"Wilhelm Keitel" German Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) and a senior military leader during World War II.

He was born in Helmscherode near Hanover, Germany, the son of Carl Keitel, a middle-class landowner. He was a career soldier, after education in Göttingen he became a Fahnenjunker (Cadet Officer) in 1901 and joined the 6th Lower-Saxon Field Artillery Regiment. He married Lisa Fontaine, in 1909.

In 1937 he was made a general and in 1938 after the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair and the replacement of the Reichswehrministerium with the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW, High Command of the Armed Forces) he became Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. He was made a Generalfeldmarschall (field marshal) in 1940.

During World War II, Keitel proved a weak and cautious commander: he advised territory. Hitler against invading France and opposed Operation Barbarossa. Both times he backed down in the face of Hitler and tendered his resignation: it was not controls and ensuing terror in captured Russian accepted. In 1942 he again stood up to Hitler over Field Marshal Siegmund List. His defense of List was his last act of defiance to Hitler, after that he did not challenge another of Hitler's orders and was referred to by his colleagues as Lakaitel ("nodding ass"). He signed numerous dubious orders, most infamous being the notorious Commissar order, and unquestionably allowed Himmler a free hand with his racial controls and ensuing terror in captured Russian territory.
 
He signed the surrender to the Red Army on May 9, 1945 and was arrested on the 13th. He faced the International Military Tribunal charged with: Conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity. His defense that he was following orders was rejected. He was found guilty on all charges. His request to be shot by firing squad was denied and he was hanged.
 

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