| “ | Fortunately, I always keep a few tricks up my sleeve. - Erich Von Richter |
” |
Generalmajor Erich Von Richter (later field marshal during Wacht Am Rhein) is a German general and is Sheridan's counterpart. He is fond of his Radio silence and Blitzkrieg tactics.
Personality[]
Von Richter is a scheming and detail-orientated person, taking every variable into account to obtain quick victories with minimal losses. For him, the battleground is a chessboard where he can express his intellectual supremacy.
Von Richter is also known to be honourable and is willing to defy Nazi orders. In Bastogne, during the siege, Von Richter met Sheridan in a forest, where both acknowledges each other's feats. Von Richter was given an order by German High Command to "spare no prisoners", however, Von Richter, having grew in respect to Sheridan, gives him an offer to surrender and be treated as equals, although Sheridan declines by saying "Nuts!".
Biography[]
Von Richter's tactics are largely inspired by the new military doctrine of his time, the Blitzkrieg (Lightning War), where his dream of military perfection becomes reality.
He is assumed to have served during the First World War and has then joined the Reichswehr in 1930. By 1939, Von Richter obtained the rank of Lieutenant and participated in the campaigns of Poland and France in 1940, and was further promoted to Major in 1941. He did not participated in Operation Barbarossa, as he was sent in Africa to assist Erwin Rommel advances. By 1942, Von Richter was promoted to Oberst (Colonel). In 1943, he was promoted to General of Panzertroops and at some point during the year as Generaloberst. Subsequently he gained the highest rank, Generalfieldmarshal.
Storyline development[]
Von Richter is Sheridan's opposite in the German army and his personal rival.
He is commander of German forces during Wetherby's landing in Italy. He also armed several Fascist militias. Despite holding back Wetherby, he was unable to stop Sheridan from defeating the Italian forces. His flank open, Von Richter organizes another skillful retreat. After this he was sent to the Russian front. Returning in November 1944, given his excellent commanding abilities, it is possible that he gained the trust of Adolf Hitler and was subsequently promoted to Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall (highest rank in the Heer of the Wehrmacht aside from Göring's Rank Reichmarschall), he takes command of German reserves and attempts to push Wetherby and Sheridan's troops out of Belgium. While getting Wetherby to surrender, Sheridan refuses. Von Richter is unable to defeat Sheridan and reinforcements arrive.
Von Richter quickly tries to organize another retreat, but is captured by Airborne forces and interrogated. Like Sheridan, Von Richter did not wish to see Russians acquire German technology. He joins Sheridan and leads the German Transition Army, a combined force of P.O.W.s and defected units. He helps Joe capture and defend a German research facility until it can be destroyed. During Sheridan's final attack against the Russians and Kate, Von Richter and his men successfully hold the left flank from the Russians.
It is possible that after the war, in 1955, Von Richter helped organizing the Bundeswehr along with other wartime generals due to his extraordinary organization abilities, and died in late 1970's.
Trivia[]
- His name may have been Von Ruger in early development.
- It is unknown how he got to the rank of Field Marshal, but it was assumed that he shown outstanding commanding capabilities in the Eastern Front, either with his own ability or combined with Prometheus's (Kate's) intelligence.
- Note his shoulder insignia in Battle of Bastogne intro scene, he still had his Major General insignia meanwhile his rank was already Field Marshal.
- Cut scenes during the North African campaign show him wearing the rank insignia of an Oberst (Colonel) in the German army, although he addressed by his aid as general.
Gallery[]
See also[]
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