Robert Martinek

Robert Martinek

Robert Martinek
Born 2 February 1889
Gratzen, Austria-Hungary
Died 28 June 1944(1944-06-28) (aged 55)
near Berezino, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary (to 1918)
Austria First Austrian Republic (to 1938)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1907–38 (Austria)
1938–44 (Germany)
Rank Oberst (Austria)
General der Artillerie (Germany)
Commands held 267th Infantry Division
XXXIX Panzer Corps
Battles/wars

World War I

World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Robert Martinek (2 February 1889 – 28 June 1944) was an artillery officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I and in the Wehrmacht Heer during World War II

Career

Born in 1889, Martinek enlisted in the army of Austria-Hungary in 1907 and served during World War I. In the inter-war he taught at (and during the 1930s, headed) the Austrian military's Artillery School. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, Martinek continued to serve with the Wehrmacht Heer. He commanded the 267th Infantry Division from late 1941–1942, and the 7th Mountain Division during 1942. He was in command of the heavy concentrations of artillery in the Siege of Sevastopol. On 1 December 1942 Martinek took command of XXXIX Panzer Corps, with which he served on the Eastern Front. Martinek was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

In June 1944, the XXXIX Panzer Corps was assigned to Army Group Centre in the Belorussian SSR. Shortly before the massive Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration, a battalion commander in the 12th Infantry Division raised concerns about a possible attack with Martinek, who was on a tour of inspection. Martinek agreed but in response cited the proverb "Whom God would destroy, he first strikes blind".[1] Soviet forces launched an offensive against Army Group Centre on 23 June; Martinek's corps was rapidly outflanked and was ordered to fall back to more defensible positions. Martinek was killed in an air attack on 28 June while being driven to a new command post near Berezino.

Awards and decorations

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Glantz 1995, p. 219.
  2. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 62.
  3. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 296.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 303.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 78.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Glantz, David. When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler, 1995.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 


Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Friedrich-Karl von Wachter		 Commander of 267. Infanterie-Division
10 November 1941 – 1 January 1942 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Friedrich-Karl von Wachter
Preceded by
Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim		 Commander of XXXIX.Panzerkorps
1 December 1942 – 13 November 1943 		Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Carl Püchler
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Carl Püchler		 Commander of XXXIX.Panzerkorps
18 April 1944 – 28 June 1944 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Otto Schünemann
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