Werner von Blomberg - Reference

German field marshal, born in Stargard, E Germany. Promoted field marshal in 1936, as Reichswehrminister, he transferred control over the Reichswehr to Hitler after the death of Hindenburg in 1934. He occupied the posts of Reichswehrminister and Oberbefehlshaber of the Wehrmacht in 1935, but relinquished office in 1938 following an unsuitable marriage.

Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg (September 2, 1878 - March 14, 1946) was a leading member of the German Army prior to World War II.

Born in Stargard, Pomerania, Germany, Werner von Blomberg joined the army at a young age and attended Germany's War College in 1904. In 1920, Blomberg was appointed Chief of Staff of the Döberitz Brigade and in 1921 was made Chief of Staff of the Stuttgart Army Area. In 1925, Blomberg was made Chief of Army Training by General Hans von Seeckt. After arguing with the powerful General Kurt von Schleicher in 1929, however, Blomberg was removed from his post and made military commander of East Prussia.

In 1933, Blomberg rose to national prominence when he was appointed Minister of Defense in Adolf Hitler's government. Blomberg became one of Hitler's most devoted followers, and as such was nicknamed "Rubber Lion" by some of his critics in the army who were less than enthusiastic about Hitler. As Minister of Defense, Blomberg worked feverishly to expand the size and power of the army. In 1934, Blomberg encouraged Hitler to crack down on SA leader Ernst Röhm and his followers, whom he believed posed a serious threat to the army. In 1935 the Ministry of Defense was renamed the Ministry of War and Blomberg became Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Unfortunately for Blomberg, his position as the most influential man in the army alienated Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler, who conspired to oust Blomberg from power. Göring then informed Hitler (who also had been a best man at the wedding) of the matter, and Hitler ordered Blomberg to annul the marriage in order to avoid a scandal and to preserve the integrity of the army.

Flags for Werner von Blomberg as Minister of War and Commander-In-Chief of the German Armed Forces

The flag for the National Defence Minister (14.3.1933 - 23.7.1935).

Reference

Wheeler-Bennett, Sir John, The Nemesis of Power: The German Army in Politics 1918-1945 Palgrave Macmillan, London, 1953, 1964, 2005 The Hitler Cabinet – 30 January 1933 to 30 April 1945

Adolf Hitler (Chancellor, President, NSDAP) | Konstantin von Neurath (independent → NSDAP) | Joachim von Ribbentrop (NSDAP) | Wilhelm Frick (NSDAP) | Heinrich Himmler (NSDAP) | Kurt Schmitt (NSDAP) | Hermann Göring (NSDAP) | Walther Funk (NSDAP) | Franz Seldte (DVP → NSDAP) | Franz Schlegelberger (NSDAP) | Otto Georg Thierack (NSDAP) | Werner von Blomberg (independent) | Julius Heinrich Dorpmüller (NSDAP) | Wilhelm Ohnesorge (NSDAP) | Walther Darré (NSDAP) | Herbert Backe (NSDAP) | Joseph Goebbels (NSDAP) | Bernhard Rust (NSDAP) | Fritz Todt (NSDAP) | Albert Speer (NSDAP) | Alfred Rosenberg (NSDAP) | Hanns Kerrl (NSDAP) | Hermann Muhs (NSDAP) | Hans Lammers (NSDAP) | Karl Hermann Frank (NSDAP)

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