Trial at Nuremberg. He died by suicide during the trial on 5 February 1948.