Walter Model
German field marshal
Died when: 54 years 87 days (650 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Otto Moritz Walter Model (IPA: [ˈmoːdəl]; 24 January 1891 – 21 April 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II.
Although he was a hard-driving, aggressive panzer commander early in the war, Model became best known as a practitioner of defensive warfare.
His relative success as commander of the Ninth Army in the battles of 1941–1942 determined his future career path.Model first came to Hitler's attention before World War II, but their relationship did not become especially close until 1942.
His tenacious style of fighting and loyalty to the Nazi regime won him plaudits from Hitler, who considered him one of his best field commanders and repeatedly sent him to salvage apparently desperate situations on the Eastern Front.
Their relationship broke down by the end of the war after the German defeat at the Battle of the Bulge.
In the aftermath of the encirclement and defeat of Army Group B at the Ruhr Pocket, Model committed suicide on 21 April 1945.
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German field marshal
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German field marshal
German field marshal