Third Reich Generals as role Models

[Gotthard Heinrici]

I'm reading a book by Gordon Corrigan called "Blood Sweat and Arrogance: The Myth of Churchill's war" and in it he makes the point that Rommel is the only Third Reich Commander that the Bundeswehr acknowledges from its past. I think this is strange considering that he Commanded Hitler's Bodyguard and was very close to Hitler. My point is this: Given that all the German Generals (Rommel included ) were tainted by the Regime, who else do you think that the Bundeswehr should acknowledge from a purely military point of view?

A good question to start Friday off methinks!!!

[Owen]

General Heinz Guderian or did he do something "bad" that rules him out? Can't find anything on a quick web search, he argued with Hilter which should make him OK as a role model today.
He wasn't tried for War Crimes by the West, I know he was wanted back East but seems "clean" enough.

The Germans really are going to have to tackle this guilt trip they're on.
I know Luftwaffe squadrons can only link themselves to Great War units, they can't mention the second one.

[von Poop]

Could your username and avatar be a starting point.
Though I wonder if any senior commander who served for long in the East is somehow 'tainted', at least in the eyes of the understandably sensitive Germany.
Funny this as I was just reading about 'Rommel dinners' by DAK veterans at the Rommel Barracks and thinking roughly the same thing. I wonder if those that went on to serve with the Bundeswehr like Witzig are honoured but conveniently their later achievements can be used as reference points rather than anything from the war? Quite a few Knights cross holders still serving into the seventies.

[Kyt]

I don't think it's so much that the German army currently doesn't "acknowledge" other Generals from the war, but that they have gotten into hot water when they have done so.

Whereas, the myth of Rommel as the good guy was established soon after the war (or even during the war - North Africa commnanders weren't always happy with the way that the British soldiers referred to him as the Desert Fox, in an almost affectionate way), the reality of his strong Nazi support, only really came about through the "revisionist"histories later on. (It didn't help that he was portrayed by James Mason in the 1951 film). Because of the myth of Rommel's involvement in the 20 July attempt, the former Allies do not feel any threat from his name being used within the German military.

However, over the years there have been occassions where contemporary German generals have attended memorials, or have used other wartime Generals' names or activities, and one or more of the countries that were at war with Germany have protested (either in the media or formally). So, whether the wartime Generals were god, bad or in-between, their name is still sullied in the eyes of most European countries.

[Kyt]

p.s. GH, just had a look at my copy of the book. I don't know how far you've got but have a look at the last half of page 462.

[Gibbo]

Guderian was a member of the military court that discharged the July 20 conspirators from the army so that they could then be tried by Friesler's Peoples Court rather than an army court martial. I doubt if he had any choice but I'd imagine that it would be enough to rule him out of any use as a role model for the Bundeswehr.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Originally Posted by Kyt

p.s. GH, just had a look at my copy of the book. I don't know how far you've got but have a look at the last half of page 462.

I shall look at this tonight when I get home. Dont have it with me unfortunately!

[Shörner]

There are many german generals that should be greatly respected from a military standpoint, because the fact is, they were some of the best generals in the second world war. However, many of these men were caught up in the politics, it is hard to portray them as role models. What they did is so publicized that the stain may never wear off.

[Steen Ammentorp]

Rommel isn't the only one that the Bundeswehr have honoured. As an example the military barracks in Mittenwald and Füssen were named General Ludwig Kübler Barracks and Generaloberst Eudard Dietl Barracks respectively, however in November 1995 they were renamed Allgäu Barracks and Karwendel Barracks as those two didn't represent the values of the Bundeswehr.

In my opinion it would be wrong for the Bundeswehr to honour any ww2 German commander in such ways. Neither because you can't find honourable men among them nor because their military abilities doesn't warrant them a place in military history, but simply because they fought for a regime that is so fundamental different from the values of the democratic state, and the Bundeswehr as an institution in the democratic state should reflect this.

[Harry Ree]

In my view,the Wehrmacht leadership became so interwoven with Nazism and were aware of Hitller's expansionist intentions from 1937.There was still the element of Prussian militarism in Germany amongst this leadership which Hitler so expertly harnessed.The majority of the military leadership took the rich pickings of office and were not too bothered to take Hitler's gifts of money and estates at any time during their service to the Fuhrer or after forced retirement.

I think the issues of the Cold War made it a priority for the Western Powers to bring in from the cold,those who were thought likely to form the cornerstone of the new West German Bundeswehr.One example was Hans Speidel,Rommel's former Chief of Staff in Normandy.Speidel represented West German at NATO from 1955 and became the head of the West German Bundeswehr. He was reportedly associated with covert resistance against Hitler and was reported to be involved with Karl Heinrich Von Stuelpnagel in the drawing up of an armistice in May 1944.Whether Speidel is remembered by a Barracks named in his honour, I do not know but it would be equally difficult for the Germans to name a Barracks after any of their successful battles of either war.