Home > Johannes Blaskowitz

1 World War I

Blaskowitz served as an infantry officer.

2 During World War II

2.1 Poland 1939

During the Polish September Campaign he commanded the German 8th Army. He was Commander in Chief East in Poland for a short period of time until taking part of the invasion of France.

2.2 French 1940 and the occupation of France

During the French Campaign, Blaskowitz was transferred to command of 9th Army in the west. In early June 1940 he became Military Governor of Northern France.

Blaskowitz held this position until October 1940 when he was transferred to the command of the First Army. He retained this post until May 1944 when he was named commander in chief of Army Group G.

2.3 Campaign in the West 1944-5

He was relieved of command of Army Group G in late September 1944 after officially protesting about SS atrocities in Poland, and reinstated on 24 December 1944. On 28 January 1945 he was appointed commander in chief of Army Group H. This command was redesignated in early April 1945 and Blaskowitz became Commander in Chief Netherlands.

Blaskowitz signed the surrender document for German forces in the Netherlands on 5 May 1945, in the presence of General Charles Foulkes (commander-in-chief of the Canadian liberation army) and His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard. [1].

3 Post War

He was convicted of war crimes and committed suicide on February 5, 1948 by jumping out of a window of Nuremberg prison.