Tapping Hitler's Generals

As to the corruption aspect of his death sentence the personal file contains no details. His last assessment of 23 February 1945 states: ‘Very active, skilled personality happy to be in the thick of it. Enjoys responsibility. Proven at the front by his resolve and great activity. Led his Division sure-handedly and also quickly dispersed foreign units firmly in hand. Good organiser.’

GENERAL DER FLIEGER JOHANNES FINK

Born Pfullingen/Württemberg, 28.3.1895. Prot. WWI: 15.8.1914 entered Army, Company Cdr, Battalion and Regimental Adjutant, Inf.Reg.127, finally Oberleutnant. Reichswehr: Various positions, including Signals Officer, Inf.Reg.13; 1.9.1933 transferred into Luftwaffe; 1.6.1938 Oberst. WWII: 1.11.1938–20.10.1940 CO, KG 2 (bomber wing); 20.6.1940 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.10.1940 Generalmajor; 1.10.1942 Generalleutnant; 1.11.1942–9.2.1944 CO, 2.Flieger Div.; 1.4.1944 General der Flieger; 10.2.1944–11.9.1944 Cmmdg Gen. Luftwaffe, Greece; from 3.2.1945 Führer-Reserve; 23.4.1945 PoW Heggbach (French); 30.4.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 15.5.1948.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: Considered ‘no Nazi’, thought the Wehrmacht would cast him off for capitulating without a fight, which in turn freed him from his oath of loyalty. For this reason he felt at liberty to answer truthfully the questions of the British interrogators.

GENERALMAJOR GERHARD FISCHER

Born Greifenberg/Pomerania, 16.5.1894. Prot. WWI: 3.8.1914 entered Army, finally Leutnant, Inf.Reg.42. Reichswehr: Infantry officer; 1.10.1937 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 26.8.1939 CO, Inf.Ersatz-Reg.34; 1.4.1940 CO, Inf.Reg.478; 1.10.1940 Oberst; from 5.2.1941 to Führer-Reserve and homeland duties because of heart condition; 1.6.1944 Generalmajor; from 2.10.1944 Wehrmacht Kommandant, Koblenz; 26.3.1945 PoW Limburg/Lahn (US); 14.4.1945–5.7.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 15.5.1948. Died Gielgen near Bonn, 24.3.1967.

Acting Generalkommando XII.Armeekorps (Wiesbaden), where Fischer was course leader for reserve officers, assessed him on 16 March 1943 as: ‘Of open, happy nature, strong personality. Good National Socialist, knows how to influence his students with its philosophy. Proven at the front. Specially proven as leader of numerous officer courses. Vigorous and competent.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘A regular officer of a bluff and jovial type, but not a very striking personality. He has a very low opinion of Nazi rule and is thoroughly defeatist.’

GENERALLEUTNANT GOTTHART FRANTZ

Born Berlin, 5.5.1888. Prot. Entered Army 4.3.1907 WWI: Cdr, field artillery units, finally Hauptmann and Adjutant, Art.Kommandant.56. Reichswehr: 3.8.1921 discharged; 1.11.1937 reactivated, Luftwaffe, Flak Cdr, Oberstleutnant; 1.1.1939 Oberst. WWII: 6.7.1940–30.11.1941 CO, Aerial Warfare School, Bernau; 1.9.1941 Generalmajor; 20.12.1941–28.2.1942 Staff Officer, 12.Flak.Div. in Russia; 28.2.1942–20.12.1942 CO, 12.Flak.Div.; from 21.12.1942 CO, 19.Flak.Div. in Tunisia; 1.4.1943 Generalleutnant; 12.5.1943 PoW Tunisia (US); 18.5.1943 awarded Knight’s Cross (advised in England); 22.5.1943–21.8.1943 Trent Park, then to USA. Repatriated to Germany 1.2.1945 on health grounds; April 1945 PoW (Soviets), released 2.11.1949. Died Bad Homburg, 21.1.1973.

Assessed on 15.3.1939 as ‘A personality with clear objectives, approaches a task with skill or energy. Never idle. Gets involved successfully, based on good knowledge and experiences from current training, has a decisive, uniform influence without limiting the responsibility of the battery commanders… fully proven in tense situations. Dyed in the wool soldier and National Socialist, transmits National Socialist philosophy by deed and word in uplifting manner.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: Another perfect caricature of the Prussian general: ‘He is of medium height, slim, beak nose, wrinkled face, thin lips and has been seen without his monocle on only one occasion–that was when he took it out after a few minutes of emotion. He even wears it under his tropical sun-glasses and seems to sleep with it as it is always in place when he is counted in bed in the morning… It took him nearly three weeks to learn that it was not the duty of British officers to search the shops of London for red-brown boot-polish, not even for a German General.’ He decorated his immaculate uniform with every medal he had ever been awarded, including those from the defunct kingdoms of the old Kaiserreich. His preoccupation with appearance was the source of much hilarity at Trent Park, and Frantz gradually became a totally isolated figure.

GENERALMAJOR GERHARD FRANZ