Henri Gerard Winkelman (August 17, 1876 - December 27, 1952) was born in Maastricht, Netherlands. After his school years he joined the army and attended the Royal Military Academy (KMA) in Breda. He served as a staff officer in several units and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1913. Ten years later in 1923 he was promoted to the rank of Major. In 1931 he received command of the 4th division and kept that post until 1934 when he retired from active service.

He was recalled to active duty in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, during this time he had command of the air defence over region Utrecht-Soesterberg. In early 1940 he replaced General Reijnders as commander in chief of the Dutch armed forces.

In the early hours of May 10, 1940 Germany invaded The Netherlands and Dutch forces fought a delaying battle (shortly before the bombardment of Rotterdam Winkelman predicted that Dutch forces should at least hold out for another week). Rotterdam was bombarded by the Nazis on May 14. As the marine battalion in the city didn't surrender in time, the Dutch armed forces (with the exeption of units in the province of Zeeland) surrendered after the Germans threatend to bomb the city of Utrecht.

Winkelman was taken into captivity but survived the war and was freed in 1945. On October 1st 1945 he got his Honorable Discharge. He died on December 27th 1952 in Soesterberg. In his honor the army base in Nunspeet was named the General Winkelmankazerne.