(1891 - 1945) German field marshal who led German armies against fierce Russian resistance at Moscow and Kursk, threw back Montgomery's attack at Arnhem, and killed himself following his defeat in the Ruhr Pocket. Fine content war-date T.L.S., 2pp. 4to., Dresden, Dec. 2, 1943 to his intelligence officer, Oberst Georg Buntrock. In part: '...Dear Buntrock! I have several requests for you as well. Naturally, I am particularly interested in the evolving position of your enemy. If possible, please request Herr General [9th Army commander Josef] Harpe for permission to send me via courier your enemy position report with a description of the events in the space around Gomel and southwest and west of Kritschev. It is to be hoped that your well-proven sixth sense will provide the basis for appropriate countermeasures in this instance as well. The problem will always remain: how can one best prevent or counter penetration or breaches of normal fronts, that is, thinly manned sections. It simply is not possible without reserves...The fewer reserves one has, the more important is your visionary eye!...Lieutenant Colonel [Oberstleutnant] Large, with whom I just spoke, will again be fit for duty by about the end of December. With regard to our war painter, Obgefr. Kistler, he proposed that he be assigned to draft the band cards...His exhibit here was successful...Finally, another request. Could you select and send me several particularly effective articles about the latest developments from your well-known newspaper from the period July-November. These might include descriptions of tributes or competitions, or father and son, or the great German soldiering spirit, or a short essay. I would like to have these on hand as a model. If you have anything new to report from the region under your command, I would naturally be thankful for any information. Personally, I continue with the replenishment/refurbishing, and so the progress of matters continues to be comical. First, double-time, then suddenly interruption, with occasional 'alarms'. But, it is tolerable as all this is taking place in Dresden...'. Clearly typed in the field, possibly by Model himself. Fine. Following Model's withdrawal to the Dnieper, he was relieved the previous September and took the opportunity to go on three months leave in Dresden with his family. Model's relief is believed not to have been a sign that he had lost Hitler's confidence, but rather that he had gained it, Hitler wanting him available should another emergency break out which needed his attention. Thus, on Jan. 31, 1944, he was urgently sent to command Army Group North, which, two weeks earlier had seen the siege of Leningrad broken by the Volkhov, Leningrad and 2nd Baltic Fronts.