Ernst Busch (field marshal)

Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch (6 July 1885 – 17 July 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership.

Early life and career
He was born in Essen-Steele, Germany, and was educated at the Groß Lichterfelde Cadet Academy. Busch entered the Prussian Army in 1904 and served on the Western Front during World War I. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite in 1918. After the war, Busch remained in the army and was appointed Inspector of Transport Troops in 1925. He was promoted in 1930 to lieutenant-colonel and given command of the Infantry Regiment No. 9.

World War II
Busch served under Wilhelm List during the Invasion of Poland of 1939, and the following year he led the German Sixteenth Army during the Western Offensive. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Hitler for his efforts.

Busch took part in Operation Barbarossa and on 8 September 1941 his 16th Army took Demyansk before taking part in the siege of Leningrad. Despite a counter-attack by the Red Army, Busch's troops held the line from Staraya Russa to Ostashkov. After a brave defence of his position he was promoted to field marshal. He commanded Army Group Centre in 1943 and 1944 but after the disastrous defeat of June 1944, he was sacked by Hitler early in July 1944 and replaced by Field Marshal Walter Model.

Busch was recalled in March 1945 when he became head of Army Group Northwest. Along with Kurt Student and his 1st Parachute Army, Busch had the task of trying to halt the advance of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and the Allies into Germany. Busch surrendered to Montgomery on 3 May 1945, and died in a prisoner of war camp in Aldershot, England, on 17 July 1945. He is buried at Cannock Chase German war cemetery, Staffordshire.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class (20 September 1914)
 * 1st Class (6 March 1915)
 * Wound Badge (1914)
 * in Black
 * in Silver
 * Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords (14 June 1917)
 * Pour le Mérite (4 October 1918)
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (1 January 1935)
 * Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle clasp
 * Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (18 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (25 September 1939)
 * Eastern Front Medal (30 July 1942)
 * Demyansk Shield
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 26 May 1940 as General der Infanterie and Commander-in-chief of 16. Armee
 * 274th Oak Leaves on 21 August 1943 as Generalfeldmarschall and Commander-in-chief of 16. Armee
 * Mentioned 4 times in the Wehrmachtbericht (6 August 1941, 16 September 1941, 21 October 1941 and 28 January 1943)
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 1st class
 * Order of the Cross of Liberty, First Class with Star and Swords