WERNER VON BLOMBERG

2 SEPTEMBER 1878- 14 MARCH 1946

Werner Blomberg was born in Stargard, Pommerania, Germany, on 2nd September, 1878. He joined the German Army and served as a second lieutenant in the 73rd Fusilier Regiment 1897 and Lieutenant in 1899. He attended the War Academy (1904-07) before joining the General Staff in 1908. Before this he became Senior Lieutenant in 1907.

Before the War von Blomberg whas promoted to Captain in 1911.

On the outbreak of the First World War Blomberg was General Staff Officer with the 19th Reserve Division. Vond Blomberg get another promotion during his service in the first World War, that one of Major on the 22 March 1916. He served on the Western Front where he won the Pour le Mérite on the 3 June 1918. Blomberg's two brothers were both killed in the conflict.

Blomberg remained in the army and in 1920 was promoted to lieutenant colonel 18 Dember 1920 and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Doeberitz Brigade. Four years later General Hans von Seeckt appointed him as chief of army training. One year later vond Blomberg reached another promotion, he became Colonel 1 April 1925.

Exactly three years later Blomberg was promoted to the rank of major general and was appointed chief of the Troop Office. In this position he clashed with Kurt von Schleicher and in 1929 was sent to East Prussia to serve under Walther von Reichenau. The same year on the 1^ste of October he became his next promotion that one of Lieutenant General.

In 1932 Blomberg was head of the German delegation at the Geneva Disarmament Conference.

 His next promotion became already in 1933, Honourary General of Infantry and Colonel General the same year, 30 January 1933 and 31 Augustus 1933. Also the same year Adolf Hitler appointed him minister of defence and in 1935 minister of war and commander in chief of the German Army.

 It was Blomberg's idea to get all soldiers to pledge an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler.

 In April 1936 Blomberg became Hitler's first field marshal.

Hermann Goering was jealous of Blomberg's power and used the Gestapo to obtain embarrassing information about his private life. In January, 1938, Blomberg resigned when he discovered that Goering was planning to make public the fact that his new young wife was a former prostitute.

Werner vond Blomberg whas retired from Army service on the 4th February 1938.

After the Second World War Blomberg was captured by Allied troops and gave evidence at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial. Werner von Blomberg died while being held in detention on 14th March, 1946.

Werner vond Blomberg whas burried in Bad Wiessee.

Private Collection

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