Werner von Blomberg 1878 – 1946

Biography

Werner von Blomberg commanded one of history’s most pivotal military machines. Rising through the ranks of the German Army, this Prussian officer reached the pinnacle of military power as Field Marshal and Military Chief of the Wehrmacht—the supreme leader overseeing all German armed forces during a defining era. His strategic decisions and leadership left an indelible mark on twentieth-century military history, making him a central figure in a transformative and controversial period of European affairs.

Born into a military family in 1878, von Blomberg’s entire life was defined by service and command. His long career spanned multiple eras of German military tradition, placing him at the nexus of institutional power during one of history’s most consequential decades. He spent his final years fighting a different battle—against cancer—ultimately succumbing on March 14, 1946, at the U.S. Army Hospital in Nuremberg. He was laid to rest in Bad Wiessee, Bavaria, where his legacy endures in the historical record.