| Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reichchancellor”) at Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) visited 10th Army Headquarters during Polenfeldzug (“Polish Campaign”). He was briefed by General der Artillerie Walter von Reichenau (October 8, 1884 – January 17, 1942). Here, Nazi German soldaten look on admiringly as the Führer waves. From left to right: Chef des Stab des Stellvertreters des Führers (“Chief of Staff of the Deputy Führer”) Martin Bormann (June 17, 1900 – May 2, 1945); Kommandant des Führerhauptquartiers Generalmajor Erwin Rommel (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944); Hitler; and Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 – February 24, 1953), Kommandant der Heeresgruppe Süd; and SS-Obergruppenführer Sepp Dietrich (May 28, 1892 – April 21, 1966), Kommandant, Infanterie-Regiment Leibstandarte-SS “Adolf Hitler,” the Führer’s bodyguard unit, turned into a motorized infantry unit. Nazi German forces reached the outskirts of Warsaw on September 8, 1939. 10th Army Headquarters set up in a Polish wojewoda (“voivodeship official office”) to direct the operation. Hitler arrived in Poland in his armored train, Amerika, and flew from Masłów to Neudorf. SS-Untersturmführer Karl Wilhelm Krause (March 5, 1911 – May 6, 2001) is dismissed as a servant for lying to Hitler about forgetting to bring a bottle of Fachinger mineral water. SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Linge (March 23, 1913 – March 9, 1980) becomes Hitler’ s chief valet. Generaloberst Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord (September 26, 1878 – April 24, 1943), formerly the Kommandant of the Reischswehr, the Weimar Republic’s Armed Forces, hated hitler and the Nazis. He was upset after the Night of Long Knives on June 30, 1934, when the Nazis murdered many of their enemies. He was not allowed to attend the funerals of several officers. He invited Hitler in September 1939 to visit his command in Cologne with the intention to kill him. Hitler did not accept the invitation. Hammerstein-Equord was dismissed and died of cancer. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0766.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.10 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 3694 x 1858 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | PK 637 (Ost) |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 10, 1939 |
| Location | |
| City | Białaczów |
| State or Province | Radom |
| Country | Poland |
| Archive | Bundesarchiv |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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