Leeb began his military career as a Bavarian artillery officer as had HALDER, JODL and KESSELRING. An intelligent man, he soon rose to the top of the prewar Army and retired after the BLOMBERG-FRITSCH crisis in 1938. Author of a theoretical text on decisive warfare, he was recalled to command Army Group C in the Polish campaign. In 1940 Army Group C attacked the Maginot Line. In the USSR he led Army Group North in the advance to Leningrad (1941). In January 1942 Leeb was purged and was never recalled.