Rundstedt, Gerd von

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Rundstedt, Gerd von (1875–1953) German field marshal, one of Hitler's most successful army commanders. In 1939, he was called out of retirement to take a leading part in the Polish and French campaigns. He commanded an army group during the invasion of the Soviet Union, but was dismissed after being forced to retreat. Rundstedt later returned to active service as commander of the German forces in France. In September 1944, he directed the ‘Battle of the Bulge’, Germany's last-ditch attempt to halt the Allied advance in the west.

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