Walter Model est un Generalfeldmarschall allemand de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, né le 24 janvier 1891 à Genthin et mort par suicide le 21 avril 1945 dans les bois près de Ratingen .
Il est connu pour son rôle dans les batailles défensives de la deuxième moitié de la guerre, essentiellement sur le front de l'Est mais également sur celui de l’Ouest et pour son engagement inconditionnel auprès d'Adolf Hitler et du national-socialisme. Il est considéré comme le meilleur tacticien défensif de la Wehrmacht.
Wikipedia
“The best Kamerad inside the pocket will be the Kamerad outside the pocket.”
Der beste K.I.K wird K.A.K
To Colonel Günther Reichhelm on 11 April 1945. Model requested that Reichhelm join him for dinner before his departure. In the staff guest book at the officers' mess, the field marshal carefully wrote. Quoted in "Battle for the Ruhr" - Page 345 - by Derek S. Zumbro - 2006
“Mein Führer, who commands The Ninth Army, you or I?”
To Adolf Hitler on 20 January 1942, Wolfsschanze. Quoted in "Generalfeldmarschall Model Biographie" - Page 115 - by Walter Göriltz - 2012
To Major Winrich Behr in the early morning hours of April 21, 1945. Quoted in "Battle for the Ruhr" - Page 378 - by Derek S. Zumbro - 2006
September 3 1944, <Appeal to the Soldiers of the Army of the West>. Quoted in "Rückzug: The German Retreat from France, 1944" - Page 191 - by Joachim Ludewig - 2012
To his chief of staff General Carl Wagener on 17 April 145, before dissolving Army Group B. Quoted in "Battle for the Ruhr" - Page 373 - by Derek S. Zumbro - 2006
After the Operation Market Garden, Field Marshal Model passed the appreciation from OB West on to his soldier, September 27, 1944. Quoted in "Rückzug: The German Retreat from France, 1944" - Page 278 - by Joachim Ludewig - 2012
To Colonel Theodor Pilling, Lieutenant Colonel Roger Michael, Major Winrich Behr in the evening of April 20, 1945. They tuned in the Wehrmacht receiver, and listened Joseph Goebbels's speech marking the Hitler's Birthday. Quoted in "Battle for the Ruhr" - Page 378 - by Derek S. Zumbro - 2006
“My Soldiers are My Children.”
Meine Soldaten sind Meine Kinder
To SS-Sturmbannführer Heinrich Springer, his aide. In the early morning hours of December 23, 1944. Quoted in "Stationen eines Lebens in Krieg und Frieden" - Page 127 - by Heinrich Springer - 1996
To Major Kratzenberg on 3 July 1942, The Battle of Smolensk. Quoted in "Generalfeldmarschall Model Biographie" - Page 93 - by Walter Göriltz - 2012
“He who leads troops has no right to think about himself.”
Quoted in "Hitler's Generals" - Page 323 - by Correlli Barnett - History - 2003
"Panzer Leader" - by Heinz Guderian - 1952
"Battle for White Russia: the destruction of Army Group Centre, June 1944" - Page 257 - by Gerd Niepold - 1987
