Tapping Hitler's Generals

Born Sülze/Mecklenburg, 10.10.1895. Prot. Entered Army 27.6.1914. WWI: Fuss-Artillerie-Reg.20, finished war as Leutnant, Regimental Adjutant. Reichswehr: Artillery units; 1930 Hauptmann, for a time as Battery Cdr. WWII: 25.10.1939 Oberstleutnant, artillery Staff Officer, Army Gr.A; 1.6.1940 Oberst; 1.9.1940–19.10.1942 Staff Officer, Generals der Artillerie beim ObdH (C-in-C Army); 26.11.1942–11.11.1943 CO, 302.Inf.Div.; 1.1.1943 Generalmajor; 8.8.1943 Generalleutnant; 17.11.1943 awarded German Cross in Gold; from 27.12.1943 CO, 47.Inf.Div.; 30.7.1944 Cmmdg Gen., LXXXIV.Armeekorps; 20.8.1944 PoW Falaise; 23.8.1944, Trent Park. Repatriated 20.1.1948. Died Bad Schwartau, 23.10.1982.

On 27.9.1943 Commanding General, XVII.Armeekorps, assessed Elfeldt als ‘above average’. ‘Serious-minded mature personality of great value. National Socialist in word and deed. Close to his men. In the winter campaigns proved himself a brave and determined leader of his then untested Division… The tendency mentioned in the assessment of 20.2.1943 of allowing his commanders too much free rein has not reappeared.’ In an assessment by General Hube in December 1943 it was reported that ‘the depressing events involving the retreat in the East have made him rather pessismistic despite his personal bravery and he is not suitable to be a commanding general.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: Elfeldt was the first German General to give the Hitler salute on his arrival at Trent Park. ‘Although an anti-Nazi, he would not be prepared to overthrow the Party so long as the war lasts, but he has stated that he would consider cooperation with the Western Democracies after Germany’s defeat’.

GENERALMAJOR BOTHO ELSTER

Born Berlin, 17.5.1894. Prot. Entered Army 28.2.1913. WWI: Mainly served as adjutant, final rank Oberleutnant and Brigade Adjutant, 213.Inf.Div. Reichswehr: 1.7.1920 transferred to police; 1.8.1935 re-entered Army as Oberstleutnant and CO, Pz.Abwehr.Abt.3; from 10.11.1938 CO, Pz.Reg.8; 1.8.1939 Oberst. WWII: From 2.3.1941 Occupied France; from 28.10.1941 Senior Panzer officer, Army Gr.D; 1.3.1943 Generalmajor; from 30.4.1943 Feldkommandant in France; from 1.4.1944 at Biarritz. At end of August 1944 he led a 20,000-strong force northwards towards the German lines, but was intercepted by US forces on 14.9.1944 and surrendered in the face of hopeless odds. 24.9.1944–26.9.1944 Wilton Park, then USA. Died Böblingen, 24.6.1952.

On 27.2.1943, the Chief of the General Staff, Army Group D, described Elster as ‘a strong personality with elan! National Socialist, proven in the face of the enemy, mentally and physically top notch. Energetic, good organiser.’ Why he was withdrawn from front-line duties in 1941 and spent the rest of his Wehrmacht career in a military backwater in France is not known.

GENERALMAJOR PAUL VON FELBERT

Born Wiesbaden, 9.11.1894. Prot. Entered Army 9.4.1912. WWI: Grossherzoglich-Mecklenburgischer Jägerbataillon.14 Western and Eastern Front; finally Oberleutnant and Company Cdr. Reichswehr: Cavalry and infantry units; 1.4.1937 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 23.10.1939 CO, Schützen-Reg.8; 1.4.1940 Oberst; 3.6.1940 transferred Führer-Reserve; from 20.7.1942 Feldkommandant, Besançon; 1.10.1943 Generalmajor; 10.9.1944 PoW (French); 28.12.1944–8.8.1945 Trent Park; 3.1.1945 sentenced to death in his absence for cowardice in the face of the enemy. Repatriated 3.11.1947. Died Wiesbaden, 3.2.1973.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘A rather weak personality, a definite opponent of National Socialism whose eyes had been opened since being taken prisoner and now believes that attempts should be made to convince Germnan commanders at the front to lay down their weapons.’

GENERALLEUTNANT EDGAR FEUCHTINGER

Born Metz, 9.11.1894. RC. Entered Army 7.8.1914. WWI: Artillery units, finally Leutnant. Reichswehr: Artillery units; 1.8.1938 Oberstleutnant; 26.8.1939 CO, Art.Reg.227. WWII: 1.8.1941 Oberst; 16.8.1942 Führer-Reserve; from 7.4.1943 CO, Schnellen Division West (motorised troops), formed from parts of 21.Pz.Div.; 1.8.1943 Generalmajor; 7.3.1944–15.3.1944 Deputy Leader, 8.Pz.Div. Eastern Front; 1.8.1944 Generalleutnant, from June 1944 involved with 21.Pz.Div. in heavy fighting in Normandy; 6.8.1944 awarded Knight’s Cross; 5.1.1945 arrested, confined at Torgau military prison, sentenced to death for corruption and absence without leave (on D-Day, 6.6.1944, was staying with a girl-friend in Paris). Sentence commuted to service at the front as a gunner; 2.3.1945 deserted; 3.5.1945 surrendered to British forces, Hamburg; 29.5.1945–5.7.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 23.8.1947. 1953 recruited by Soviet military intelligence GRU, betrayed West German defence secrets to the East. Died East Berlin, 21.1.1960, in unknown circumstances at a meet with his controller.