Tapping Hitler's Generals

Born Stuttgart, 23.10.1890. 1908/9 One-year volunteer, 1.Württembergisches Grenadier-Reg. linked to study of law at Tübingen, Berlin and Leipzig. WWI: 1914 same reg., Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts. Reichswehr: 1921 at Stuttgart, attorney at Reich Institute for Unemployment Pay and Labour, ministerial adviser, Reich Labour Ministry; 1928 Director; and 1930 Board Member, Deutsche Bau-und-Boden Bank. WWII: 1939 Major (Res.) mobilised, CO, II./Inf.Reg.272, France; 15.8.1940 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1941/42 Serbia, CO, Inf.Reg.737, 717.Inf.Div.; 1.12.1941 Oberstleutnant; 1.5.1942 CO, Inf.Reg.317, Eastern Front; 1.12.1942 Oberst; 15.5.1943 CO, Grenadier Reg.578, 305.Inf.Div., Italy; 12.8.1944 Kommandant, Fortress Le Havre; 12.9.1944 PoW Le Havre; 5.11.1944 Trent Park. Repatriated 1946. Postwar involved in domestic politics; 20.9.1949 Federal Minister for Reconstruction. Died Tübingen, 9.3.1952.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Reared in the atmosphere of Württemberg liberalism, PW’s outlook was fundamentally liberal but he was a staunch German patriot, a brave officer, and violently opposed to the present regime. He was anxious to re-educate the young Nazis and, to use his own words, “lead them back to the truth”. In May 1944 he had expressed to his friend Goerdeler his willingness to cooperate after the latter had sounded him out on his attitude to the impending putsch against Hitler.’ As an Oberst (Res.) he considered the generals ‘narrow’ and ‘lacking in clarity of purpose’. He enjoyed the company of von der Heydte, Eberbach and Heim (see Diary, Wildermuth, 1945 BA/MA NL 251–73 particularly entries 8.3, 6.4, 8.4 and 18.6 of 1945).

86. GENERALMAJOR DETLEF BOCK VON WÜLFINGEN

Born Kassel, 10.12.1895. Entered Army 10.2.1914. WWI: Various positions, including Dragoner-Reg.16; finally Oberleutnant. Reichswehr: 15.10.1935–28.2.1940 CO, Nachrichten-Abt.28 (signals); 1.8.1937 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.3.1940–20.12.1940 CO, Nachrichten-Reg.589; 1.6.1940 Oberst; 21.12.1940–15.4.1943 Head of Signals, 17, later 15.Armee; 1.6.1943–24.8.1943 CO, Inf.Reg.311; relieved of command by CO, 217.Inf.Div. for nervousness and repeated criticism of his predecessor, as a result of which he ‘had lost respect in the regimental officer corps’. 15.9.1943–31.3.1944 Head of Signals, German Army Mission, Rumania; 1.12.1943 Generalmajor; from 1.9.1944 Feldkommandant 681; 8.9.1944 PoW Liege; 22.9.1944–25.10.1944 Trent Park.

His last assessment on 10.3.1944 stated: ‘Soldier of the old school with good human qualities. Very knowledgeable and ideally industrious. His efforts to do his best, linked to a certain nervousness, make him irritable, and then he belittles the efforts of others and generally adopts quite the wrong approach. Convinced National Socialist, proven at the front. Cooperated well with the Rumanians… undoubtedly often exaggerates difficulties and makes life difficult for himself.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Is an egocentric and not very bright. His main interest seems to be the survival of the German nobility. He said that Nazi ideology was firstly against the Jews, secondly against the nobility and thirdly against professional officers. This may well be the reason why he joined the Party himself.’

ABBREVIATIONS

Ia 1. — Generalstaboffizier (1. Staff Officer)

1c 3. — Generalstaboffizier (3. Staff Officer)

AAO — American Army Officer

AHF — Arbeitsgemeinschaft historischer Forschungseinrichtungen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

AOK — Armeeoberkommando (Field Army Command)

BA/MA — Bundesarchiv/Militärarchiv

MSg — Militärgeschichtliche Sammlungen

N, NL — Nachlaß (Abatement)

Pers — Personal

RH — Reich Heer

RM — Reich Marine

RW — Reich Wehrmacht

BAO — British Army Officer

CSDIC — Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre

FO — Foreign Office

GAF — German Air Force

GOC — General Officer Commanding

GRGG — General Reports German Generals

GSO — General Staff Officer

IfZ — Institut für Zeitgeschichte (Institute of Contemporary History)

IO — Intelligence Officer

KTB — Kriegstagbuch (War diary)

MGM — Militärgeschichtliche Mitteilungen

MGZ — Militärgeschichtliche Zeitschrift

NKFD — Nationalkomitee ‘Freies Deutschland’ (National Committee for a Free Germany)

NKVD — Soviet secret service

ObdH — Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres (Commander-in-Chief of the Army)

OKH — Oberkommando des Heers (Army High Command; Army General Staff)

OKW — Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Armed Forces High Command)

PW, PoW — Prisoner of war

PRO — The National Archives, Public Record Office (London)

RSHA — Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Security Main Office)

Sipo — Sicherheitspolizei (Secret Security Police)

SR — Special Reports

SRGG — Special Reports German Generals

SRM — Special Reports Army

SRX — Special Reports Mixed

TNA — The National Archives (Kew, Richmond, Surrey)