Tapping Hitler's Generals

Despite the new personnel, the basic conflicts remained unmellowed. Some lacked interest in politics and strategy or distanced themselves in varying degrees from Hitler, Nazism and the war crimes, recognising that the war was lost and hoping for a quick end to the now senseless fighting. The BBC German Service conflict flared up from time to time (Document 43).[162] General Menny was relieved to be transferred to the United States after a four-week stay at Trent Park. ‘The spirit in the Generals’ Camp (Clinton) is excellent, and morale exudes confidence despite our difficult situation. Above all conduct here is respectful and decent. Unlike Trent Park one does not have to get all worked up over worthless generals, who kow-tow to the British and worship everything English and drag everything German through the mud. I remember with reluctance the foul, hate-filled atmosphere which prevailed at Trent Park under the leadership of the characterless General Thoma.’[163]

The constant comings and goings brought fresh information and impressions to the centre.[164] Most officers were troubled by the oppressive material superiority of the Allies: they had looked on helplessly as their units were crushed by the enemy war machine, watched the old cultural landscape of northern France collapse in ruins as thousands of German soldiers died in it. The collapse on all the fronts now seemed unstoppable; Germany had lost the war. Most were agreed on this fact (Document 26).[165] Only Konteradmiral Kähler, who had been captured by the Americans at Brest, said that he still believed in final victory (Document 41).[166] When in autumn 1944 the Wehrmacht sprang a surprise by holding the Allied advance at the German frontier, it generated a seed of hope within a number of generals that the enemy coalition might break asunder, and there could be, as in 1762, another ‘miracle of the Brandenburg Dynasty’.[167]

Generalleutnant Menny noted in his diary:

When the front in the West collapsed, when France and Belgium were lost in a few weeks, we all believed that the end of the war was near. Oppressed by the grim encirclements in France we considered that a long resistance along the Westwall was no longer possible. But it turned out differently, for a miracle has occurred. Hope now revives for a possible victory, and we wish for it with all our hearts even if it means that we must spend an age in captivity. I stick firmly by my old theory that the political differences and diverse interests between British and Russians will bring a favourable change […] we must wait![168]

Generalleutnant von Heyking now saw room to manoeuvre for negotiations. One had to hold out, he said in December 1944, for ‘the Americans have no idea what they are fighting for.’ If they suffered very heavy casualties, one could get them to the negotiating table–or the enemy coalition would break up (Document 51).[169] The Ardennes offensive had fuelled these hopes (Document 52),[170] but General Ramcke was alone in his belief that the German divisions could drive the Allies back across France and into the sea. A negotiated peace seemed to many a possibility as the result of such a successful offensive, however (Document 75).

^{Inmates at Trent Park, November 1944: (standing, left to right) Elfeldt, Heim, Bassenge: (seated, left to right) von Broich, Eberbach, Neuffer, Reimann}