Ernst Busch (field marshal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernst Busch
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Busch as Generalfeldmarschall
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| Birth name | Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch |
| Born | 6 July 1885 Essen, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 17 July 1945 (aged 60) Camp Aldershot, United Kingdom |
| Buried |
Cannock Chase German war cemetery
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| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  German Army |
| Years of service | 1904–45 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands held | VIII Army Corps 16th Army Army Group Centre |
| Battles/wars | World War I
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| Awards | Pour le Mérite Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
| Signature |  |
Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch (born July 6, 1885 – died July 17, 1945) was a German Generalfeldmarschall, which is a very high-ranking general. He served during World War II. He was in charge of the 16th Army and later a large group of armies called Army Group Centre.
Busch started his military career as an infantry officer in World War I. After the war, he stayed in the army of the Weimar Republic. He slowly moved up in rank. By 1936, he was a general leading the 23rd Infantry Division. During the invasion of Poland, he commanded the VIII Army Corps. In 1940, he became the commander of the 16th Army. He led this army during the 1940 Battle of France and Operation Barbarossa, which was the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.
By October 1943, Busch was the commander of Army Group Centre. However, he was removed from his position in June 1944. This happened after his command collapsed during the Soviet Union's Operation Bagration. He later commanded Army Group Northwest in the final months of the war. Ernst Busch died as a prisoner of war in England.
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Early Life and World War I Service
Ernst Busch was born on July 6, 1885, in Essen, a city in Germany. In 1904, he finished his training at the Gross Lichterfelde Cadet Academy. He then joined the Imperial Army as an officer cadet. He was first with the Westphalian 13th Infantry Regiment. Later, he moved to the 57th Infantry Regiment. There, he became a Leutnant, or second lieutenant. In 1913, he was promoted to Oberleutnant, a first lieutenant. He also received more training at the War Academy.
During World War I, Busch mostly served on the Western Front. He started as a company commander. Within a few months of the war beginning, he received the Iron Cross twice. In 1915, he became a Hauptmann, or captain. He was then put in charge of a battalion in the 56th Infantry Regiment. He fought in many battles in areas like Artois, Flanders, and Champagne. In 1917, he received the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords. The next year, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, a very high military honor.
Between the Wars: Rising Through the Ranks
After World War I, Busch remained in the German army, which was then called the Reichsheer. For several years, he worked in various staff roles. He was also an Inspector of Transport Troops for a time. He commanded a battalion in the 9th Infantry Regiment.
Busch strongly supported Adolf Hitler. Because of this, he received many quick promotions starting in 1933. He soon became an Oberst, or colonel. He commanded the 9th Infantry Regiment, which was based in Potsdam. In 1935, he was promoted to Generalmajor. He was given command of the 23rd Infantry Division. In 1938, there were disagreements between Hitler and two senior officers. Busch sided with Hitler during these tensions. At this point, Busch was a General der Infanterie, a general of infantry. He was also in charge of Wehrkreis VIII, a military district.
World War II: Key Battles and Commands
Fighting in Poland and France
When World War II began in September 1939, Busch was the commander of the VIII Army Corps. This corps took part in the invasion of Poland. It was part of the 14th Army. His troops captured the city of Kraków. They reached the Vistula River and advanced to Lviv. During the fighting in Poland, he received the Clasp to the Iron Cross twice.
The next year, Busch led the 16th Army. This army had 13 infantry divisions. They fought during the Battle of France. His army protected the left side of General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian's XIX Panzer Corps. During the later parts of the fighting in France, Busch received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Soon after, on July 19, 1940, he was promoted to Generaloberst. After the campaign in France, Busch's 16th Army stayed there until early 1941. Then, it was moved to Poland.
The Invasion of the Soviet Union
In late June 1941, Operation Barbarossa began. This was the invasion of the Soviet Union. Busch's 16th Army had seven infantry divisions. It was part of Army Group North. His army moved into the Baltic States and Russia. They captured Staraya Russa in August. By December, the 16th Army had grown much larger. Busch now commanded nine infantry divisions and two motorized divisions. He also had one more division in reserve.
In January 1942, the Soviet army started its winter attack. Parts of Busch's army became surrounded. The city of Staraya Russa was almost lost. Busch had to use his reserve troops to hold the city. The commander of Army Group North, Generaloberst Georg von Küchler, was not happy with Busch. He wanted to remove Busch from command, but this was not allowed. The Soviet attack then focused on Army Group Centre. This took pressure off the 16th Army. Busch was able to free his surrounded troops. This took several months and his army needed more soldiers.
For the rest of 1942 and into 1943, the 16th Army's area was fairly quiet. The Soviet army focused its attacks on the 18th Army, which was surrounding Leningrad. On February 1, 1943, Busch was promoted to Generalfeldmarshall. This promotion was mainly because Hitler favored him, not just for his leadership. Six months later, he received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.
On October 28, 1943, Generalfeldmarshall Gunther von Kluge, the commander of Army Group Centre, was injured. Busch was chosen to replace him. Army Group Centre had 76 divisions across four armies. Most of these were infantry divisions. However, few divisions were at full strength. Over the next months, Busch combined some of them. Many divisions were also not very strong, especially the Hungarian divisions and eight Luftwaffe Field Divisions. By June 1944, his command had 38 infantry divisions.
Busch faced many attacks when the Soviet army began its winter operations in late 1943. He often followed Hitler's orders without question. He did not make many independent decisions. For example, fighting near Vitebsk threatened to cut off one of the divisions. Busch had to ask Hitler for permission to let it retreat. Hitler said no. The division was only saved because its commander, Georg-Hans Reinhardt, ordered it to retreat on his own. In May 1944, Busch also agreed to Hitler's order to move his LVI Panzer Corps. This left his own command with very few tanks.
Busch mostly ignored the growing number of Soviet forces facing Army Group Centre. His officers tried to shorten their front lines, but he refused. He kept repeating Hitler's orders that there should be no retreat. Specifically, the towns of Vitebsk, Orsha, Mogilev, and Bobruisk had to be held strongly. Busch tried to ask Hitler about this, but Hitler refused and made fun of him. This made Busch even more determined to follow Hitler's orders without question.
By mid-June, Army Group Centre had 700,000 troops. But they were outnumbered by 2,500,000 Soviet soldiers. On June 22, the Soviet summer attack of 1944, Operation Bagration, began. Army Group Centre's 34 divisions were overwhelmed by nearly 120 Soviet divisions. His army commanders immediately asked for permission to retreat. But Busch said no, insisting they hold their positions. Within two days, most of his divisions were destroyed. Busch had overseen the loss of 250,000 to 300,000 men. This was Germany's biggest defeat on the Eastern Front. Hitler removed Busch from his command on June 28. Field Marshal Walter Model replaced him. Model managed to stop the Soviet advance, but not until they reached the Vistula River. Busch became very sad after being fired. This happened because he followed Hitler's orders so closely.
Final Command and Capture
Busch slowly regained Hitler's favor. He was called back to duty on March 20, 1945. He became the head of Army Group Northwest. His job was to defend the German coastline along the North Sea. However, he had few resources. Many of the men under his command did not respect him. Busch surrendered to Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery on May 4, 1945. He died in a prisoner of war camp in Aldershot, England, on July 17, 1945. He was first buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery. Later, his remains were moved to Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery.
See also
In Spanish: Ernst Busch (militar) para niños
