Erwin von Witzleben (4 December 1881 - 8 August 1944) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June 1940 as Generaloberst and Oberbefehlshaber 1. Armee. On 10 May 1940 the order was issued to attack the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and France (Fall Gelb), after it had been postponed no less than 28 times. Von Witzleben’s troops were ordered to launch fake attacks in this first phase on limited targets in the Maginot line in order to tie down the troops. Von Witzleben launched the attack by 1. Armee on June 14 and his task was to force a breakthrough of the Maginot line in co-operation with 7. Armee. Just a day later, Von Witzleben and his army succeeded in penetrating the line and in the days following had surrounded it completely. On June 22, the encirclement was completed and Von Witzleben’s 1. Armee gained complete control over the area. Following the surrender of France on June 22, Von Witzleben was awarded the Ritterkreuz by his superior Generaloberst Wilhelm von Leeb.
Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=248044&p=2349307#p2349307
https://www.tracesofwar.com/articles/4923/Witzleben-Erwin-von.htm
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