This article is about the German World War II general. For the German historian, see Erich Marcks (historian). For the German educator and criminologist, see Erich Marks.
Erich Marcks (6 June 1891 – 12 June 1944) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He authored the first draft of the operational plan, Operation Draft East, for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, advocating what was later known as A-A line as the goal for the Wehrmacht to achieve, within nine to seventeen weeks. Marcks studied philosophy in Freiburg in 1909.[1]
Born in 1891, Erich Marcks joined the Army in 1910 and fought in World War I. He completed General Staff Training and was transferred to the Imperial General Staff Corps in 1917. Marcks was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and then 1st Class, and posted to the German Supreme Command.[2] After the war, Marcks fought with the paramilitary Freikorps. He joined the Army of the German Republic (Reichsheer); between 1921 and 1933, he held several staff and command positions, and then served in the Ministry of Defense. On 1 April 1933, after Hitler came to power, Marcks was transferred to the army, serving as Chief of Staff of VIII Corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
Operation Draft East
The Marcks Plan (published 5 August 1940) was the original German plan of attack for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Soviet Union during World War II, as depicted in a US Government study (March 1955)
As Chief of Staff VIII Corps, Marcks took part in the attack on Poland and was promoted to Chief of Staff 18th Army, serving with it during the Battle of France. In the summer of 1940, Franz Halder, chief of OKH General Staff, directed Marcks to draft an initial operational plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union. Marcks produced a report entitled "Operation Draft East". Citing the need to "protect Germany against enemy bombers", the report advocated the A-A line as the operational objective of the invasion of "Russia" (sic). This goal was a line from Arkhangelsk on the Arctic Sea through Gorky and Rostov to the port city of Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga on the Caspian Sea. Marcks envisioned that the campaign, including the capture of Moscow and beyond, would require between nine and seventeen weeks to complete.[3]
Russia, Normandy and death
In December 1940 Marcks became commanding general of the 101st Light Infantry Division. In June 1941 he was gravely wounded in Ukraine, necessitating the amputation of his left leg. After his recovery, he was named commanding general of the 337th Infantry Division from March 1942 until September 1942. Marcks was promoted to General der Artillerie and was named commanding general of the LXXXIV Corps, which he commanded during the AlliedNormandy Invasion,[4] and having had his 53rd birthday on D-Day, he was wounded in an Allied air attack on 12 June 1944 and died the same day. Posthumously, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (24 June 1944).[5]
Kay, Alex J. (2011) [2006]. Exploitation, Resettlement, Mass Murder: Political and Economic Planning for German Occupation Policy in the Soviet Union, 1940–1941. New York: Berghahn Books. ISBN9781845451868.
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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN978-3-938845-17-2.
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. ISBN978-3-7648-2300-9.
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This article is about the German World War II general For the German historian see Erich Marcks historian For the German educator and criminologist see Erich Marks This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Erich Marcks news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Erich Marcks 6 June 1891 12 June 1944 was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II He authored the first draft of the operational plan Operation Draft East for Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union advocating what was later known as A A line as the goal for the Wehrmacht to achieve within nine to seventeen weeks Marcks studied philosophy in Freiburg in 1909 1 Erich MarcksBorn 1891 06 06 6 June 1891Schoneberg Prussia Imperial GermanyDied12 June 1944 1944 06 12 aged 53 Hebecrevon Saint Lo FranceAllegiance German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi GermanyService wbr branchArmyYears of service1910 1944RankGeneral der ArtillerieUnitLXXXIV Army CorpsBattles warsWorld War I World War IIAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Contents 1 Career 2 Operation Draft East 3 Russia Normandy and death 4 In popular culture 5 Awards 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 BibliographyCareer EditBorn in 1891 Erich Marcks joined the Army in 1910 and fought in World War I He completed General Staff Training and was transferred to the Imperial General Staff Corps in 1917 Marcks was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and then 1st Class and posted to the German Supreme Command 2 After the war Marcks fought with the paramilitary Freikorps He joined the Army of the German Republic Reichsheer between 1921 and 1933 he held several staff and command positions and then served in the Ministry of Defense On 1 April 1933 after Hitler came to power Marcks was transferred to the army serving as Chief of Staff of VIII Corps He was a recipient of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Operation Draft East Edit The Marcks Plan published 5 August 1940 was the original German plan of attack for Operation Barbarossa the invasion of Soviet Union during World War II as depicted in a US Government study March 1955 As Chief of Staff VIII Corps Marcks took part in the attack on Poland and was promoted to Chief of Staff 18th Army serving with it during the Battle of France In the summer of 1940 Franz Halder chief of OKH General Staff directed Marcks to draft an initial operational plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union Marcks produced a report entitled Operation Draft East Citing the need to protect Germany against enemy bombers the report advocated the A A line as the operational objective of the invasion of Russia sic This goal was a line from Arkhangelsk on the Arctic Sea through Gorky and Rostov to the port city of Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga on the Caspian Sea Marcks envisioned that the campaign including the capture of Moscow and beyond would require between nine and seventeen weeks to complete 3 Russia Normandy and death EditIn December 1940 Marcks became commanding general of the 101st Light Infantry Division In June 1941 he was gravely wounded in Ukraine necessitating the amputation of his left leg After his recovery he was named commanding general of the 337th Infantry Division from March 1942 until September 1942 Marcks was promoted to General der Artillerie and was named commanding general of the LXXXIV Corps which he commanded during the Allied Normandy Invasion 4 and having had his 53rd birthday on D Day he was wounded in an Allied air attack on 12 June 1944 and died the same day Posthumously he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 24 June 1944 5 In popular culture EditIn the film The Longest Day Marcks is played by Richard Munch In the TV Movie Rommel he is played by Hans Kremer Awards EditIron Cross 1914 2nd Class 25 September 1914 amp 1st Class August 1915 2 Clasp to the Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class 21 September 1939 amp 1st Class 29 September 1939 2 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight s Cross on 26 June 1941 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 101 Light Infantry Division 5 Oak Leaves on 24 June 1944 as general and commander of LXXXIV Army Corps 5 References EditCitations Edit Erich Marcks Biography d day overload retrieved September 2 2019 a b c Thomas 1998 p 58 Kay 2011 p 31 Citino Robert M Danger Zone World War II History July August 2016 p 26 a b c Scherzer 2007 p 526 Bibliography Edit Kay Alex J 2011 2006 Exploitation Resettlement Mass Murder Political and Economic Planning for German Occupation Policy in the Soviet Union 1940 1941 New York Berghahn Books ISBN 9781845451868 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte 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 Militaer Verlag ISBN 978 3 938845 17 2 Thomas Franz 1998 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 2 L Z The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 2 L Z in German Osnabruck Germany Biblio Verlag ISBN 978 3 7648 2300 9 Military officesPreceded byGeneralleutnant Kurt Pflieger Commander of 337 Infanterie Division15 March 1942 5 October 1942 Succeeded byGeneralleutnant Otto SchunemannPreceded bynone Commander of LXVI Reservekorps21 September 1942 1 October 1942 Succeeded byGeneral der Infanterie Baptist KniessPreceded bynone Commander of LXXXVII Armeekorps5 November 1942 1 August 1943 Succeeded byGeneral der Infanterie Gustav Adolf von ZangenPreceded byGeneral der Infanterie Gustav Adolf von Zangen Commander of LXXXIV Armeekorps1 August 1943 12 June 1944 Succeeded byGeneral der Artillerie Wilhelm Fahrmbacher Portals Biography Military of Germany World War I World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erich Marcks amp oldid 1113503601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
