1st Earl of Orrery, Irish-English soldier and politician
1st Earl of Orrery
Irish-English soldier and politician
Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, was an Irish-English soldier, statesman, and dramatist who played key roles in the English Civil War and Restoration politics.
Born in 1621 as the sixth son of Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, Roger Boyle served as a soldier in Ireland during the English Civil War. He supported the Parliamentary cause before shifting allegiance to King Charles II and helping to restore the monarchy. Boyle was created Earl of Orrery in 1660 and held various political positions, including Governor of County Cork. A patron of the arts, he also authored several plays and works on history and politics. He died in 1679, leaving a legacy as a versatile military commander and influential political figure.
1679
Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery
Italian-Austrian field marshal
Italian-Austrian field marshal
Raimondo Montecuccoli was a 17th-century Italian-Austrian field marshal celebrated for his military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and France.
Born in 1609 in Pavullo nel Frignano, Montecuccoli entered imperial service as a cavalry officer and quickly distinguished himself in the Thirty Years’ War. He rose to the rank of Field Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire, leading successful campaigns against Ottoman forces and French armies. Montecuccoli is known for his innovative defensive strategies and fortification designs, later detailed in his military treatise Memorie della guerra. He served as Generalissimo and became one of the most respected military theorists of his era. He died in 1680, remembered for both his battlefield achievements and lasting influence on military science.
1680
Raimondo Montecuccoli
Russian general and politician
Russian general and politician
Grigory Potemkin was a Russian statesman and military leader who played a key role in the expansion of the Russian Empire under Catherine the Great.
Born in 1739 into a minor Tatar noble family, Potemkin entered Russian service and distinguished himself in the Russo-Turkish War, earning the rank of general. A close confidant and rumored lover of Catherine the Great, he was instrumental in the annexation of Crimea in 1783 and the development of the Black Sea Fleet. Potemkin oversaw the colonization of New Russia, founding cities such as Kherson and Nikolaev. His name became linked to the legend of 'Potemkin villages', reflecting his efforts to impress foreign dignitaries. He died in 1791, leaving a legacy as one of Russia’s most dynamic imperial builders.
1791
Grigory Potemkin
Russian heroine
Russian heroine
Russian heroine recognized for her bravery during the Russo-Japanese War.
1904
Haritina Korotkevich
German lawyer, politician and war criminal
Wilhelm Frick, German lawyer and politician, German Minister of the Interior
Alfred Jodl, German general
Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Austrian SS officer
Wilhelm Keitel, German field marshal
Alfred Rosenberg, Estonian architect and politician
Fritz Sauckel, German sailor and politician
Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Austrian lawyer and politician, 16th Federal Chancellor of Austria
Julius Streicher, German journalist and politician
Joachim von Ribbentrop, German lieutenant and politician, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
German lawyer
politician and war criminal
Wilhelm Frick
German lawyer and politician
German Minister of the Interior
Alfred Jodl
German general
Ernst Kaltenbrunner
Austrian SS officer
Wilhelm Keitel
German field marshal
Alfred Rosenberg
Estonian architect and politician
Fritz Sauckel
German sailor and politician
Arthur Seyss-Inquart
Austrian lawyer and politician
16th Federal Chancellor of Austria
Julius Streicher
German journalist and politician
Joachim von Ribbentrop
German lieutenant and politician
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
On October 16, 1946, ten leading Nazi war criminals were executed following their convictions at the Nuremberg Trials.
After the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, ten high-ranking officials of the Third Reich were sentenced to death for crimes against peace and humanity.
The group included prominent political leaders, military commanders, and SS officers such as Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, and Joachim von Ribbentrop.
They were hanged at Nuremberg prison, marking the first time that state and military leaders faced accountability under international law.
The executions represented a seminal moment in the development of war crimes jurisprudence.
This event underscored the Allies’ commitment to justice and set a precedent for future international tribunals.
The memory of these trials continues to influence discussions on human rights and legal responsibility.
1946
Nuremberg trial
Hans Frank
Wilhelm Frick
German Minister of the Interior
Alfred Jodl
Ernst Kaltenbrunner
SS
Wilhelm Keitel
Alfred Rosenberg
Fritz Sauckel
Arthur Seyss-Inquart
Federal Chancellor of Austria
Julius Streicher
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
American general and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Defense, Nobel Prize laureate
American general and politician
3rd United States Secretary of Defense
Nobel Prize laureate
American general and statesman who served as Army Chief of Staff during World War II, served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, George C. Marshall graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1902. He served with distinction during World War I and rose through the ranks to become Army Chief of Staff in 1939, leading U.S. forces through World War II. As Secretary of State, he authored the Marshall Plan, which aided European recovery after the war. In 1950 he became the third U.S. Secretary of Defense, overseeing the armed forces during the early Cold War. In recognition of his contributions to peace and reconstruction, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. Marshall remained a trusted adviser on national security until his death in 1959, leaving a profound legacy on 20th-century diplomacy and military leadership.
George Marshall
United States Secretary of Defense
Nobel Prize
Israeli general and politician, 5th Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel
Israeli general and politician
5th Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel
Iconic Israeli military leader and politician who played a central role in the state’s early history.
Born in 1915, Moshe Dayan rose through the ranks of the Haganah and the Israel Defense Forces to become Chief of Staff in 1953. Known for his trademark eye patch, Dayan commanded Israeli forces during the 1956 Suez Crisis. He later served as Minister of Defense and led Israel to victory during the 1967 Six-Day War. Dayan transitioned to politics, holding the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and advocating for peace negotiations. His bold strategies and charismatic leadership shaped Israel’s defense policy. Despite controversy, Dayan’s legacy endures in Israeli national identity and military doctrine.
1981
Moshe Dayan
Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel
American colonel
American colonel
American Army colonel who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and commanded Special Forces units.
Robert B. Rheault was born in 1925 and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served with distinction in the Korean War before taking command roles in the Vietnam War. Rheault led Special Forces units and oversaw counterinsurgency operations in Southeast Asia. After returning to the United States, he held leadership positions at Fort Bragg and within the Army Special Operations community. Known for his tactical expertise and dedication to his troops, he influenced the development of special operations doctrine. Rheault retired from active duty with numerous commendations for his leadership. He remained involved in veterans' organizations until his death in 2013.
Robert B. Rheault
Greek colonel and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
Greek colonel and politician
Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
Greek Army colonel and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Greece in the 1980s.
Ioannis Charalambopoulos was born in Lamia, Greece, in 1919 and graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy. He served as a colonel in the Greek Army, participating in World War II and the Greek Civil War. After retiring from military service, he joined the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). Charalambopoulos held several cabinet posts, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, before becoming Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1989. He played a key role in Greece's European integration and diplomatic negotiations. Known for his strategic acumen, he influenced defense and foreign policy. He retired from public life in the 1990s and remained a respected elder statesman until his death in 2014.
2014
Ioannis Charalambopoulos
Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
Australian general and physician
Australian general and physician
William James was an Australian Army general and physician who combined military command with medical expertise.
William James (1930–2015) was an Australian Army general and physician. Over his career, he balanced senior military commands with his medical practice, bringing healthcare expertise to the armed forces. He oversaw medical services, ensuring that soldiers received quality care in various postings. Known for his leadership and compassion, he influenced military medicine policy and training. His unique blend of skills helped modernize medical support within the Australian Army. He died in 2015, remembered for his contributions to both medicine and military service.
William James
German general
German general
German Wehrmacht Generaloberst and Chief of Operations Staff, tried and executed for war crimes at Nuremberg.
Alfred Jodl was a German Generaloberst in the Wehrmacht and Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command during World War II. He was instrumental in planning and executing major military operations across Europe and signed orders that facilitated war crimes and the mistreatment of civilians. After Germany's defeat, Jodl was tried at the Nuremberg Trials, found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and executed in 1946. His role highlights the involvement of senior military leadership in the atrocities of the Third Reich.
Alfred Jodl
Austrian SS officer
Austrian SS officer
Austrian SS-Obergruppenführer and head of the Reich Main Security Office, executed for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was an Austrian SS-Obergruppenführer and one of the highest-ranking officials in the Nazi security apparatus. As head of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA), he oversaw the Gestapo, Kripo, and SD, directing mass arrests, deportations, and executions. Kaltenbrunner played a central role in implementing the Holocaust across occupied Europe. Captured by Allied forces, he was tried at the Nuremberg Trials, convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and executed in 1946. His actions make him one of the most notorious figures of the Third Reich.
Ernst Kaltenbrunner
SS