Tapping Hitler's Generals

I had something with which he hadn’t reckoned. I had a map scale 1: 300,000 which showed the Battle HQs of my ‘Division’ up to the RHINE–the whole thing took place within twenty-eight days–none of them were farther apart than 2 or 3 cm, which is equal to 8–9 km on a 1: 300,000 map. This showed that we must have fought at least a day in each of them along this line, else there would have been a big jump. I laid down the map on the table in front of him and said: ‘Sir, would you like me to hold a long lecture or shall I tell you in a few words?’ He said: ‘Make it short.’ Very well, I started: ‘Here are the HQ’s. This is how we fought.’ Then he suddenly exclaimed: ‘But that is totally different from what we assumed at OKW. We thought it had been a major catastrophe, at which everything was swept away in a body. That is a most interesting report you have given me. We thought a mess had been made. You will not be shot. (Laughter). I only have one request: have this map copied immediately. I shall show it to the FÜHRER myself in order to show him how the troops have actually fought.’ Then he looked for a second culprit: General UTZ(?)[162] whom he had also intended shooting. I had explained everything to him within an hour. He said I should not be shot, whereupon I said: ‘Orderly, bring me a bottle of champagne!’ I thanked him for allowing me to live (laughter) and gave him the map. In the meantime a teleprint message arrived, saying I was to take over the TAUNUS front near WIESBADEN forthwith. I said to him: ‘Yours is a very difficult task, having to institute proceedings of such a nature with Generals.’ He answered: ‘Believe me, it gives me great satisfaction to shoot a General who has been proved to have neglected his duty.’

?: Wait till he arrives as PW at this camp!

?: We should like to meet him!

FRANZ: For example: he also shot the REMAGEN people.[163] He didn’t do it just out of blind obedience to an order but because of a fanatical faith in the cause. The FÜHRER had so much faith in him that he personally entrusted him with this difficult task.

Document 77

CSDIC (UK) GG-REPORT, SRGG 1171 (C) [TNA, WO 208/4169]

Generalleutnant SIRY (Commander 347 Infantry Division)–Captured 10 Apr. 45 in Friedrichsroda.

Generalleutnant KIRCHHEIM (Führerreserve OKH)–Captured 12 Apr. 45 near Quedlingburg.

Information received: 30 Apr. 45

KIRCHHEIM: Do you consider yourself bound by your military oath?

SIRY: Well, really, the military oath is valid as long as the FÜHRER is alive.

KIRCHHEIM: Do you consider the FÜHRER to be mentally normal?

SIRY: It isn’t for a subordinate to lay down whether his superior is mentally normal or not.

KIRCHHEIM: If the fate of the nation hangs in the balance, then yes.

SIRY: Picture the time when FREDERICK THE GREAT, in the now ever-quoted speech to his generals at LEUTHEN, saying that he would ignore all the rules of the game,[164] then any number of his generals could also have said: ‘The man is mad,’ and could have broken their military oath.