Wilhelm List

German field marshal (1880–1971)

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Lived 1880–1971, aged 91Germany

Germany Historical Figures

Wikipedia
40 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1880–1971
Aged 91
Awards
4
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

A Wehrmacht field marshal who led successful invasions of Poland, France, and the Balkans, then spent the rest of his life defined by what happened under his command in Yugoslavia — mass civilian killings that earned him a life sentence at Nuremberg.

Biography

About

Siegmund Wilhelm Walther List was born 14 May 1880 and built his career as a Bavarian Army staff officer in World War I, then as a senior training official in the interwar Reichswehr. In 1939 he commanded the 14th Army into Poland, then the 12th Army into France in 1940 — success that brought his field marshal's baton. His 12th Army took Yugoslavia and Greece in April 1941; he oversaw anti-partisan operations in the Balkans until resigning that October. Recalled in July 1942 to lead Army Group A's thrust toward the Caucasus, List clashed with Hitler over strategy and was forced into retirement…

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