After Germany’s surrender in 1945, the men who had held the highest military rank in the Nazi war machine faced very different fates. Some were tried and imprisoned, others died before facing justice, and a few received surprisingly lenient sentences. Here is what happened to several of Hitler’s most trusted field marshals.
Walther von Brauchitsch
Born into a military family, Walther von Brauchitsch served as commander-in-chief of the German Army from 1938 to 1941. He oversaw the successful Blitzkrieg campaigns in Poland, France, and the Low Countries. However, his authority was increasingly undermined by Hitler’s micromanagement, especially during the invasion of the Soviet Union.
After suffering a heart attack in November 1941 and the failure of Operation Typhoon, Hitler dismissed him in December 1941. Von Brauchitsch spent the rest of the war in forced retirement at his estate.
In August 1945, British forces arrested him on war crimes charges. He was held for three years awaiting trial. On October 18, 1948, just as he was set to face prosecution, he died of pneumonia. His death meant he never had to answer for his actions in court.
Maximilian von Weichs
Maximilian von Weichs commanded the Second Army during invasions of France, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union. In 1944, he was appointed commander of German forces in the Balkans, where his responsibilities included suppressing partisan resistance.
His tenure in the Balkans was marked by brutal anti-partisan operations and widespread atrocities against civilians. He retired on March 25, 1945, and was arrested by American troops in May.
Von Weichs was scheduled to participate in the US Army’s Hostages Trial, facing charges related to the suppression of partisans. However, he was removed from the proceedings before being judged or sentenced, officially for medical reasons. He died on September 27, 1954, in Bonn, West Germany, at age 72.
Georg von Küchler
Georg von Küchler joined the German Army in 1900 and specialized in artillery. During World War II, he commanded the 18th Army and later Army Group North. His harsh military policies and involvement in war crimes would eventually catch up with him.
He was promoted to field marshal in 1942 but was relieved of command by Hitler in early 1944 after failing to halt Soviet counter-offensives. He declined an invitation to join the anti-Hitler movement.
After the war, von Küchler was arrested by the American Army and tried in the High Command Trial. He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the murder of mentally disabled individuals in occupied territories. He received a 20-year sentence, later reduced to 12 years. He was released in February 1953 and died on May 5, 1968.
Wilhelm von Leeb
Wilhelm von Leeb began his career in the Bavarian Army and earned the Military Order of Max Joseph during World War I, which granted him a noble title. He commanded Army Group C during the invasion of France in 1940 and was promoted to field marshal in March 1941.
During Operation Barbarossa, von Leeb led Army Group North toward Leningrad. His forces cooperated closely with the SS Einsatzgruppen, which carried out mass executions, and he transmitted the Barbarossa Decree authorizing the killing of Soviet political commissars.
After requesting more autonomy or relief from command in January 1942, Hitler relieved him. Von Leeb was tried in the High Command Trial. Despite serious allegations, he received only a three-year sentence, which was effectively time served. His defense portrayed him as a humane soldier who had not personally signed criminal orders.
Notably, von Leeb had received substantial financial benefits from the Nazi regime, including secret gifts of 250,000 Reichsmarks and an estate valued at 660,000 Reichsmarks. After release, he returned to his estate in Bavaria and died of a heart attack in 1956.
Ewald von Kleist
Ewald von Kleist came from a military family and commanded the First Panzer Group during the invasion of France in 1940. He later led the First Panzer Army during Operation Barbarossa, taking part in major tank battles and encirclements at Uman and Kiev.
In 1942, he commanded Army Group A during the offensive into the Caucasus, but the campaign faltered due to overextended resources and Soviet resistance. Hitler dismissed him on March 30, 1944.
After the failed assassination attempt on Hitler in July 1944, von Kleist was arrested due to his cousin’s involvement in the conspiracy, but he avoided trial and was released. After the war, he was captured by Allied forces and handed over to Yugoslavia, where he was sentenced to 15 years for war crimes. He was later extradited to the Soviet Union, where he was sentenced to 25 years in a labor camp.
Von Kleist died of heart failure on November 13, 1954, at Vladimir Central Prison, making him one of the highest-ranking German officers to die in Soviet captivity.
Wilhelm List
Wilhelm List remained in the reduced Reichswehr after World War I and helped modernize Germany’s military under the Treaty of Versailles. He played a key role in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and was promoted to field marshal in 1940.
List commanded German forces during the Balkan campaign in 1941, including the invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece. The region saw brutal repression, mass executions, and harsh reprisals against partisans and civilians. His position as commanding officer linked him to these war crimes.
In 1942, during Case Blue, List’s forces faced logistical challenges and strong Soviet resistance while trying to capture oil fields in the Caucasus. Hitler dismissed him when the operation faltered.
After the war, List was arrested and tried in the Hostages Trial. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1948 but released in 1953 due to ill health. He lived for another 19 years, passing away on August 17, 1971, at age 91.
These field marshals, once among the most powerful men in Nazi Germany, met vastly different ends—some in prison, some in obscurity, and some without ever facing full accountability for the wars and atrocities they helped carry out.