Tapping Hitler's Generals

Born Hamburg, 3.3.1894. Prot. WWI: 1.4.1914 entered Imperial Navy, served on large cruiser Roon; 1916, U-boats, finally as Leutnant (Reserve) and watchkeeping officer UB-112. Reichswehr: served mainly aboard torpedo boats; 1.4.1939 Kapitän zur See. WWII: 15.3.1940–20.7.1941 Commander, merchant raider Thor, successful cruise Central Atlantic, then Staff appointments; 22.12.1940 awarded Knight’s Cross; 16.10.1942–4.1.1944 Head, Shipping Division, OKM; 1.2.1943 Konteradmiral; from 29.1.1944 Cdr, Naval defences, Brittany; 15.9.1944 awarded Oak Leaves; 18.9.1944 PoW Brest (US); 23.9.1944–25.10.1944 Trent Park. Repatriated 28.2.1947. Died Kiel, 2.11.1967.

On 24.1.1944 the Naval Quartermaster-General described him as ‘a personality with strong disposition. Reliable, conscientious, knowledgeable, discreet, pensive. His inner calm allows him to distance himself from all matters. His calm is conditioned by his temperament and reinforced by a philosophical attitude to life.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Nazi bearing and outlook. Disliked by his fellow PoWs at No. II Camp.’

OBERST KESSLER

CO, Grenadier-Reg. zbV.752 of 326.Inf.Div, to which two Eastern battalions were subordinated; 31.7.1944 PoW Granville, France (US); at Trent Park for a few days from 9.8.1944.

GENERALLEUTNANT HEINRICH KIRCHHEIM

Born Gross Salze/Saale, 6.4.1882. Prot. Entered Army 1.5.1899. October 1904–March 1914 Colonial police, German South-West Africa, finally Oberleutnant. WWI: Finally Hauptmann, CO, Jägerbataillon.10; 13.10.1918 Pour-le-Merite. Reichswehr: Finally Commandant, Glanz; 31.3.1932 retired; 1.10.1934 reactivated. WWII: 1.12.1939–31.1.1941 CO, 169.Inf.Div.; 1.3.1941–15.6.1941 Sonderstelle Libya as leader of Italian Div. Brescia; 30.4.1941–1.5.1941 led elements of 5.Light Div. in attack on Tobruk, afterwards violent argument with Rommel, who accused him of cowardice for over-protecting his troops; 15.6.1941 OKH Special Staff Tropics; 15.10.1944 Wehrersatz Inspector, Berlin; 1.4.1945 Führer-Reserve; 12.4.1945 PoW Quedlinburg; 4.5.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 6.10.1947. Died Lüdenscheid, 14.12.1973.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘He gave the impression of being an old man, a typical Prussian officer, but with sensible ideas, now at least.’

GENERALLEUTNANT HEINRICH KITTEL

Born Gerolzhofen/Lower Franconia, 31.10.1892. RC. Entered Army 16.7.1911. WWI: Platoon/comp. cdr, finally Oberleutnant, Asia Korps. Reichswehr: Comp. cdr, infantry. WWII: 26.8.1939–30.4.1941 CO, Inf.Reg.42, found too pedantic and transferred to Führer-Reserve; 26.6.1941 Führer-Reserve, Army Gr.Nord; 15.5.1942 Commandant at Stalino, Rostov, Saporoshye, Krivog-Rog, Uman, Tarnopol, Lvov and Cracow; 8.11.1944 City Commandant, Metz and CO, Volksgrenadier Div.462; 12.8.1944 awarded Knight’s Cross; in the end-battle for Metz he put himself in the front line and received a leg wound; 22.11.1944 PoW (US); 6.1.1945 Trent Park, May 1945 USA. Repatriated 1947. Died Ansbach, 5.3.1969.

Last assessment October 1944 stated: ‘Open, straight character, strong-willed, enjoys responsibility, ruthless towards himself, tirelessly active, gifted organiser. Convinced National Socialist. Proven outstandingly as regimental commander in the West, as troop leader in East. Achieved great things at Cracow by powers of creativity, improvisation. Pronounced leader personality. Has outstanding knowledge of weapons. Mentally flexible. Suitable for divisional commander.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Kittel is a professional soldier of exceptional intelligence, who in the course of his career has been connected with most major political happenings in Germany. He is strongly opposed to the Nazi “State within the State” and he detests the Police, SS, SD and administration camarilla which advanced in the wake of the German Army. However, because of his oath to Hitler and what he believes to be his duty towards Germany, he will not do or say anything which might damage the war effort of the Reich. He has a strong sense of humour and takes a philisophical outlook on life.’

OBERSTLEUTNANT OTTO KLENK

Born Leipzig, 13.6.1898. WWI: 20.3.1915 entered Army, artillery units on Western and Eastern Fronts, finally Leutnant (Res.); 31.1.1919 discharged. Reichswehr: 1.10.1937 re-entry, Hauptmann. WWII: At outbreak, Regimental Adjutant, Inf.Reg.380; 15.12.1939 to artillery, battery cdr; 27.3.1940 CO, I./Art.Reg.215, France and northern sector, Russian Front; 1.9.1940 Major; 1.4.1942 Oberstleutnant; 11.4.1942–10.5.1943 CO, Art.Reg.305 (including Stalingrad); 6.6.1943 CO, Art.Reg.266, 10.8.1944 PoW Brest (US); mid-August 1944 at Trent Park for short period.