Fedor von Bock

Von Bock commanded Army Group North during the invasion of Poland. His forces advanced from Pomerania and East Prussia, encircling Polish forces. The campaign ended with the surrender of Warsaw and the partition of Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union.

Von Bock commanded Army Group Center, the main German force in the invasion of the Soviet Union. His forces captured Minsk, Smolensk, and advanced to the outskirts of Moscow. The campaign stalled in winter, failing to capture Moscow.

Von Bock's Army Group Center launched Operation Typhoon to capture Moscow. Soviet counterattacks and harsh winter conditions halted the German advance. The failure to take Moscow marked the first major German defeat on the Eastern Front.

After the failure at Moscow, von Bock was relieved of command by Hitler. He was briefly recalled in 1942 to command Army Group South but was again dismissed after disagreements with Hitler over strategy. He retired to his estate and was killed in an air raid in 1945.