Gerd von Rundstedt was in the military.
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt ( 12 December 1875 -- 24 February 1953 ) was a Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II . During World War I , he served mainly as a staff officer . In the inter-war years , he continued his military career , reaching the rank of Colonel General ( Generaloberst ) before retiring in 1938 . He was relieved of command in December 1941 , but was recalled in 1942 and appointed Commander-in-Chief in the West .