Tapping Hitler's Generals

SPONECK: Nobody was really wounded. That seems suspicious to me, I mean if it had been a real attempt on HITLER’s life none of them would still be alive.

THOMA: If they had a mine in there–an ordinary anti-tank mine–

SPONECK: A hand grenade–

THOMA: It seems fishy to me.

BASSENGE: Whether it was a serious attempt on his life or only a fake, in either case it is a bad sign.

THOMA: It is supposed to have been a revolt by the generals. Graf STAUFFENBERG–I know about him–he was with me at the headquarters–he was always keenly opposed to the (Party) business; above all, he was very cool-headed and clear-thinking–an excellent fellow–really a most estimable and a very capable General Staff… is the man who threw the bomb. Now that a start has been made it will go on. There is a possibility that… very quickly, especially in the south. I could well imagine STAUFFENBERG’s doing it. In the first place he had access to him, because he was there a long time.

I am shaken to the core about GUDERIAN. He knows what the end will be. If anyone thinks differently now, one can only say that he isn’t quite right in the head.

KRUG: STUMPFF has the handling of the GAF at home.[362]

THOMA: If it has already started in the GAF then the fun is going to wax fast and furious. That is typical too: the Navy steps in immediately and so does HERMANN.

GUDERIAN is a decent fellow in himself. I have known him since he was a ‘Hauptmann’. He was very keenly opposed to the Nazis and always spoke of them as ‘stupid sheep’. Then the Nazis came into power and he suddenly swung over. Then after those winter campaigns in RUSSIA, he allowed HITLER to treat him like a street urchin. He swore at him and kicked him out. I was told by GUDERIAN himself that he asked for an enquiry to be made, but it was refused; he asked to be relieved of his command–it was all refused. He remained at home in BERLIN for one year and eight months as a nonentity. Before I went to AFRICA, I visited him. He told me himself: ‘I am ashamed to go to the barber’s because they say: “What are you doing here?”’ That’s the man who later emerges and lets that sloppy job be foisted on him, negotiating with industry and that sort of thing, and who lets HITLER present him with an estate in the WARTHEGAU, in spite of the way in which he has been treated![363]

KRUG: But, Sir, after all those people are not normal. If someone shouts at me and treats me badly, then I don’t have anything to do with him, I don’t let him make me a present of anything.

SATTLER: But your point of view is not quite correct, KRUG. We are soldiers and if we have done anything wrong in the eyes of our superiors, our superior officer has the right to tell us so as plainly as he likes. I should say: ‘I won’t have that, Herr KRUG; I require you to command your regiment according to my orders!’

THOMA: Then the other man can say politely: ‘I don’t agree; I will go!’

SATTLER: No, there I… opinion, Sir. That’s what my superior officer is there for, to tell me a thing like that.

THOMA: But I wouldn’t allow myself to be ordered about by a fool. GUDERIAN, who was always against the Nazis, now lets himself be bought, and isn’t ashamed–which is a sign that, clever though he was before, he must now have completely deteriorated mentally–ashamed to act as Chief of Staff to HIMMLER, in a situation where everyone knows where things are heading.

KRUG: Yes, indeed.

THOMA: SCHMUNDT[364] is a good, decent fellow, but, when he says quite naturally to the officers at a conference: ‘I have had the blessing of spending the last two years in very close contact with the FÜHRER’, can you consider him normal?