Tapping Hitler's Generals

Born Eisenach, 30.10.1894. Prot. WWI: 11.8.1914 entered Army, Leutnant, 3.Garde-Reg. zu Fuss; 1.8.1938 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 16.8.1939–June 1940, adjutant to acting CO, XIII.Armeekorps; 15.8.1940–20.7.1942 CO, Schützen-Reg.108 (mot.); 1.8.1941 Oberst; 20.7.1942–31.1.1943 CO, 4.Schützen-Brigade; 1.2.1943–31.3.1943 acting CO, 208.Inf.Div.; 17.3.1943 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.5.1943 General major; 1.4.1943–7.9.1943 CO, 18.Pz.Div.; from 12.12.1943 CO, 709.Inf.Div.; 1.5.1944 Generalleutnant; 21.6.1944 CO, Cherbourg fortifications; 26.6.1944 taken PoW at his Octeville command post; 1.7.1944–9.8.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 7.10.1947. Died Giessen, 18.6.1964.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘With his pink complexion, round boyish face, huge bulk and lumbering gait he gives the appearance of an overgrown, mentally under-developed school-boy type who will bully his inferiors and toady to his superiors. At first very truculent. Polite firmness proved successful. Has more bluff that guts. Like most prisoners of war he is much inclined to self-pity. Conversation with him revealed colossal ignorance. He said the Russians were a primitive people who had really achieved little. Scotland was a completely unknown place to him. He asked if it were hilly or flat.’

GENERALLEUTNANT PAUL SEYFFARDT

Born Weilburg, 4.3.1894. Prot. Entered Army 27.1.1912. WWI: Inf.Reg.161, Western Front, finally Oberleutnant and regimental adjutant Reichswehr squadron cdr, Reiter-Reg.15 and 16. Reichswehr: 31.7.1937 Oberstleutnant, from 16.2.1939 Inf.Reg.111. WWII: 12.3.1940 CO, Inf.Reg.111; 17.1.1942 awarded Knight’s Cross; 19.7.1942 Oberst; 12.4.1942–4.11.1943 acting CO then CO, 205.Inf.Div.; 15.5.1943 Generalmajor; 21.1.1944 Generalleutnant; from 7.2.1944 CO, 348.Inf.Div., France; 7.9.1944 PoW Marbaix; 21.9.1944–25.10.1944 Trent Park. Died Baden-Baden, 20.9.1979.

Seyffardt, who in August 1941 received the Infantry Assault Badge as regimental commander, was assessed on 7.11.1943 as follows: ‘Dashing personality, of pronounced leader-type nature. Knows how to transmit National Socialist philosophy to his subordinates. Outstandingly well proven at the front. Mentally well adjusted, physically still suffers from wound received in World War I, but tireless and pushes himself hard… additionally, as the result of a certain imbalance has the tendency to exaggerate things and does not always express himself truthfully in service reports.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: This cousin of Feldmarschall Bock ‘now sees that one of the big mistakes made by the German Officer Corps was to have allowed themselves to become politically subservient to the Party’.

GENERALLEUTNANT CURT SIEWERT

Born Ratzeburgm 5.4.1899. Prot. WWI: 27.12.1916 entered Army, Grenadier-Reg.5, finally Leutnant. Reichswehr: 1936 General Staff Officer at OKH (including adjutant to C-in-C Army, Generaloberst von Brauchitsch); 1.4.1939 Oberstleutnant at General Staff. WWII: 1.12.1941 Oberst at General Staff; 1.2.1941–14.9.1943 Chief of General Staff XXXVIII.Armee Korps; 1.12.1943 Generalmajor; 29.2.1944 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.7.1944 Generalleutnant; 15.9.1943–13.4.1945 CO, 58.Inf.Div., wounded, to Führer-Reserve; 4.5.1945 PoW Niendorf near Lübeck (British); 1.6.1945–8.8.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 15.5.1948. 1957–30.9.1960 Generalmajor, Bundeswehr. Died Hannover, 13.6.1983

Von Siewert’s only available assessment is dated 9.11.1938: ‘Determined, clear leader-type personality of firm character. Tactful, practical, modest. Suitable for any post at the front or General Staff.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: Polite and cooperative, very intelligent and decent character, for many years friend of von Thoma. Typically for General Staff officer he blamed the Party (i.e. Hitler) for all negative occurrences. Expressed his readiness to work for Western Allies. Considered ‘anti-Nazi’, Siewert was prepared to discuss political matters and appeared anxious to learn the true facts about the full extent of German atrocities.

GENERALLEUTNANT MAXIMILIAN SIRY

Born Parsberg, 19.4.1891. RC. Entered Army 25.7.1910. WWI and Reichswehr: Artillery units. WWII: 1.4.1940–10.1.1942 Senior Artillery Commander 125; 12.1.1942–15.5.1943 CO, 246.Inf.Div.; 13.6.1942 awarded Knight’s Cross; 16.5.1943–14.2.1945 Senior Cdr, Coastal Artillery North; from March 1945 CO, 347.Inf.Div.; 10.4.1945 PoW (British), Latimer House. Died Fulda, 6.12.1967.

GENERALLEUTNANT KARL SPANG