General Blaskowitz. Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz (10 July 1883 - 5 February 1948) was a German general during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Blaskowitz led the 8th Army during the Invasion of Poland and was the Commander in Chief of Occupied Poland from 1939 to 1940; he had written several memoranda for the German High Command protesting the SS atrocities and handed out death sentences to members of the SS for crimes against the civilian population. He was dismissed, but then re-appointed. After the war, he was charged with war crimes in the High Command Trial at Nuremberg. While in custody facing trial he died on 5 February 1948, purportedly of suicide. He was posthumously acquitted on all counts.