Ernst Busch (military)
| Ernst Busch | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 6 July 1885 |
| Died | 17 July 1945 (aged 60) Camp Aldershot, United Kingdom |
| Buried at | Cannock Chase German war cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1904–45 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands held | 16th Army |
| Battles/wars |
World War II |
| Awards |
Pour le Mérite Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch (6 July 1885 – 17 July 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II who commanded the 16th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
Born in 1885, Busch entered the Prussian Army in 1904 and served during World War I. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite in 1918. After the war, Busch remained in the army reaching divisional level command. Busch served under Wilhelm List during the Invasion of Poland of 1939, and the following year he led the 16th Army during the Western Offensive. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Hitler.
During Operation Barbarossa in September 1941, the 16th Army captured Demyansk before taking part in the siege of Leningrad in positions near from Staraya Russa to Ostashkov. Promoted to field marshal, Busch commanded Army Group Centre in 1943 and 1944. After the destruction of the Army Group Center in the Soviet summer offensive of 1944, Operation Bagration, he was relieved of command in early in July 1944 and replaced by Field Marshal Walter Model.
Busch was recalled in March 1945 when he became head of Army Group Northwest. Along with Kurt Student and his 1st Parachute Army, Busch had the task of trying to halt the advance of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's forces into Germany. Busch surrendered to Montgomery on 3 May 1945, and died of heart failure in a prisoner of war camp in England, on 17 July 1945.
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