Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist entered the Prussian field artillery regiment as a fahnenjunker on 9 March 1900, initiating a long military career that spanned the transition from imperial service to the era of mechanized warfare. Rising through the ranks of the German military, he eventually reached the highest tier of the Wehrmacht as a general field marshal.
Early Military Progression
Born in Braunfels in 1881, Kleist was a descendant of the House of Kleist, a family with deep traditions in Prussian military life. After his commissioning as a leutnant in 1901, he served in various staff roles before attending the War Academy in Berlin. During the First World War, his experience included commanding a cavalry squadron at the Battle of Tannenberg and serving as a staff officer within the Guards Cavalry Division on the Western Front.
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Following the armistice, Kleist joined the Freikorps and participated in the Latvian and Estonian Wars of Independence. He later served in the Reichswehr, holding tactics instructor roles and command positions within cavalry and infantry regiments. His tenure ended abruptly in February 1938, when he was forced into retirement during the Blomberg–Fritsch affair due to his monarchist views and disagreements with the Nazi regime's ideological stance toward Christianity.
Command During World War II
Recalled to active duty at the start of the Second World War, he commanded the XXII Motorised Corps in Poland. By May 1940, he oversaw Panzer Group Kleist during the invasion of France and Belgium. He later directed the 1st Panzer Army during Operation Barbarossa in the Soviet Union. In 1942, he was appointed commander-in-chief of Army Group A during Case Blue. Disagreements with Hitler led to his dismissal in March 1944.
Post-War Imprisonment
After the conclusion of the war, Kleist was extradited to the Soviet Union. He faced prosecution for war crimes and received a sentence of 25 years of incarceration. He died while in custody at the Vladimir Central Prison on 13 November 1954.
Fast facts
- Born: 1881, Braunfels
- Died: 13 November 1954, Vladimir Central Prison
- Rank: General field marshal
- Citizenship: Germany, Russian Empire
- Commissioned leutnant: 18 August 1901
- Retirement date: 5 February 1938
Questions readers ask
What led to Kleist's retirement in 1938?
He was forced into retirement during the Blomberg–Fritsch affair due to his monarchist political leanings and conflicts regarding Nazi ideological pressure on the church.
How did his military service end?
After the war, he was extradited to the Soviet Union, sentenced to 25 years for war crimes, and died in the Vladimir Central Prison.
