Tapping Hitler's Generals

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘A man who radiated charm and goodwill. Well-read, intelligent and a pillar of the “anti-Nazi clique”, a good listener. The only long-term officer at Trent Park ever to have a good word for the Russians. Shared several of von Thoma’s aversions, e.g. was uncomfortable at wearing his decorations.’

GENERALLEUTNANT RALPH GRAF VON ORIOLA

Born Herischdorf/Silesia, 9.8.1895. RC. Entered Army 5.3.1914. WWI: Feldartillerie-Reg.6, Western Front, finally Oberleutnant. Reichswehr: Battery cdr, artillery; 1.8.1937 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.9.1939 CO, Art.Reg.252; 1.6.1940 Oberst; 20.2.1942–16.2.1943 Artillery Cdr, 7.Armee; 17.2.1943–2.5.1943 CO, 72.Inf.Div.; 1.5.1943 Generalmajor; 1.11.1943 Generalleutnant; 3.5.1943–28.6.1944 CO, 299.Inf.Div., Eastern Front; 23.12.1943 awarded Knight’s Cross; 12.2.1945 acting CO, XIII.Armeekorps; 31.3.1945 PoW Althausen/Bad Mergentheim; 27.4.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 17.5.1948. Died Nuremberg, 28.4.1970.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Has impressed Allied officers as intelligent and not arrogant. He is fully cooperative and would like to be employed by the Allies in some capacity in the reconstruction of Germany.’

GENERALMAJOR ALEXANDER VON PFUHLSTEIN

Born Danzig, 17.12.1899. Prot. WWI: 29.3.1917 entered Army, finally Leutnant in 4.Garde-Reg. zu Fuss. WWII: 3.11.1938–31.3.1941 No. 1 Staff Officer (Ia), 19 and 58.Inf.Div.; 1.6.1939 Oberstleutnant; 29.7.1941–2.3.1942 CO, Inf.Reg.77, then Inf.Reg.154; 1.2.1942 Oberst; 17.8.1942 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.7.1943 Generalmajor; 1.4.1943–10.4.1944 CO, Div. Brandenburg; 9.5.1944–5.6.1944 CO, 50.Inf.Div., wounded; 8.8.1944 CO, Hohenstein Fortress; 1.9.1944 arrested by Gestapo, held at Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse; 14.9.1944 on recommendation of Honour Court discharged from Wehrmacht; 24.11.1944 held at Wehrmacht detention facility, Küstrin; 31.1.1945 released. Offered rehabilitation by proving himself at the front. Appointed Major and battalion cdr, but had no intention of going through with assignment and gained second spell in hospital; 2.4.1945 Wertheim (his home town) surrendered to US forces; 20.4.1945–30.8.1945 Trent Park. Died 20.12.1976.

In assessments always portrayed as mentally strong, ambitious and well-proven troop leader inclined at times to pessimism and sarcasm. Respecting his dismissal as commander of 50. Inf.Div. General Weidling wrote: ‘Pfuhlstein is a pessimist. Probably brought about by his physical condition. He cannot be committed to the end. He lacks belief in National Socialist ideology. For this reason he is inclined to forgive his men for their apparent failure.’ Pfuhlstein had close contacts to the military conspiracy. At the suggestion of Oster, Admiral Canaris chose him as leader of the Brandenburg Division so that in the event of a coup some part of the division would be deployed against the regime. As early as 1943 it was planned for Pfuhlstein to occupy West Berlin and the SS artillery school at Jütebog; but Oster overestimated Pfuhlstein’s readiness to act (See Höhne, Canaris, p. 473f).

GENERAL DER FALLSCHIRMTRUPPEN BERNHARD RAMCKE

Born Schleswig, 24.8.1889. Prot. Entered Imperial Navy 1905 as officer cadet. WWI: Cruiser Prinz Adalbert; 1915 naval infantry, Flanders, finally Leutnant zur See; 24.4.1918 awarded Prussian Military Service Cross, the highest decoration for valour. Reichswehr: 10.3.1919 transferred to Army, between the wars service with Inf.Reg.2, finally comp. Cdr; 1.3.1937 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.3.1940 Oberst; 16.1.1940–18.7.1940 CO, Inf.Ersatz-Reg.69; 1.8.1940 transferred to Luftwaffe paratroop arm; May 1941 acting CO, Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Reg. 1 (Crete operation); 1.8.1941 Generalmajor; 1.8.1941 Generalmajor; 21.8.1941 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.4.1942–12.2.1943 CO, Fallschirmjäger-Brigade Ramcke (North Africa); 13.11.1942 awarded Oak Leaves; 21.12.1942 Generalleutnant; 13.2.1943 CO, 2.Fallschirmjäger-Div.; 11.8.1944, CO, Brest Fortress, where his bunker was the last to surrender on 19.9.1944. This bunker was found to contain a vast store of cognacs, liquor, enormous quantities of food and other plunder. 19.9.1944 awarded Swords and Diamonds; 27.9.1944–10.4.1945 Trent Park. December 1946 handed over to French; 21.3.1951 sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for war crimes at Brest including hostage taking, murder of civilians, looting, intentional burning down of private residences, use of French persons for war work contrary to intenational law, etc. Released 23.6.1951, time served while awaiting trial. Died Kappeln, 5.7.1968.