Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg
Encyclopedia
Leo Dietrich Franz Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg (2 March 1886 – 27 January 1974) was a German
cavalry officer in World War I
and a general
during World War II
. He was particularly noted for his expertise in armoured warfare
and his command of Panzer Group West during the Invasion of Normandy.
and joined the German Army
in 1904. From 1933-37, he was a military attaché
to the United Kingdom
, Belgium
and the Netherlands
, residing in London
.
On 10 June 1944, Geyr was wounded when Royal Air Force
aircraft attacked his newly established headquarters
at La Caine
in Normandy.
From 1945-47, Geyr was in American
captivity.
During the early 1950s Geyr was instrumental in advising how to restructure the newly built German Army (Bundeswehr) of West Germany. [See: Searle's "Wehrmacht Generals."]
He died in Irschenhausen
near Munich
. His daughter Blanche Freiin Geyr von Schweppenburg (* 24. März 1918; † 21. Mai 2003) was married to Curt-Christoph von Pfuel
(* 2. September 1907, Berlin
; † 5. August 2000, Bonn
), prussian assessor, member of the Council of Europe
, last Fideikommiss
, Lord of Jahnsfelde.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
cavalry officer in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and a general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was particularly noted for his expertise in armoured warfare
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
and his command of Panzer Group West during the Invasion of Normandy.
Biography
Geyr was born in PotsdamPotsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
and joined the German Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
in 1904. From 1933-37, he was a military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, residing in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
On 10 June 1944, Geyr was wounded when Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
aircraft attacked his newly established headquarters
Attack on Panzer Group West's headquarters at La Caine
The Attack on Panzer Group West's headquarters at La Caine in Normandy was a successful airstrike by the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force. The raid took place on 10 June 1944 and knocked out German control of its armour...
at La Caine
La Caine
La Caine is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France.-World War II:Following the Allied Normandy Landings, the headquarters of Panzer Group West was established in the Chateau at La Caine. The headquarters' new location was revealed to the British...
in Normandy.
From 1945-47, Geyr was in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
captivity.
During the early 1950s Geyr was instrumental in advising how to restructure the newly built German Army (Bundeswehr) of West Germany. [See: Searle's "Wehrmacht Generals."]
He died in Irschenhausen
Icking
Icking is a municipality in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in Bavaria in Germany.-Townships:It consists of:*Attenhausen*Dorfen*Holzen*Icking*Irschenhausen*Meilenberg*Obere Alpe*Schützenried*Schlederloh*Spatzenloh*Wadlhausen*Walchstadt...
near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. His daughter Blanche Freiin Geyr von Schweppenburg (* 24. März 1918; † 21. Mai 2003) was married to Curt-Christoph von Pfuel
Pfuel
The German ancient noble family of Pfuel arrived in Brandenburg in the year 926 and later widened their influence to Saxony, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Württemberg, Westphalia, Eastern Europe and Sweden....
(* 2. September 1907, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
; † 5. August 2000, Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
), prussian assessor, member of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, last Fideikommiss
Fee tail
At common law, fee tail or entail is an estate of inheritance in real property which cannot be sold, devised by will, or otherwise alienated by the owner, but which passes by operation of law to the owner's heirs upon his death...
, Lord of Jahnsfelde.
Ranks
- 1917: RittmeisterRittmeisterRotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
- 1932: OberstColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
- 1935: GeneralmajorBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
- 1937: GeneralleutnantLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
- 1940: General der KavallerieGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
- 1941: renamed to General der PanzertruppeGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Own works
- Geyr Von Schweppenburg, Leo. Erinnerungen eines Militarattachés: London 1933–1937. - Stuttgart, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1949
- Geyr Von Schweppenburg, Leo. Die Verteidigung des Westens. - Frankfurt, Verlag Friedrich Rudl, 1952
- Geyr Von Schweppenburg, Leo. Die große Frage. - Bernard & Graefe, 1952
- Geyr Von Schweppenburg, Leo. The Critical Years. - Allan Wingate, London 1952