- Born
- Died
- Birth nameKarl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- Gerd von Rundstedt was born on December 12, 1875 in Aschersleben, Germany. He was married to Luise (Bila) von Goetz. He died on February 24, 1953 in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
- SpouseLuise (Bila) von Goetz(January 22, 1902 - October 4, 1952) (her death, 1 child)
- ParentsGerd Arnold Konrad von RundstedtAdelheid Eleonore Fischer
- He was played by Paul Hartmann in The Longest Day (1962) and Wolfgang Preiss in A Bridge Too Far (1977).
- He was against the idea of invading the Soviet Union in 1941, but did nothing to oppose the plan.
- A heavy smoker, he suffered a mild heart attack in October 1941.
- After World War II he tried to blame Adolf Hitler for the "Halt Order" during the invasion of France, even though he himself had requested the order.
- Served as a Field Marshall in the Wehrmacht. For his success during the France campaign in 1940, he was awarded the German Knights Cross.
- Nothing would have been changed for the German people, but my name would have gone down in history as that of the greatest traitor.
- Disorderly, irregular warfare behind the front of the Army must bring very great misery to the population of the country affected. No army in the world can tolerate such conditions for any length of time, but in the interests of the security and protection of its own troops it must take sharp, energetic measures. But this should, of course, be done in a correct and soldierly manner.
- We should have known better after the first war. The French came close to collapse in 1917; the English, even after our 1918 offensive, never.
- It is a pity that this faithful youth is sacrificed in a hopeless situation.
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