Ferdinand Schörner

Ferdinand Schörner (12 June 1892 – 2 July 1973) was a German military commander and convicted war criminal, who held the rank of Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was the only German soldier to rise to this rank from his initial status of Einjährig-Freiwilliger (One-year volunteer). He commanded several army groups and was the final Commander-in-chief of the German Army and the last man promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht.

Schörner was a dedicated Nazi and became well known for his ruthlessness. By the end of World War II, he was Hitler's favourite commander. He also became notorious amongst German soldiers for his harshness against "deserters". Following the war he was convicted of war crimes by courts in the Soviet Union and West Germany, and was imprisoned in the Soviet Union, East Germany and West Germany.