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  5. 1940 Field Marshal Ceremony

Events on July 19 in history

1940 Field Marshal Ceremony
1940Jul, 19

Field Marshal Ceremony: First occasion in World War II, that Hitler appointed field marshals due to military achievements.

The 1940 Field Marshal Ceremony refers to a promotion ceremony held at the Kroll Opera House in Berlin in which Adolf Hitler promoted twelve generals to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall ("field marshal") on 19 July 1940. It was the first occasion in World War II that Hitler appointed field marshals due to military achievements.

The prestigious rank of field marshal had been banned after World War I. As part of German re-armament, the rank was revived. Hitler promoted twelve selected generals to field marshal during the ceremony in Berlin for their role in the swift victory in the Battle of France and to raise morale. The ceremony highlighted the power and prestige of the Wehrmacht; France was considered to have had the strongest army in Europe, yet had been humiliatingly defeated in just six weeks. The ceremony was the first time Hitler appointed field marshals due to military achievements and was celebrated like no other promotion ceremony of the war.

During the same ceremony, Göring, already Generalfeldmarschall since 1938, was promoted to the rank, newly-created especially for him, of Reichsmarschall.

References

  • 1940 Field Marshal Ceremony

Choose Another Date

Events on 1940

  • 17May

    Brussels

    World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium.
  • 12Jun

    Erwin Rommel

    World War II: Thirteen thousand British and French troops surrender to Major General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux.
  • 5Jul

    Vichy France

    World War II: The United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations.
  • 10Jul

    Vichy France

    World War II: The Vichy government is established in France.
  • 11Jul

    Vichy France

    World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Philippe Pétain becomes Prime Minister of France.

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