Commanded the 10th Army during the Polish Campaign, where he critisized the brutality of the SS-troops, and later Army Group G during the retreat from France. Any opinions about this man ?
He protested to Adolf himself. That was not forgiven. He should be promoted to field marshal for his merit, but was passed. Other generals said that he was field marshal without the batton. He died after the war in US POW camp under suspecious circumstances (he was reportedly killed by other POW from SS). Enyone know more?
A man to be admired. Of an old military family he was appointed commander of Poland after conquest. One of his early clashes with with the SS was when he refused to separate out Jewish Polish soldiers stating they were soldiers like any other. As someone has documented hislater clashes lead Hitler to remove him from command. Later he was in command of the 9th army commanding northern France. Commanded army group G in the south of France being removed after Anvil. Then commander of of Army Group H in northern Germany and Holland. Allowed food and medical aid to come into occupied Holland. Captured by Canadian forces. Confronted by General Volks concerning recently captured Belsen, he refused to beleive what had happened there. Volks sent a German staff officer to Belsen to record conditions. When Blaskowitz saw the photos he broke down and wept. He was later said to have committed suicide while waiting trial for minor warcrimes at Nuremburg.
Interestingly, his complaints about the SS troops in Poland were about their brutality & lack of discipline...