Hitler's Commander: Field Marshal Walther Model--Hitler's Favorite General

by Steven H. Newton

Field Marshal Walther Model (1891-1945) was an extremely capable and aggressive German commander who rose through the ranks of the Wehrmacht’s high command during World War II. His expertise in rebuilding broken fronts earned him the nickname of the “Fuhrer’s Fireman,” and throughout the war, Hitler relied on the rapidly promoted general to save his army in several desperate situations, despite the fact that Model was often quite blunt with his erratic Fuhrer.Model’s greatest achievement was the restoration of stability along the eastern front in June 1944. In August he was sent to restore the deteriorating western front, where he re-established a strong defensive line along the West Wall in September. He was second-in-command at the Battle of the Bulge and was leading the German army when it collapsed at the end of the war. Rather than surrender, he shot himself in April 1945.Although Model destroyed most of his personal papers just before he died, Stephen H. Newton draws on a wide variety of original German sources, including extensive Wehrmacht archival material, to tell the first and only authoritative story of the commander who was Hitler’s favorite.

Genres: World War II, History, Military History, Biography

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 2, 2005

About the author

I've always read lots of SF and written lots of history.

Now I'm trying to reverse those trends, using the experience of thirty-five years of researching and writing history as the springboard to tell some great stories.

Here's me in a nutshell: 21 years in the US military (active and reserve); 27 years at Delaware State University (teaching history); father of three (now grown) children, including twins; raising a grandson; married for 26 years to a much smarter, more accomplished woman than me.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great insight into the German military High Command during World War II and it's prelude. General Model was Hitler's favorite because he embraced the Blitzkrieg philosophy early in the war. However, after being turned back at the gates of Moscow he adapted and brilliantly defended as he retreated across the Russian Steppes. I had never read anything on this General or the German High Command. They came close to victory on the Eastern Front. Only their arrogance and timing (related to the time of year) stopped them from achieving full victory.

[drew amendola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a military strategist or historian but I read many WW2 books.Perhaps a biography on a almost obscure German general would not be marketed to the more casual reader.The book to me could have been edited to leave out specific references to military unit names which became tiresome.If they did this the book would get 5 stars as the author does mention to keep the story moving.

[Bill Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book highly recommended. Model was a very good defensive General, he led from the front. He cut his teeth on the Eastern Front but finished on the Western Front in the Ruhr Pocket, where he committed suicide instead of surrendering. He burned all his personal papers. He was not well liked by his contemporaries. He argued with Hitler and won more than he lost. Good read

[Ignas Baltrusaitis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. And less information about the genneral.

[Avis Black]

Gave up on it part-way. The author's written other books I like, but this was a real snooze.