Instances of military disobedience on part of German commanders

Can anyone refer me to an instance (or instances) of military disobedience on the part of a German commander in the field during World War II with respect to a purely military course of action? Examples of German military commanders refusing to obey orders to advance and opting to retreat instead, especially in the later stages of the war, are numerous - what I'm looking for is examples of unauthorised offensive action/advancement. Rommel, during Operation Sonnenblume, is a case in point. I'd really appreciate referral to other episodes of that nature during the war, on any front.

Thanks.

 

Guderian during the French campaign would be a good example, on May 17th he staged a "reconnaissance in force" that practically included everything but the rear echelons (and the corps HQ as Guderian was explicitly ordered not to move his HQ) continuing the advance despite having oders to halt his advance to allow the infantry to catch up. This advance kept the French off balance and probably contributed to the victory.

 

In Normandy German commanders frequently ignored the hold to the last man order. Sepp Dietricht was good at timing reports to allow for a forbidden withdrawal to be reported as a fait accompli.

German military doctrine made it an explicit duty of a commander to act on their initiative in chaotic situations and take responsibility. Inactivity was seen as a greater sin than disobedience. Commanders much more latitude that allied commanders to change their missions when changing circumstances invalidated original orders.

 

I guess Paul Häusser giving the retreat order from Kharkov early 1943 is the best example of something that changed war momentarily. Otherwise the SS panzer Korps would have been captured in Kharkov as Hitler ordered the troops stay still. Later on Manstein gave the backhand slap with these troops.

Model then again is said to have stopped early his Kursk July 1943 offensive as he was preparing for the red Army offensive from the east, as Hitler expected him to push forward towards Kursk. Model was correct to prepare defence positions, probably informed by recon.

Von Kluge and operation Typhoon:

https://books.google.fi/books?id=DO6j77x5mlgC&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=von+kluge+and+1941+and+winter&source=bl&ots=a0HlebM_fB&sig=ZV7-6T7eobgOQV7v3qYB_9ZbE0Q&hl=fi&sa=X&ei=KrWuVIGLGIfVPJujgPgD&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=von%20kluge%20and%201941%20and%20winter&f=false

 

I agree wit Kai-Petri, I think ther Kharkov retreat in '43 is the best example.

 

Another example is Rommel's disobedience to Hitler's "stand or die" order at Alamain.

 

Thanks for the input TiredOldSoldier - thanks, the example of Guderian is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for. Like I said, examples of disobedience in the context of unauthorised retreat in the face of 'stand and die' orders or the such like are plentiful. Overzealous advancement is a phenomenon really only featuring in the glory days of blitzkrieg, I'm guessing. Any more examples, anyone?

 

One can argue that Paulus's surrender at Stalingrad was a example of disobedience since he was given orders by Hitler to "hold their positions to the last man and last round..."

 

Von Reichenau also retreat AGS from Rostov in 1941 against orders, Von Rundstedt had been fired for suggesting a retreat and replaced by Von Reichenau

 

I guess the big number of generals fired in Decemeber 1941 for retreating was andexample that Hitler thought he could control the situation by putting other people to their place whereas the problem was the weather and massive Red Army attack. In the Red Army I recall reading that actually the position of the political officer in planning operations was lessened more and more during the war because they simply did not understand tactics. Then again the Germans had more and more fanatical nazis in the top positions.

 

Some commisars were assigned command positions during the war, the main difference was the ability of the officer to over rule the commander was removed.