Tapping Hitler's Generals

Report on information obtained from Senior Officers (PW) on 8–12 July 44 [TNA, WO 208/4363]

[…]

KESSLER (after expressing to Oberst REIMANN his reluctance to speak his mind on his attitude to National Socialism when talking to a BAO): I don’t like to be told by those officers: ‘Well, if that was your attitude, why didn’t you speak out before?’ Among ourselves, one could easily say: ‘Of course, we let ourselves be taken in, too, there’s no doubt about that.’ Because it is only now that one sees all the mistakes which have been made. During the time that I was lying alone in hospital, a lot of things became clear to me.

REIMANN: The whole thing, the whole movement has degenerated. At the beginning it was all right, but it was rotten at the core, they had evil intentions.

KESSLER: Oh, I don’t know whether one can say that–perhaps it was all planned from an ideal point of view, but in the end it was over-organised.

MUNDORFF: I won’t join in all this fraternising with the English and kowtowing to them!

KÖHN: Of course it infuriates one as an old soldier and as an officer on active service, when one sees the front line left in the lurch; I mean to say, we’ve been left without a GAF, without artillery and without any–

MUNDORFF: But you needn’t throw everything overboard immediately on account of that. My point of view is this: twice we have tried to attain power in EUROPE by waging a war and we have failed. Twice we have squared up to ENGLAND; maybe it wasn’t a nice thing to do, but I maintain that we must always oppose ENGLAND. ENGLAND wants us merely as a dominion, nothing else; as a worker, a watchman in EUROPE. I can’t see why, in the present circumstances, we can’t have a European, Bolshevist state–that is, if Bolshevism alters a bit. It can’t be prevented and it is bound to happen. Of course, we’ll probably be the dupes; we’ll perhaps be liquidated by having a bullet put through our heads. But, taking a wide view, it is GERMANY’s only chance of rising again. We’d never rise again under ENGLAND’s rule. That’s out of the question! They’d see to that! Just look at the demands already–just think what that fellow DE GAULLE is demanding! The occupation of the RHINELAND for ninety-nine years, and of course POLAND will get POMERANIA and Heaven knows what else, SILESIA, up to the ODER.[65]

? HENNECKE: The victors in a war waged as ruthlessly as this one will obviously make demands accordingly.

[…]

Document 29

CSDIC (UK), GRGG 173

Report on information obtained from Senior Officers (PW) on 13–14 July 44 [TNA, WO 208/4363]

SPANG: I was very sorry, too, when I heard about WITZLEBEN. That is typical of National Socialism. I must tell you quite frankly that formerly I was a great friend of the National Socialists.

KRUG: So was I. They pulled us out of the mud.

SPANG: And now I hate the whole lot of them, because I am gradually seeing through this corruption and inferiority and the Draconic measures of these people and above all their selfish attitude. After what I’ve seen I am completely without hope. I know the state of our armament, I know that we have nothing at all.

KRUG: No ammunition?

SPANG: Nothing. No ammunition, no tanks, we have nothing left. There is nothing.

KRUG:… it is a crime to continue the war.

SPANG: They are only carrying on the war for their own sakes–for egotistical reasons, in order to prolong their own lives.

Document 30

CSDIC (UK), GRGG 176

Report on information obtained from Senior Officers (PW) on 19–21 Aug. 44 [TNA, WO 208/4363]

KLENK: I’ll tell you something, the troops in the East won’t hold out. Troops who are perpetually withdrawing can’t hold out.

HELLWIG: They’re never relieved either. They never get any rest. The people say their only hope is to be either killed or wounded. The ruthlessness was inhuman; they did two hours’ sentry duty, slept for two hours and then two hours’ sentry duty again–month after month in that mud and not a soul bothered about them. There’s ruthlessness for you. Never have soldiers been created as we were.

KLENK: No, not so ruthlessly as we were treated. It’s appalling to think of the lives being sacrificed there.

HELLWIG: The GOCs considered it criminal–criminal to continue fighting when there’s no hope of success. That’s my view too. A whole race can’t end heroically.

KLENK: For what idea? The finest elements are being sacrificed. Most of the officers here realise fairly clearly–

HELLWIG: Yes, they all think it crazy.

KLENK: I mean, they disassociate themselves from it entirely?

HELLWIG: Completely, they call them criminals.

KLENK: They recognise no allegiance?

HELLWIG: Not an atom. SPANG may differ slightly, but he too says: ‘It’s criminal to continue the sacrifice.’

Document 31

CSDIC (UK), GRGG 180

Report on information obtained from Senior Officers (PW) on 25–6 Aug. 44 [TNA, WO 208/4363]