Brauchitsch, Walther von

Brauchitsch, Walther von välˈtər fən brouˈkhĭch [key], 1881–1948, German field marshal. Of a Prussian Junker family, he served in World War I with the general staff and later remained in the military. In Feb., 1938, he became commander in chief of the German army, and in World War II he won swift victories (1939–40) in Poland, the Low Countries, and France and was made field marshal. Reverses in the Soviet Union late in 1941 led to his dismissal. He died while awaiting trial as a war criminal.

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