Tapping Hitler's Generals

KIRCHHEIM: Surely we have seen now that all resistance is hopeless. In the last years we have always been up against superior forces; we have always gone backwards, and now our army is completely routed and in the meantime the others have become much stronger, so that the ratio in strength has changed to our disadvantage, and when they have advanced to the heart of our Fatherland and smashed all our industries–well, how can the tide be turned–

SIRY: Naturally there will be no turning of the tide now, but it is possible that political developments are to be expected. I hope that the business has come to an end, that in the next few days HIMMLER really–

KIRCHHEIM: It has come to an end.

SIRY: But it is a very, very different chapter.

KIRCHHEIM: To ease my mind I confided in one man–a thing I usually never do, and which I afterwards regretted having done–that was General HÖHNE, with whom we lived.[165] HÖHNE told me the following–a point of view of which I thoroughly disapprove–he said: ‘You are right in everything; I also agree that all resistance is senseless, it is utterly useless. I also admit that in the next few weeks the last of our remaining national wealth will be destroyed. I also agree that hundreds of thousands more perhaps millions, will die and also stocks and dwelling places will be destroyed, but,’ he said, ‘I would urge you most emphatically not to do anything, as over there they are looking for just such a one on whom they can put the blame. Afterwards they will, although our army has now already completely collapsed’–he said, ‘as in the last months I commanded a “Korps”, I know a complete collapse has already occurred and it is hopeless to continue to fight. But,’ he said, ‘people in general don’t know it. It will be twisted round, just as they did it on 20 July, to mean that it was you who stabbed our army in the back and you are dishonoured to the end of your days.’ I said: ‘If that is the only danger, if, as you say, perhaps millions of lives might still be saved, then from fear of being accused of that, should I watch these millions being annihilate? No, I won’t do that.’ Thereupon I asked the six Generals, of course in quite an unobtrusive way: ‘Gentlemen, I’d like to hear your opinion. Don’t you think it is right for the Army commanders, now that they can see the seenselessness of resistance, simply to stop the fighting and offer the surrender of their Armies of their own accord?’ No one said it was not right. They then suggested one didn’t know whether the families of those concerned might not be in the hands of the FÜHRER. But I said: ‘No–I’d like to know whether you consider such action as dishonourable or necessary.’ All six of them said it was the only possible thing to do.

SIRY: A point like that, of course, was perfect for a debate, because no one person was obliged to make the decision for himself.

KIRCHHEIM: That’s why I didn’t bring the subject up any more, because, when anyone says to me: ‘Your suggestion is the right one but you must look out for yourself’–well, I won’t argue with such men. A man that considers that to be the right course but is afraid of the consequences–

SIRY: It’s not so much fear as the natural dread of a falsification of the facts of history, a thing which had already become widespread.

Document 78

CSDIC (UK), GRGG 292

Report on information obtained from Senior Officers (PW) on 1–2 May 45 [TNA, WO 208/4177]

SCHLIEBEN: DÖNITZ is such a damned fool.[166]

FISCHER: After the announcement: ‘The FÜHRER is dead,’ the ‘German Hymn’ was played, then came the Order of the Day, of which we heard only the end, saying that the oath of allegiance which all members of the forces had taken, was now carried over to his successor.

SCHLIEBEN: Well, that’s not binding.

FISCHER: No, by no means. It seems that the foreign powers didn’t want to continue negotiating with HIMMLER after all; that’s why DÖNITZ and BUSCH have taken over.[167]

PFUHLSTEIN: I wonder whether he will do anything at the last minute?

FISCHER: A blessing if he does.

SCHLIEBEN: It’s quite clear to me now what a tragedy it was that 20 July didn’t come off.

REIMANN: That hysterical fool DÖNITZ!

HEYDTE: That charlatan!

BASSENGE: Are we supposed to say ‘Heil DÖNITZ’ now?

BROICH: Can I transfer my oath to anyone else? Can one swear allegiance to DÖNITZ over the telephone?

WILDERMUTH (re HITLER’s death): I think it means someone just has to give the order.

BROICH: Above all HIMMLER wants to keep out of it.

BASSENGE: That young ass DÖNITZ.

WILDERMUTH: Well, he is senior to BUSCH.

BROICH: Next to KEITEL he is the most senior one and KEITEL has probably said: ‘For God’s sake not me!’

FISCHER (after DÖNIT’s radio address): DÖNITZ has gone haywire!

BROICH: It’s as if ‘Little HITLER’ were speaking.

FISCHER: Now it will be: ‘FÜHRER’s HQ speaking’–it’s daft!

ELFELDT: I don’t by any means believe the whole business.

FISCHER: I wonder whether HIMMLER will recognise it?