Gerd von Rundstedt

German Field Marshal during World War II (1875-1953)

  • Fame63.0
  • Momentum16.9
  • Historical Figures rank#243
Source-basedRising
  • Fame63.0
  • Momentum16.9
  • Historical Figures rank#243
  • Wikipedia80.6K
Lived 1875–1953, aged 78Germany
  • Wikipedia
    55 languages
    Cross-language footprint
  • Era
    1875–1953
    Aged 78
  • Known for
    The Smashing of the Re…
    1961
Summary
Updated 2026-06-21

The Wehrmacht's most senior officer by war's end — a Prussian field marshal who commanded three major fronts, authorized retreats Hitler despised, and chaired the tribunal that expelled July plotters from the army so the regime could kill them.

Biography

About

Born into a Prussian military family in 1875, Rundstedt entered the army in 1892 and spent World War I as a staff officer. He rose to Colonel General before retiring in 1938, then was recalled a year later to command Army Group South in the Polish invasion. During the Battle of France he led Army Group A and requested the Halt Order at Dunkirk; in 1940 he was promoted to Field Marshal. Commanding Army Group South in the Soviet invasion, he oversaw the encirclement at Kiev — the largest in history — but was relieved in December 1941 after ordering withdrawal from Rostov. Recalled in 1942 as Com…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Gerd von Rundstedt

Gerd von Rundstedt
said
Nothing would have been changed for the German people, but my name would have gone down in history as that of the greatest traitor.
Quoted in "Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal - Page 87 - Nuremberg, Germany - 1947
Gerd von Rundstedt
said
Just as the defending force has gathered valuable experience from...Dieppe, so has the assaulting force...He will not do it like this a second time.
August 1942. Quoted in "Dieppe 1942: The Jubilee Disaster" - Page 263 - by Ronald Atkin - History - 1980
Gerd von Rundstedt
said
The vastness of Russia devours us.
In the summer of 1942. Quoted in "Inside Hitler's Germany: Life Under the Third Reich" - Page 127 - by Matthew Hughes, Chris Mann - History
Gerd von Rundstedt
said
It is madness to attempt to hold. In the first place the troops cannot do it and in the second place if they do not retreat they will be destroyed.
November 30, 1941. Rundstedt sent this wire message that resulted in him being dismissed from office. Quoted in "The Rise and Fall of the
Gerd von Rundstedt
saidundated
The morale of the troops taking part was astonishingly high at the start of the offensive.
Quoted in "World War II: Europe" - Page 44 - by Reg Grant, Various - 2004
Deep cuts

Era & geography

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Deep cuts

Legacy

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Where to find them

Platforms

By the numbers

Score breakdown

The six component signals behind the Fame score, and their ranks across the leaderboards.

Fame
Rising
63.0
Composite of search demand, mentions, audience & graph footprint.
Score components
Momentum16.9
Historical26.9
Now attention19.3
Source confidence65.0
Completeness75.0
Global rank
Country rank
Category rank
#243
Receipts

Sources

  • Wikipedia
    wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
    High confidence
  • Wikidata
    wikidata · wikidata.org
    High confidence
  • Pantheon 2.0
    database · pantheon.world
    High confidence