Kay-Bujak, Philip Hermann Balck, Hitler's forgotten General

Although less well known than Rommel or von Manstein, Hermann Balck was regarded by his colleagues and opponents as one of the most talented German commanders of the Second World War. He was a veteran of the First World War, in which he served as a non-commissioned officer on the Western, Eastern, Italian and Balkan fronts and was wounded seven times. In 1940, he led the successful crossing of the Meuse with dramatic consequences. Balck was at the forefront of the new, highly dynamic and aggressive leadership style of mission tactics he constantly visited the front headquarters to brief the officers personally, regardless of the personal danger. He turned down two offers to join the General Staff, preferring to remain in combat operations. Balck was a key driving force behind the growth of the armoured forces. In 1942, he commanded a decimated division against massive superior forces and virtually destroyed the 5th Soviet Tank Army. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (as one of only 27 recipients). He briefly commanded the Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland and pointed out to Hitler that he was wrong about building up the Waffen-SS. Philip Kay-Bujak argues that if Hitler had ignored his criticism of the Waffen-SS and promoted him to field marshal, Balck might have changed the course of the war on the Eastern Front. It was also Balck who nearly defeated the Americans in Salerno in 1943. As commander of Army Group G, he encountered General Patton in 1944, but was unable to stop his advance in Alsace.