Tapping Hitler's Generals

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘A rather unimportant and unimaginative anti-Nazi, possibly because events are trending that way. Rather weak character and ignorant.’

GENERALMAJOR LUDWIG KRUG

Born Berlin, 23.3.1894. Entered Army 22.3.1914. WWI: Leutnant and adjutant, pioneer battalions. Reichswehr: (Longest period) comp. cdr, Pionierbataillon.6; 1.10.1936–19.5.1940 CO, Pionierbataillon.34; 1.1.1938 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.12.1941 Oberst after various Staff appointments; 1.10.1941–7.6.1944 CO, Grenadier-Reg.736; 21.4.1944 awarded German Cross in Silver; 1.7.1944 Generalmajor; 7.6.1944 PoW St Aubin, Normandy; 17.6.1944–8.9.1944 Trent Park. Repatriated 21.2.1946. Died Koblenz, 19.8.1972.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘He was a Nazi, but, as he himself stated, not a 110 per cent Nazi, his Nazism being based chiefly on sentimental nationalism and on fear of the consequences for Germany if National Socialism should collapse. He approved of the Nazi ideals, but the 20 July attempt on Hitler’s life shattered his morale and he became bitterly disillusioned with the Party’.

GENERALMAJOR KURT FREIHERR VON LIEBENSTEIN

Born Jebenhausen, 28.2.1899. Prot. WWI: 20.12.1916 entered Army, finally Leutnant, Dragoner-Reg.26 (Western Front). Reichswehr Reiter-Reg. 18 (cavalry); 1.4.1937–1.9.1939 Assistant to Military Attaché, Paris; 1.4.1939 Oberstleutnant. WWII: Army General Staff; 10.1940–5.1942 Chief of General Staff, Pz.Korps Guderian (later Pz.Gr.2); 1.2.1942 Oberst, mid-1942 field, acting CO, 3.Pz.Div.; 19.12.1942 CO, 164.Inf.Div. (Tunisia); 1.3.1943 Generalmajor; 10.5.1943 awarded Knight’s Cross; 13.5.1943 PoW Tunisia; 1.6.1943–23.9.1944 Trent Park, Deputy Senior German Officer. Repatriated 1947. 4.6.1956–30.9.1960 Generalmajor, Bundeswehr. Died Munich, 3.8.1975.

In last assessment on 1.10.1942 considered to be: ‘Officer with outstanding mental abilities. Confident, clever personality with sound nerve and great inner calm. Personally very brave and ready to serve at front. Embodies the great ideas of National Socialism and the military life and knows how to pass on this worldview philosophy to others.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘This is the most un-German-looking of the Generals. As a result of his travels, he has a broader political outlook than some of the others and definitely belongs to the anti-Nazi group. He also has a keen sense of humour, which is frequently applied against the Nazis. Liebenstein is a talented artist and spends a lot of his time painting very creditable water-colours. He is a great lover of horses and was most grateful when provided with some English hunting scenes for his room. He admires the British and their traditions and detests dictatorship in all its forms. He takes a sympathetic view of the Italians and is of the opinion that they are despised by the Germans more than they deserve. He also admires the culture of the French–and their women, their food and their wines. He speaks quite good English and fairly fluent French.’

GENERALLEUTNANT GERD VON MASSOW

Born Hadersleben/N.Schleswig, 13.9.1896. Prot. WWI: 10.8.1914 entered Army, platoon and comp. cdr, Jägerbataillon.7, finally Leutnant. Reichswehr: Until 1930, Inf.Reg.18, finally Hauptmann; 1.4.1935 transfer into Luftwaffe; 9.6.1936–7.3.1940 Kommodore, Jagd-Geschwader 2. WWII: 1.10.1939 Oberst; 19.7.1940–30.7.1944 Senior Cdr, Fighter and Fighter-Bomber Training School; 1.4.1943 Generalmajor; 31.7.1944 Cmmdg Gen., Aircrew Training; 20.4.1945 Generalleutnant; 5.5.1945 PoW Gmund (US), Trent Park. Repatriated 1.3.1947. Died Bad Pyrmont, 29.6.1967.

GENERALLEUTNANT ERWIN MENNY

Born Saarburg, 10.8.1893. Prot. Entered Army 29.6.1912. WWI: Western Front, finally as Oberleutnant, squadron cdr, Dragoner-Reg.22. Reichswehr: Reiter-Reg.18; 20.4.1936 CO, Pz.-Abwehr.Abt.35 (anti-tank); 1.8.1937 Oberstleutnant; 31.3.1939 Oberst. WWII: 26.8.1939–11.5.1940 CO, Schützen-Ersatz-Reg.81; 12.5.1940 CO, Inf.Reg.69; 15.4.1941–20.7.1942 15.Schützen-Brigade and temporary acting CO, 15.Pz.Div. (North Africa); 26.12.1941 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.4.1942 Generalmajor (Eastern Front); 21.9.1942–31.12.1942 acting CO 123.Inf.Div.; 1.11.1943–30.11.1943 CO, 72.Inf.Div., then transferred to Führer-Reserve; 10.2.1944 CO 84.Inf.Div.; 21.8.1944 PoW Falaise near Magny (Canadian); 25.8.1944–23.9.1944 Trent Park, then Clinton Camp, USA. Died Freiburg, 6.12.1949.

Assessed on 3.12.1943 as: ‘Reserved, clear personality. Likeable character. Convinced National Socialist, confident of its rightness. Personally brave and of exemplary readiness to serve at front. Flexible leader-type personality with clear tactical judgement. Does not know the word “difficulty”. Led his men well and surely in a difficult situation and showed understanding for coherence.’ At the same time it was thought that as a divisional commander Menny had reached the limit of his capabilities as a troop leader.