Tapping Hitler's Generals

I’m certain of one thing, even if it’s purely instinctive rather than reasoned, and that is that the fate of the German people is closely linked with that of the British people. I’ll go further: I believe that one fine day not only the British people, but the so-called Western Democracies will have to stand with us against Bolshevism. I think the Democracies already have their worries on that point.

MEYER: There is no one who could take HITLER’s place.

BASSENGE: Yes, but what does the majority of the Party, including the SS, Gestapo and whatever else there is, think about things? Are they unanimous in their outlook?

MEYER: I can judge as little as you can, because we two have been away from home for years and are not in close contact with the Party. During the few days I spent in the REICH I didn’t see any signs of divergences of opinion within the Party or the Government. Everyone was abusing the next higher authority. The ‘Gauleiter’ groused about the Home Secretary, who was FRICK at the time[118]–HIMMLER is Home Secretary at present–they complained that the Home Office sabotaged everything, all measures; and the troops groused but you’ll know that yourself. We complained as much as any other ‘Division’.

BASSENGE: I didn’t actually mean measures, but just in general. We are living under a dictatorship which can only be maintained as long as there is Praetorian guard who give it their unconditional support. It works only within limits as is proved by history.

MEYER: They hold different views though. The FÜHRER has actually succeeded in retaining the faith of the German people in him: not the FÜHRER as much as his ‘Gauleiter’ etc., who have made a demi-god of the FÜHRER and the German people–I was last on leave in May and above all my realisation in PW camps–has utmost faith in the FÜHRER. As long as this faith exists no-one in the REICH, whether he is a member of the Armed Forces, an industrialist or a politician, or a member of the Party–it makes no difference at all–is in a position to change the system as long as the FÜHRER is alive. It’s impossible.[119]

BASSENGE: That was what those, who wished to do away with the FÜHRER on 20 July, realised.

MEYER: It is just as crazy to say that the Army would repudiate HITLER and the ‘Waffen-SS’ take his part.[120] That’s utter madness! The simple soldier, the majority of them have faith in the FÜHRER and are prepared to carry out any order he gives. I established that fact for myself in the PW camps too. The people have no longer any faith in anything. We mustn’t forget that the people heard the FÜHRER’s call when in the depths of despair; they were lifted from their misery and led; all they’ve ever heard is: the FÜHRER, that great man, have faith etc.; the greatest man in our history. If someone wished to succeed after all that, he’d have to have an even better gift of the gab than GOEBBELS of the FÜHRER. It would take years, perhaps even decades, before the masses would recognise this new personality. He might become a go-between or an administrator for the people, but nothing more, without full support of the people. After the collapse the German people will be entirely–

BASSENGE: Yes, the most significant feature of the German people today is their complete apathy.

Document 50

CSDIC (UK), GRGG 231

Report on information obtained from Senior Officers (PW) on 6–7 Dec. 44 [TNA, WO 208/4364]

WILDERMUTH: The only hope is that our army will say to the enemy: ‘Look here, we’ll pack up now in our common interest, so that we shall have some peace and quiet as soon as possible.’

WILCK: In my opinion that will only be possible when at least a third of GERMANY is actually occupied, and the whole thing is carried into GERMANY from outside, with the help of German forces. It won’t work any other way.

WILDERMUTH: We can’t wait until a third of GERMANY is occupied. The commanders at the front would have to–

WILCK: No, none of them would do that. It’s quite out of the question that it will come from inside. It can only come from outside.

WILDERMUTH: RUNDSTEDT would have to do it.

WILCK: No, he won’t do it.

WILDERMUTH: He was quite ready to do other things! The question is rather that he won’t be able to do it!

WILCK: All right, even if he wanted to he couldn’t. But he won’t do it. I mean the German people and the troops have been too much caught up by all our propaganda.

WILDERMUTH: Well, those from the rank of ‘Korpskommandeur’ upwards must see a little further now.

WILCK: Yes.

WILDERMUTH: You know, half the army knew before 20 July–