The Last Prussian: A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt

by Charles Messenger

The renowned WWII historian's in-depth biography of the Nazi military commander who played a key role in the invasions of Poland, France and Russia.

Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt was one of the most important German commanders of the Second World War. He served on both the Western and Eastern Fronts of World War I and rose steadily through the ranks of the German army before retiring in 1938. Then, only a year later, he was recalled to help execute Hitler's invasion of Poland. He played a leading part in this and the subsequent invasion of France. Thereafter he commanded Army Group South in the assault on Russia before being sacked at the end of 1941.

Recalled again, Rundstedt was made Commander-in-Chief West and as such faced the 1944 Allied invasion of France, but was removed that July. He resumed his post in September 1944 and had overall responsibility for the December 1944 Ardennes counter-offensive. Captured by the Americans, he gave testimony as a defense witness at Nuremberg. Though he was charged with war crimes, he was spared trial due to his ill health.

Genres: Military History, Biography, History, World War II, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

Charles Rynd Milles Messenger was a British Army officer and writer. He served for many years in the Royal Tank Regiment (19 years as a Regular, 13 years as a Territorial) before becoming a military historian and defense analyst after his retirement from active service. In addition to having published more than forty books during his long career, he also carried out several historical analyses for the Ministry Of Defence and was a writer and/or adviser for several TV documentary series.

Reviews

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview of von Rundstedt's life and carreer.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Charles Messenger was a fairly prolific writer, this is by far the best book he ever wrote, so far as I can tell. Aside from the book written shortly after the end of WWII by Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt's former C.o.S., General der Infanterie Günther Blumentritt, and the slim paperback written by the respected historian John Keegan in the early 1970s as part of the 'Ballantines Illustrated History of the Violent Century' series, this is (as far as I know) the only biography of Gerd von Rundstedt which is available in the English language (a new edition of this work was published in March 2012 by Pen and Sword Books Ltd.). This biography is so well-researched & well-written that I would not envy anyone who may attempt to write a better one. À propos the title of this book, it could well serve as the final volume in any group of works on the history of the Prussian/German General Staff. Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt was, though he had his flaws like any other man, a great soldier; I believe Charles Messenger did justice to his subject by writing the best book of his career.

[FurstBismarck]

Well written and very informative.

[K De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Messenger's biography "The Last Prussian" is well written and detailed in the military career of General Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt. The maps help the reader understand the campaigns that he undertook both in the First and Second World Wars. The battles are well delineated and illustrated how the Field Marshal used his training in the General Staff to command at both the operational and theatre levels of combat. The most interesting part is after World War Two and his capture by the Americans but is handed over to the British after initial round of interrogations. At least a third of the book is devoted to the life in captivity and the machinations of the victorious Allies to decide to charge him as a war criminal. There is interesting history on how the British War and Foreign departments were at loggerheads as to what to do with the captured German generals as the years passed. The ending was a victory for old age- he was 73 when he was released from custody.

Gerd von Rundstedt was of the Prussian military tradition that had a unyielding code of conduct. However there was a paper trail that had his signature on the infamous Commando Decree duing his time as C-in-C West. While he may have been the last doyen of the Prussian military tradition. He could not evade the stain of evil by Hitler because of his military culture and training.

This biography goes well with the another biography "Manstein" by Mungo Melvin. Well worth reading for a deeper understanding of German military strategy and tactics.

[Terry Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the Kindle Edition which published 2012.

The updated Kindle version is good. It has some redundancy and the chapters on actions on both the Western Front and Eastern Fronts are of some small value for the personality clashes and General Officer interactions. The best chapters are 12 through 16
Some find this dismaying, but the author appears sympathetic. Yes, the author does attempt an neutral and objective view of his subject but the sympathy is unmistakable. For many soldiers, von Rundstedt's strict obedience to remaining apolitical may be understandable but is also inexcusable. The US Army staff, planning and orders process is based on the history of those processes as developed by German General Staff. War Gaming and sand tables are of particular note in this regard.
Despite that the US army has modeled extensively from the German and Prussian military, illegal orders should have been disobeyed. all in all a good book. Chapters 14 and 16 are especially enlightening as the author digs into the trials, the outcomes and the actions by the British, US and New German Govt.

[Alistair Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography of Field Marshal von Rundstedt is engaging enough and is replete with photographs. The biography focuses, naturally, on his military career then the post war years with the question as to whether he should have been prosecuted for war crimes. This question, what did Von Rundstedt know and just how responsible was he isn'r really answered.
In some aspects the biography is lacking, I didn't get a real sense of the nature of his relationship with Hitler and others such as Rommel and the vexed question of July plot. The author does explain this in part by arguing that the traditional loyalty of the Prussian officer class to the monarch came unstuck during the Weimar Republic hence they became trapped by the oath of loyalty to Hitler, almost as a replacement to the monarch.
The biography is interesting enough but not top drawer.

[? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.

[Bill Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books have been written about Field Marshal Gerd Von Rundstedt. This one is great one, he served in WW1 and was involved in Poland, France (1940, 1944) and Operation Barbarossa (invasion of the Soviet Union). It is very honest in his relationship with Hitler and the German General Staff, how he command, thoughts on other Generals both German and Allies and lastly covers his war crimes trial and subsequent imprisonment. Every student of WW2 needs to read this book as well as Kesselring's Memoirs.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messenger's comprehensive treatment of von Rundstedt was long overdue. More mis-information than information has been published about the taciturn Prussian Field Marshal, and Messenger sets the record straight. Excellent research and good writing combine to make this book a winner.