Erich Marcks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erich Marcks
Born	(1891-06-06)6 June 1891 Schöneberg, Prussia, German Empire
Died	12 June 1944(1944-06-12) (aged 53) Hébécrevon, Saint-Lô, France
Allegiance	German Empire  Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army
Years of service	1910–1944
Rank	General der Artillerie
Unit	LXXXIV Army Corps
Battles/wars	World War I; World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Erich Marcks (born June 6, 1891 – died June 12, 1944) was a German general. He served in the Wehrmacht, which was Germany's army during World War II. He helped create an early plan for a major invasion. This plan was for Operation Barbarossa, the attack on the Soviet Union.

Early Military Career

Erich Marcks was born in 1891. He joined the German Army in 1910. He fought in World War I. In 1917, he became part of the Imperial General Staff Corps. This group helped plan military operations.

Marcks earned the Iron Cross award twice. After World War I, he joined the Freikorps. This was a group of former soldiers. Later, he joined the new German army, called the Reichsheer.

Between 1921 and 1933, he held many important jobs. He worked in different command positions. He also served in the Ministry of Defense. In 1933, he became Chief of Staff of VIII Corps. He also received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Planning the Invasion of the Soviet Union

The Marcks Plan (published August 5, 1940) was an early German plan for Operation Barbarossa. This was the invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II.

As Chief of Staff VIII Corps, Marcks took part in the Invasion of Poland. He also served during the Battle of France. In the summer of 1940, a top German general asked Marcks for help. He was asked to create a plan to invade the Soviet Union.

Marcks wrote a report called "Operation Draft East." He said the invasion was needed to "protect Germany." His plan suggested a goal line for the invasion. This line was called the A-A line. It stretched from Arkhangelsk in the north to Astrakhan in the south.

Marcks believed the invasion would take about nine to seventeen weeks. This included capturing the city of Moscow.

Later War Years and Death

In December 1940, Marcks became a commanding general. He led the 101st Light Infantry Division. In June 1941, he was badly hurt in Ukraine. His left leg had to be removed.

After he recovered, he took command of another division. This was the 337th Infantry Division. He led this group from March to September 1942. Marcks was then promoted to General der Artillerie.

He became the commanding general of the LXXXIV Corps. He led this corps during the Allied Invasion of Normandy. This invasion happened on D-Day, which was also his 53rd birthday. On June 12, 1944, he was wounded in an Allied air attack. He died on the same day. After his death, he was given the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Awards and Honors

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (September 25, 1914)
  • 1st Class (August 1915)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (September 21, 1939)
  • 1st Class (September 29, 1939)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on June 26, 1941, as a general and commander of the 101 Light Infantry Division
  • Oak Leaves on June 24, 1944, as a general and commander of LXXXIV Army Corps