Word: leeb
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Made to Pattern. For administering his vastly complicated domain, with its endless problems of supply, intelligence, defense against air raids and life among the unpredictable conquered, Gerd von Rundstedt was born and raised. Facing him and others of his pattern-Junkers Bock, Leeb, Reichenau-the democratic world can be thankful that by now the mold is probably broken. It is unlikely that Adolf Hitler's politics-ridden machine can ever produce the kind of officer that the Reich, from Moltke to Kaiser Wilhelm, poured forth in dazzling profusion...
...Prussian parliamentary crisis in the summer of 1932, Rundstedt took charge of Berlin on Hindenburg's order to see that order was kept. His reward was command of Army Group I, with headquarters in Berlin. He was still in command in 1935 when the hollow-cheeked, ascetic Leeb took over Group II (based on Kassel) and the chill-eyed, death-glorifying Bock became commander of Group III (Dresden...
There was prophecy in this alignment, but its fulfillment was delayed. Rundstedt was like Bock and Leeb, but there were other variations from the Junker pattern. Broad-faced Brauchitsch truckled to Hitler, became Commander in Chief of the German Army in 1938. Jaunty, rakehell Keitel made compromises, became Chief of the Supreme Command. Haider became Chief of the General Staff...
...France the same pair was back again! Bock on the right, Rundstedt in the center. Now Leeb was with them. He commanded the left, and Germany had its greatest trio in the field. Their work had improved; Poland had taught them much. And when the French campaign was over, there was still more to learn...
This time it was Russia. Now Leeb took the left, assailed Leningrad. Bock took the center, headed for Moscow. Rundstedt took the right and headed for Rostov. This time, in a campaign against which the Junker clique was reported to have fought and been overruled, the trio failed...