A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Comnand and General Staff College in partial fulfillmnt of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF HILITARY ART AND SCIENCE by FRENCH L. i.IAcLEAN, MAJ, USA B.S. ,United States Military Academy, 1974 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1988 Approved for public release; di.stribution is unlimited
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Comnand and General Staff College in partial
f u l f i l l m n t of the requirements for the degree
MASTER OF HILITARY ART AND SCIENCE
by
FRENCH L. i.IAcLEAN, MAJ, USA B.S. ,United States Military Academy, 1974
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1988
Approved for public release; di.stribution is unlimited
MAST!ZX OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE
THESIS APPROVAL PAGE
Nane of candidate - French L. MacLean
Tit le of Thesis - The UnknaJn Generals -- German CorpsComnanders i n World War I1
The opi.nions and conclusions expressed .herein are those of the student author and do not necessarily represent che vi.ews of the U.S. Army Comnand and General Staff College or any other govermntal agency. (References to th i s study should include the foregoiqq staternent. )
i i
;1Bsma
TtE UtKNOl4N GENEIWLS - GERMAN CORPS CCkLIMANDERs I N W0X.D WAR 11: A Leadership Ana1ysi.s of German Army Corps Comnanders by Major French L. MacLean, USA, 169 pages.
This study is an historical ana1ysi.s of the background and demnstrated 1eadershi.p attr ibutes of 332 World War I1 German corps comnanders on the Eastern, I talian, and Western Fronts. Overall characteristics are determined based on each of f icer ' s experienceand performance based on avai.lable histori.cal recozds. These records focus on age, nobili.ty, background, education, branch, previouscornnand and staff positions, rrenhrship i n the General Staff , damnstrated military achievement, promotion, and subsequent higherC o m n a n d .
Among the many conclusions which could be dram from this investigati.on are: mst successful corps COIIpnanders possessed an excellent educational background, perfomed well i n previoussi.gnificant cornnand and staff positions, and demonstrated the capability for independent action; and,' polit ical factors played a minor role i n the selection of officers for corps c m n d .
The study concludes that the Eastern, Western, and I ta l ian Fronts a l l had competent German corps comnanders conducting operations; no Front had a preponderence of successful comnander's to the detriment of the other two.
i.ii.
TABLE OF CONTEXTS
Chapter Page
Chapter 1 - Defining the Problem 1
Chapter 2 - Review of Literature 10
Chapter 3 - The German Corps System 26
Chapter 4 - Background, Education, and
Experience 38
Chapter 5 - Performance, Promotion, and
Totential 73
Chapter 6 - Overall Characteri.stics 103
Appendi.x A - Abbreviations 118
Appendix B - List of Comnanders 123
Bib1 iography 164
iv
LIST OF TABLES
Table Ti.tle
Table 1 Army Strength
Table 2 Corps Headquarters Strength
Table 3 Parent Army Headquarters
Table 4 Corps Assigned to Army Headquarters
Table 5 Divisions Assigned to Corps
Table 6 General Officer Grades
Table 7 Age of Comnanders
Table 8 Newly Prcnoted Xajors
Table 9 Newly Pronoted Lieutenant-Colonels
Table 10 Xewly Promoted Colonels
Table 11 Camriders of Noble Descent
Table 12 Camrider 's Background
Table 13 Corps Ccmanders w i t h
Police i3ackgounds
Table 14 Panzer Corps (hmancIers
with Police Backgrounds
Table 15 Austrian Army and Army
Group Cuimanders
Table 16 Newly Promoted Generalmajor
Table 17 Newly Pronoted Generalleutnant
Table 18 Newly Promoted General der
Infanterie, etc.
Table 19 Branch Affi1i.ation
Page
3
26
29
30
32
38
40
43
44
44
46
47
49
51
52
53
54
54
56
V
Table 20
Table 21
Table 22
Table 23
Table 24
Table 25
Table 26
Table 27
Table 28
Table 29
Table 30
Table 31
Table 32
Table- 33
Table 34
Table 35
Table 36
Table 37
Table 35
Table 39
Corrrnanders from the General Staff
Pri.or Xvision b.mand Experience
Corps Gnmmnders coining
Out of Reti.rement
Corps Cor;manders from the Poli.ce -
Panzer Corps Ccmnanders
from Panzer Divisions
Arny Reci.pients of the
Knight's Cross
Highest Decorati.ons Received
by the Corps Comnanders
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
and Swords for Corps Cornnand
General Officers i n Service
Corps Ccmnanders Promoted
to Generalfeldmarschall
German Dead 1939-1944
General 0ffi.cer Fatali t i e s by Grade
General Officer Fatali t ies by Cause
Cor?s Corranander Fatalities
National Comnittee for a
Free Germany
Generaloberst
Generalleutnant
Army Group Comnanders
Corps Comander Baseline
Characteri stics
Corps Comnanders by Front Canparison
58
6i.
67
68
70
77
78
79
83
84
89
89
90
90
93
99
100
100
106
108
vi
CHAFTEX1
DEFINIiqG THE PROBLM
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of th i s study i.s to examine the background and
proficiency of German corps colrnnanders i.n World War 11. It i.s
evident that these E n , the links between operational and tact ical
levels, were key components i n the resulting successes and failures
of the Wehrmacht. Present United States AirLand Battle doctrine
draws extensively on the German experience i n th i s confli.ct.
Current examination of German genera1shi.p in World War I1
suffers from two deficiencies: identi.ficati.on and generalization.
idthou& nost high level comnanders ( a n y and above) have been
identi.fied and their proficiency analyzed, such i.s not the case with
the colrananders of the ninety-three German corps.
Xesearch a t both the German Army Xilitary Archives a t
Freiburg, West Germany, and a t Fort Leavenworth, reveals that no
single complete l i s t ing of corps comnanders exists. However, by
combi-ning sources found a t both places, a comprehensive l is t can be
documented identifying these corps c m n d e r s .
1
The second major deficiency concerns generalization of
leaders. Current l i terature too often categorizes German general
officers as s t i f f Prussian aristocrats with almost superhuman
military expertise. Naturally, they varied in background,
proficiency, and potential. With the identification of the
comnanders completed,. one can conduct an examination of individual
careers. This i.s especially cri.tica1 for further investigation of
the G e m military tenets on which so m h of U.S. doctrine is
based.
This study will focus on the background, previous comnand
and s taff experience, demonstrated military achievement, and
subsequent pramtion to hi.gher comnand t o identi.fy prominent
characteristics of these individuals. "k analysis w i l l conclude by
canparing corps commders on the Eastern Front with those on the
Western Front.
2
HISTURICAL EACKCuKUN!J
'Tne German A m y in World War I1 was an extremly large,
multifaceted organization which conducted operations on two
continents. Personnel strength numbered in the millions. The A m y
was divided into two major sub-organizations, the Field Army and the
Replacemnt Amy. Personnel figures through the war for both are 1
S h below.
Table 1
Amy Strength
(in millions)
JUne JUne JUne JUne JUne December
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1944
Field Army 3.7 3.8 4.1 4.5 4.0 3.8
Replacement
Army .9 1.2 1.9 1.8 2.3 2.6
6.4MTAL 4.8 5.0 6.0 6.3 6.3
3
To control th i s large force, the Germans developed several
echelons of c&. The highest f ie ld c b was the army group.
Eighteen army groups were created during the war with the mission to
control two to four armies i.n a single theater of operations for a
single campaign. A f ie ld marshal mst frequently comnanded an army 2
group.
1rmedi.ately subordinate to the army groups were the armies.
An army was a mre permanent couxnand and was not formed for just a
speci.fic campaign. Twenty-seven armies were established betwsen 1939
and 1945. Each army theoretically directed two to six corps. An army
was comnanded by a fi.eld marshal, a colonel general, or a general of 3
infantry, panzer, a r t i l l e ry , etc.
Tne ninety-three corps and their ccrrmanders are the major
subject of this thesis. They will be discussed in detail i n chapters
three, four, and five. Each corps directed the act ivi t ies of from
two to s ix di.vi.si.ons and was comaanded by a general of infantry,'
panzer, etc., a lieutenant general, or a major general.
The lowest general offi.cer c b s were the divisions.
Wi.thi.n the Army, the number of di.visi.ons peaked i.n June 1944 a t 283.
In additi.on, both the Waffen SS and Luftwaffe provided ground 4
divisions for combat.
4
Pare than 2400 personnel served as general officers i.n the
German Amy. David Darni.ng, author of -The kvil's K r m s o s , staces
that "The German generals were the finest thi.nki.ng and fighting 5
soldiers of modern history." The level of competence of corps and
division comnanders was high. However, there was a wide variance i n
prospects for advancement. Some officers had potential for promotion
t o higher comnands, some l o s t favor personally or poli.tically, and
some were not vi.ewed as professionally competent for future major 6
operational responsibi.li.ty. It i.s the purpose of this study to
examine these factors of capabi1i.ty.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Tne major research questions this study will focus on
are:(l) What were the prominent background, experience, and
achievement characteri-stics exhibited by German corps cocmanders in
World War II? and (2) Gi.ven these characteristics as a whole, were
the Gelman corps comnanders faced by the British and Anericans on
the Kestern/Italian Fronts less or more proficienr: chan those
fighti.ng the Soviets on the Eastern Front?
5
SIGNI?'ICAiiCE OF THE STUDY
The compi.lation of a definitive l ist of corps cclimnanders
should add to the body of infonuatlion concerning G e m leadership
in World War 11. Conclusi.ons concerning background, education,
camand and staff experience, and demonstrated military achievement
may assist our cxyn effor ts at senior leader development.
The methodology used for this study is three-fold. F i r s t ,
prominent characteristics for German general officers -.dl be
identified f r m post-war published sources. Second, each comnander
will be analyzed according to background, education, previous
comnand and staff experience, demonstrated ni l i tary achievemnt, and
subsequent promotions. With these baselines established, the c o q s
cOmnanders on the Eastern Front will then be compared and contrasted
with those on the Italian and Xestern r'ronts.
6
C€lAFl'ER 1 is a definition of the problem central to the
thesis. The historical background of the study is presenced as well
as the methodology to be followed.
CHAPTER 2 presents a detailed review of l i terature. Sources
essential t o the study t o be discussed include manuscripts of the
U.S. Foreign Military Studies of the Historical Division, United
States Army Europe (USAREUR); captured German records microfilmed a t
Alexandria, Virginia; G e m records a t the Bundesarchiv-
blilitaerarchiv, Freiburg, West Germany; and postwar German, ar i t i sh ,
and American l i terature .
CHAPTER 3 provides a background study of the German corps
system. This chapter will assi.st i n putting la ter personnel issues
i n perspective.
CHAPTER 4 is an in-depth presentation of prominent factors
of background, education, and previous c d and staff experience.
QiAlTE3 5 presents factors of demonstrated military
achievanent, p r m t i o n , and subsequent higher level c d .
7
ClWFCER 6 establishes baseline characteristics.determined by
c r i t e r i a presented in chapters 4 and 5. Overall t r a i t s for a l l corps
c d e r s are presented, and a final comparison and contrast of
c d r s on the Eastern Front with those on :he I ta l ian and
Western Fronts is made. Conclusions are based on the evaluated
information.
A"M A explains abbreviations used throughout the study and
presents a concise l is t of German terms and definitions to assi.st
future researchers w i t h the many untranslated sources.
ANNM B is a comprehensive l i s t ing of a l l German Army corps
comnanders.
8
--
1 W. Victor Y i d e j ,
(Allentown, Pennsylvania: L
Ibid., p.37. 3
Ibid., p.3a. 4
Ibid., p. 15. . . 5
David Darning, The
E N D N a E S
German Army Order Garrae Marketiw-wai$
of Battle 1939-1945, ,=Vol 1, p.4.
Devil's Virtuosos: German Generals a t War i
:.::1 .. 1940-45, (New Yak: S r V k r t i n ' s Press), 19//,-. "
. ., Telford Taylor, The March of Conquest: The German Victories -i n Western Europe, -1940, (NewYork:-%mn and S c G t e r ) , 9 5 8 , p.20.
... . . .. '!
9
c x m T R 2
REVIEW OF L I " U E
The purpose for presenting a detailed review of l i terature
for this thesi.s i.s two-fold. First, i t w i l l familiarize the reader
with the wide variety of both English and German material available.
Second, i t provides succeeding researchers with a synopsis of the
i.nformation relating to the German corps and corps comnanders i n
XorId War 11.
The review of l i terature for this thesis consists of books,
manuscripts of the U.S. Forei.gn Yi.li.tary Studies of the Historical
Division USAREUR., and captured German records ni.crofilmed a t
Alexandria, Virginia. The research process entails exami.nation,
analyzati.on, contrast, and comparison of the information from these
sources.
a t e r i a l ori.ginated from many locations. The German Army
Archives a t the hdesarchi.v-?lilitaerarchiv, Freiburg, FRG was the
primary source for documenti.% the l is t of corps and corps
comnanders. The Combined Research Library (CARL) a t the United
10
States Army Camand and General Staff College (CGSC), Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, provided the foundation for documenting the
remainder of the thesis.
The research material used in t h i s thesis was unclassified.
The sources range from those written during World !Jar I1 t o the
present. Re-1945 material consists of primary sources with l i . t t l e
author interpretation. Sources written imnediately after 1945
include i.nterviews with senior German c m d e r s . Recent l i terature ’
includes wmirs and recently opened archive fi.les.
The review of 1i.terature applicable t o this thesis is
divided into two sections. Part I concentrates on i.nformation about
the corps and corps c&ers. Part I1 focuses on those prominent
leadership characteristics emphasized by the &rmans, the p r m t i o n
and awards systems, and the General S t a f f . For nontranslated German
works I have provided an English translation of the t i t l e i n
parentheses. Other l i terature i.s included in the bibliography. The
following sources were the mst useful.
11
PART I
John Angolia's work On the Field of Honor, --_-A Historv of the -
Knight's -Cross Bearers (Volume -1-2) is an excellent source of
information on Geman military personaliti.es i n World War 11. These
two works provide short bi.ographies of the winners of Germany's
highest military awards, i.ncluding many corps comnanders. The two
books are the f i r s t of a planned seven volume series. General career
information is excellent, although not a l l dates of assignrent are
accmate.
3. James Bender and Warren W. Odegard are the authors of
Uniforms, Organization -and History -- Thisof the Panzertruppe. work
provides a wealth of information related t o German panzer units,
equipment, and ;mi fom. The section concerning personalities
provides li.sts of co~lpnandersof panzer armies, corps, and di.visions
with only a few discrepancies.
kmt Bradley and Richard Schulze-Kossens are the editors
of the Taetigkei.tsbericht --- Generaldes Chefs des Heerespersonalamtes
-der Infanterie Rudolf Schmundt: 1.10.42-29.10.44. (Daily Reports of
the Chief of the Army Personnel 0ffi.ce General of Infantry Rudolf
Scl-mIundt: October 1, 1942 to October 29, 1944) Thi.s massive work
contains a l l of the dai.ly ccmimunications from the Army Personnel
- - -
Office. Promotions and demoti.ons are covered along with valuable
information on rel iefs of connmders, details of ki.l?ed i n action
reports, and the involvement of officers i n the 20 July 1944 plot
against H i tler .
Hitler's Generals by Ri.chard Brett-Smith is an excellent
work on many of Germany's mili.tary leaders. The author presents
eighty-two short biographies of general officers, more than any
other contemporary works. He categorizes these indi.viduals by
branch, loyalty to Hitler, and other i n f o m t i v e chapters.
David Downing's work -The Devil's Virtuosos: German Generals
- -a t War 1940-5 is an exaninati.on of several European campaigns from
the viewpoints of the German generals i n comnand. I t srrmnarizes the
impact of a few of the more notable German comnanders but omits the
campai.gns in Poland, Scandinavia, North Africa, I taly and the
Balkans. The book is good for a qui.ck overview but not for serious
deTth.
3ie Traeger des- Ti; tter!aeuzes des E i sernen Kreuzes ?9?9-1?b5
(The Wearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) by Walter-Peer
Fellgiebel is an comprehensi.ve l is t ing of a l l winners of this award.
The book organizes this task alphabetically and presents the name,
unit , and date of each awardee. Ro analysis is given as to total
numbers by rank, branch, etc.
13
Hemam Geyer author of - -I X Armeekorps -Das i m Ostfeldzq
-1941 ('The I'X Corps i n the Eastfront Campaign 1941) has presented an
excellent account of a German corps in acti.on. Geyer served as
comander of this uni.t from 1939 t o 1942. 'Xe committed suicide i n
1946 and th i s book w a s saved and published by a fonrrer s taff
officer. Most post-war literature concerning units has been written
on a division level; thi.s is a good insight into a di.ffi.cult
campaign for a veteran unit .
One of the primary quick reference works a t the
Bundesarchiv-Xilitaerarchiv is Wolf Keilig' s three volume -Das
Deutsche -Heer 1939-1945 (The German Army 1933-1945). First published
i.n 1956, it presents a wealth of factual data on army organizations,
campaigns, and persona1iti;es. Most informati.on is presented in chart
and table format. Long out of p r i n t , it has not been translated t o
English and is di.ffi.cult to locate i n the United States. In 1983 the
author published -Die General -des Heeres (Tne Generals of the Army).
This work, essenti.ally a reprint of the third volume of the above,
contains very short bi.ographies of the 2600 German generals i.n the
Arry. These are good overviews with oniy a few omissions concerning
awards s t d n g from incomplete German records i n 1956. Thi.s work
provides the foundation for the biographi.ca1 information of the
thesis. Keilig's third work Rangliste -des kutschen Heeres 1944145
(The German Army 1944/45 Rank Li . s t ) presents the date of rank for
a l l majors and above as of May 1, 1944. In addition, i.t lists the
14
- ----
l a s t peactime unit of assignment for each indivi.dua1. A l l three
works should be purchased by C A E to fac i l i t a te further detailed
research.
Erwin Lenfeld and Franz Thomas have compi.led an excellent
guide to the winners of Germany's highest military decorati.ons in
their -Die Ei.chenlaubtraeger 1940-1945 (The Oakleaves Bearers 1940-
1945). This work devotes an enti.re page to the military career of
each of Germany's 882 winners of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.
Dates of assignment t o units are accurate and very complete. It has
not been translated yet to English.
An excellent guide t o G e m m t a i n units i.s Alpine Elite
- German Mountain Troops of World War I1 by J m s Lucas. The book
centers on several descriptive narratives of m t a i n unit
engagements but also provides background on organizati.ons and
personali.ties. Tnis work provided mst of the informati.on on
m t a i . n corps used in the thesis.
F.W. von Yeilenchin presems an inside view or' fourteen
prominent ccmanders in German Generals -of -World -War -11: -As -I -Saw
-Them. The author, a General Staff officer, served as a chief of
staff a t corps, army, and army group level. Von Mellenthin
campaigned with many of these comnanders in Africa, Russi.a, and
France. The biographies he presents are clear, factual, and provide
an excellent insight into the careers of several corrmanders.
15
- - K l a u s Chri.stian Richter is the author of Die Geschichte der
deutschen Kavallerie, 1919-1945, (The ili.story of the German Cavalry
1919-1945). This work is a comprehensive study of the organization,
training, personalities, and operations of cavalry units i.n both
the Weimar Rei.chswehr and the Third Rei.ch Wehrmacht. For this study
i.t provided mst of the information on the cavalry and Cossack corps
of the Army. It has not been translated, but remains an excellent
work on German cavalry during the war.
Sylvester Stadler presents an excellent account of the I1
Waffen SS Panzer Corps a t Kursk in his -Die Offensive -Kursk
-1943 (The Offensive against Kursk 1943). Most beneficial to this
thesis was the i.nformation on corps combat support attachments, a
subject often overlooiced in other orders of battle. Other excellent
features of this work include detailed hourly division reports and
sumnaries of German and Soviet combat losses. Machine produced
situation maps are excellent; however, photograph reproductions of
origi.na1 G e m unit maps are not.
tleeresei nteilung -1939 (Army Classification 1939) by
Friedri.ch Stahl is the G e m order of bat t le effective January 3,
1939. Units down to battalion level are l isted with haw stations
and corrrmanders. l3i.s guide is useful i n locating personnel prior to
the s t a r t of World War 11.
16
--
Georg Tessin, in his thirteen volume wrk , Verbaende -und
Truppen -der deutschen Kehrmacht -und Waffen-SS -im Zweiten !Jeltlaieg
1939-1945 (Formations and Units of the German i\rmed Forces and
Waffen-SS in the Second Xorld !Jar 1939-1945), descri.bes i.n great
detail the organization and campaigns of a l l German ground troops
during the war. This work is another mai.nstay of the German A r q
Archives with no detail spared concerning employment. By month
subordinate unit l is t ings are provided for each army and corps,
while units organic t o division are also extensi.vely covered. Units
are grouped acc0rdi.x to numerical designation i.nto categories of
army, corps, military d i s t r i c t , infantry, mobile troops, a r t i l l e ry ,
engineers, signal, supply, security, naval ground, a i r force ground,
Waffen-SS, and allied. These volumes are invaluable in the study of
the organizati.on of the German Army i n World Xar 11. Although
currently an expensive acquisi.ti.on, these volumes should be
purchased by CARL to ass is t future research.
Heer- und Flottenfuehrer --der Welt (Amy and Navy Leaders of
the World) by Georg Zikovic presents a comprehensive li.st of
European, Japanese, and American ariny and MW comnanuers from the
early 1800s t o the 1970s. Wi.thin the scope of this thesis, Zikovic
lists mst permanent corps conmanders but none of the acting or
temporary c m n d e r s .
17
--
"Generals of the Third Reich" by retired General Bernhard
von Claer is one of an extensive series of the U.S. Army Xistorical
Division post-war stuclies. These works were c d s s i o n e d by the Army
as after acti.on reports wri.tten by fonrer German high ranking
offi.cers. This ar t ic le gi.ves s t a t i s t i ca l data on the general
officers, providing extremely useful information on general offi.cer
casualties. Von Claer served w i t h many rear area comnands during the
war.
"Bi.ographica1 Sketch of High ;(anking German and Russi.an
Officers of the Second World War", Intelligence Research Project
2346 prxoduced in 1946 a t Fort Leavenworth, provides excelIent page-
long biographi.es of 52 German and 21 R u s s i a n officers. G e m
biographies present excellent detail of the pre-1939 careers of
these individuals.
Order of Battle -- -of the German Army October 1942, April 1943,
February 1944, and --Narch 1945 are four Gar Departrent Military
Intelligence Divisi.on documents describi.q the perceived
organization of the Gem Army. Only incomplete l is t ings of
comnanders and s ta f fs are l is ted, but the works provide excellent
infomti.on on wartime organization.
18
BUNDESXCHIV-XILITrZERARCHIV LOCNWS
Several German Army Archive documents provided important
information on dates of rank and assignments and are listed below
along:
vom 12. Oktober Dienstaltersliste _ -zur --A Stellenbesetzung - 91937 (Service Officer Date of Rank Li.st as of October 12, 1937)
(National Archives Microcopy No. 78, Roll No. 512). This work, as
well as those sham below, lists seniority by date of rank.
Heavy Anti.-Tank Battalion C Light Observation Battalion 13
Mountain Engineer Regiment 620 Construction Regiment 26
2nd Bty., Heavy Artillery Bn 800 Construction Battali.on 219
Construction Battalion 112 Constructi.on Battalion 153
33
In s m r y the German corps system was an efficient,
flexible tactical comnand headquarters whi.ch effectively linked the
fighting divisi.ons to the f ie ld armies. The corps reflected the
combined arms doctrine by both the assignment of divisions and by
attachment of combat support assets. The variety of corps types
faci l i ta ted the wide range of mi.ssions the German Army was required
t o perform in differing terrai.n and climatic condi.ti.ons. Finally,
the system was extremely flexible to rapidly permit both lower and
higher reorganization.
With t h i s understanding of the scope of the corps system,
thi.s study can now begin t o analyze the characterhtics of the
c m n d e r s of these significant units.
ENDNOTES
Martin van Creveld, Fi.ghtiw Power, German Xili tarv Performance, 1914-1945. (Potomac, Maryland: C&L Defense Consultants), 1980, p.56.
Ibid., p.58.
March of Conquest: The German Vi.ctories -Western Europe, 1940.7ew York: Simon and ScEt-958, p.18.
Telford Taylor, The -- i n
R. James Bender and Warren W. Odegard, Uniforms, -and History of the Panzertruppe. (San Jose: R. James Be p.60.
5 James h a s , A 1 ine Elite - German Mountain Troops of World War 11. (London: J a n e ' h 8 - 1 8 6 . -
6 Ibid., p.89. 7 Wehrmacht und m x
' Wolf Keilig, Das Deutsche Heer 1939-1945. (Bad Nauhein, mG.: Pcdzun Verlag), 1936; v ~ ~ Z T
Ibid., Vol 1, p.90/5.
loTaylor, The March. p.18.
Tessin, Verbaende. Vol 2, p.14 and Vol 1, p.5.
K l a u s Christian Richter, Die Geschichte der deutschen Kavallerie 1919-1945, (Stut tgar t , FRG: Notorbuch V e r l a x 1982, pp. 267-275 and 374-375.
The XV Cossack Corps was formed from the many disgruntledcossack prisoners of war and volunteers seeking to gain Cossack i.ndependence from the Soviets. 1ndivi.dual regiments were groupingsof t e r r i t o r i a l clans such as from the Don Basin, the Terek Steppe, etc. Prior t o 1945 these units had operated independently in support of established German units. The XV Cossack Corps was organized February 1, 1945 as follows:
l2 R. James Bender and Ftichard D. Law',Uniforms, Organization and of the Afrikakorps. ( S a n Jose: R. James Bender), 1 9 rs 3 . - -
The Africa Corps was mre lightly organized than most other German corps of the war. h i n g the campai.gn it had the 5th LightDivisi.on (later the 21st Panzer Division) and the 15th Panzer Division assigned. In addition the following indi.vi.dua1 combat units were assigned to the corps:
Panzer Corps Grossdeutschland had the proposed organization of:
Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Division Brandenburg Corps Fusili.er Regiment Heavy Tank Battalion One Artillery Regiment Armored Engineer Battalion
Panzer Corps r'eldherrhaile had the proposed organization of:
Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle Panzer Grenadier Division Feldherrnhalle 2 Corps Fusilier Regiment Heavy Tank Battalion One Artillery Regiment Armored Engineer Battali.on
Both corps were intended to be a mre permanent organizati.on than other corps with divi.sions assigned on a mre permanent basis.
36
- --
l4 Tessin, Verbaende. Vol 2, pp.14, 95, 160; Vol 3, pp.5-6; Vol 4,p.55; V O ~5, pp. 43, 53, 78, 155, 225, 246.
This chapter w i l l be to examine the background, education,
and experience factors of German corps comnanders i n World War 11. 4
total of 332 men served as permanent or acting comnanders for the
ninety-three German Army corps from 1939 t o 1945. Central to a
thorough understanding of these factors is a review of the system of
general officer grades and their equivalent American counterparts.
The basic grade system is s h m below:
Table 6
General Officer Grades
German Grade Abbreviation Eng l i.sh American
Trans 1ati.on Equi.valent
Gener a1 fe ldmarschall GFM Field Marschal General of
the Army
Generaloberst Go Colonel General General
General der 1nfanteri.e GdI General of Infantry Lieutenant
General
38
G e m Rank Abbreviation English American
Translation Equivalent
General der Artillerie GdA General of Arti.llery Lieutenant
General
General der Panzer GdPz General of Panzers I ,
General der Pionier GdPi General of Engineers
General der Gebirgs- GdGebTr General of Hountain
trim= Troops
General der Kavallerie GdKav General of Cavalry
Generalleutnant GL Lieutenant General Major
General
Generalmajor GM Major General Brigadier
General
In comparing German grades with American ones it should be
noted that a G e m generalmajor w a s routinely a corrmander of a
divi.si.on. h i l e his . k r i c a n counterpart seldom was. Movfnp a?. a
generalleutnant could camnand ei.ther a di.visi.on or corps, h i i e his
major general Ameri.can counterpart mst often stayed a t division 1
level. To av0i.d thi.s mental conversi.on of grades I will use German
grade for a l l comnanders.
39
BACKGROND
AGE
Tne f i r s t characteristic to be examined is age. Yajor
General J.F.C. Fuller i n his work Generalship -Its Diseases -and
-Their Cure: A study of the Personal Factor i.n Gnunand that-- -- - states
physical vigor and energy are important assets of genera1shi.p and 2
are usually found i n younger men. t!espi.te thi.s theory, the German
corps comnanders were a mature group of individuals and were not
young by the standards of the time. The following i.nfonnation shows
the age groups as defined by age on assuming corps comnand.
Table 7
Age of Comnanders
Mmkr of Officers* Percentage of Total
40 to 44 6 1.8
45 to 50 104 31.8
51 to 55 162 49.5
56 to 60 44 13.4
61 to 65 11 3.3
* Note: Ages were determi.ned for 327 of 332 c m n d e r s
40
The oldest individual was GL tIans Schmidt who was 64 years
old &en he assmed c m d of the IX Corps in 1940. 'I"ne ;iomgest
was GM K u r t von Liebenstein who assmed c d of the Africa Corps,
January 1943, a t age 43.
OFFICER SELECTION
Prior to World W a r I an i.ndividua1 could become an officer
by attending one of ten cadet schools or by applying directly to a
regimental comnander. Applicants were evaluated for responsi-bili.ty ,
willpower, and character. Educational factors were consi.dered
secondary. The mst significant element of education was the
"Abitur", a diploma recognizing nine years of primary and secondary
education, and granting the recipient the right to enter a
university. The s ta te of Bavaria demanded the officer candidate
possess this cer t i f icate while by 1910 some 637. of a l l Prussian
cadets had earned one. Long tern implications for the Abitur were
even mre significant as acceptance for General Staff training3
depended on i t .
k i n g World War I , huge demands for officers caused a
di.lution in the character and educational standards of offi.cer
candi.dates. Casualties i.ncreased whi.le replacements were drawn from
older reservists and inexperienced young officers. In 1916 the
Supreme Headquarters began to transfer members of the "old officer
corps" from the front 1i.nes to General Staff service in an attempt
to prevent the total destructi.on of the tradi.tiona1 officer corps.
41
4
After the conflict selecti.on again became diffi.cult. Under
che ?rovi.sions of :he Treaty of Versailles, tne post-war ilei.cnswehr
was reduced to 4,000 officers, of whom 3,000 were wartime officers
and 1,000 were promoted noncomni.ssi.oned officers. Outside candidates
were expected to have an extensive pre-university education level.
The Abitur was desi.red but not required. In its place, the candidate
could take special equivalency examinations, a system which assisted 5
enlisted candidates lacking i n formal educati.on.
The environment through which the future corps ccnananders
entered service fostered candidates with a l l around excellent
character rather than m r e educated, technically oriented
individuals. Additionally, character was often judged by the status
of family influence and wealth. One standard was that of nobility
and w i l l be examined next.
42
NOBILITY
Gr%ile most officers were members of the upper and middle
classes, officers of noble descent had always f i y e d prominently in
German military tradition. k i r g the Reichswehr era of 1924-1932,
nobility again fared well in the cmpsi . t ion of the officer corps.
The following three tables reflect nobility composition of newly
promoted majors (major), lieutenant colonels (oberstleutnant) and
colonels (oberst). Nany of the la ter corps comnanders passed through 6
these grades during this time.
Table 8
Newly P r m t e d Ynjors
Year Promoted Nobles Percent Noble
1924 73 12 16.4
1925 68 16 23.5
1926 74 19 25.6
1927 81 i 7 20.9
1928 93 27 29.0
1929 65 16 24.6
1930 66 10 15.1
1931 90 17 18.8
1932 73 5 1.3
Total 683 139 20.3
43
Table 9
Newiy Trmoted Lieutenant Colonels
Year
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
Total
Year
1924
1925
1926
1927
Promoted
43
30
43
61
67
7 1
70
83
65
533
Nobles
14
6
13
17
26
17
14
22
12
141
Percent Hoble
32.5
20.0
30.2
27.8
38.8
23.9
20.0
26.5
, 18.4
26.4
* Table 10
Newly Promoted Colonels
Promoted
32
27
29
34
Nobles
10
12
13
7
Percent Noble
31.2
44.4
44.8
20.5
44
Newly Promoted Colonels (continued)
Year Pronoted Nobles Percent Noble
1928 45 13 28.8
1929 40 15 37.5
1930 46 11 23.9
1931 55 22 40.0
1932 45 1 0 22.2
Total 353 113 32.0
However, the high percentage of nobility during the 1932-
1945 p r i o d diminished. In 1932, 23.8% of a l l officers were nobles 7
with 52% of general officers i n this category. This percentage had
dwindled by 1939. A t the beginning of the war, although the .4rmy had
a large number of landed gentry and aristocracy, the percentage of 8
noble general officers had dropped to 33. This percentage decli.ned 9
even further by 1944 when only 19% of a l l generals were nobles.
The scope of this thesis nust 1imi.t the thorough
investi.gation of the various s t ra ta of nobility. David Nelson 1u
Spi.res' doctoral dissertati.on points out that:
...as far as the Reichswehr is concerned, "old" officer families or those that traditionally had supplied off- icers t o the army, could be mre significant than "new" noble families.
45
CXoer Bartov in his study of the German hrny on the Eastern
Front defines rmbership i n the nobili.ty as a l l officers with a
"von" and other prefixs of arist0crati.c origin attached to the 11
family name. Using this definici.on, the following pattern of
nobility emerges when examining the corps COIIpnanders. -
Table 11
comnanders of Noble Descent
Year Comnanders of Noble
Descent i n Corps Ccomand
1937 8
1938 9
1939 13
1940 21
1941 22
1942 31
1943 31
1944 29
1945 27
Seventy-five (22.69.) of the corps comnanders were members of
the nobility. From the results of this analysis it appears as though
this representation remained constant throughout the war.
Addi.tionally, thi.s figure corresponds closely with the percentage of
total general officers.
46
EXPANSION OF THE i(EICHS'dm
k i n g the 1930s, the German Army dramatically increased i n
si.ze. This expansion directly affected the Officer Corps. In 1938
for example, the Army expanded by 7,600 officers: 2,000 recruits,
2,500 la te ra l transfers from the police, 1,500 noncorrmissioned
officer prmotions, 1,800 reactivations from inactive service, and 12
1,600 Austrian officers incorporated i.nto the Wehnuacht. The
variety of sources for general officers who la ter assumed corps
camand are as shown:
Table 12
Comnander's Background
Category Number Comnanders Percentage
Career (Served in WWI 268 80.7
and r a i n e d i n Xeichsweh)
Recalled from iietirement 22 6.6
(In Rei.chswehr, re t i red)
Transferred from Police 27 8.1
(Served in NJI, l e f t Army,
returned with Police rank)
47
Comnander's Background (continued)
Category Number Conananders Per cent age
Joined during 1930s Expansion 4 1.2
(Served in WWI, l e f t Army,
rejoined Army i n mid 1930s)
Incorporated from Austrian Army 11 3.3
Several of these sources of officers should be explained.
More than 80 general offi.cers were recalled from active duty in 1939
from the inacti.ve li.st, and wi.th the continued expansion during the 13
war m y more were brought back.
Twenty-two generals recalled to active duty later comnancied
a t the corps level. &call t o service could be accomplished by two
mthods. Sme retired officers were ternporarily restored to the
regular l i s t , while others were designaced z.V ( m r V e r f u e m ) or 14
"at di.sposa1". As expected, most recalled officers were among the
oldest of the cannariders. Seventeen returned to retirement during
the war, one died i.n comnand, and four remained on active service.
Only one corps comnander d-10 had been recalled from retirement was 15
selected for higher camand.
48
During the mid 1930s many offi.cers rejoined the Xeichswehr
from the police. As an inducement, these men retained their f o m r
poli.ce rank ranging from hauptmann (captain) to generalmajor.
Professional competence of officers h o did not remain in
the Army after World War I was not held in high regard. Guenther
Blumentritt, a former army group chief of staff and cunnander of the
1st Airborne Army i.n 1945, stated that the performances of officers
who reti.red i n 1919 and rejoined during the mid-1930s was lower as
these officers s t i l l believed in obsolete Fi.rst World War 16
experiences.
Despite Blumentritt's assertion, twenty-seven generals who
returned to the Army i n the mid 1930s fiom the police achieved corps
cannard. Nost were absorbed into the infantry. Five later conrnanded
a t the army or army group level, representing 19% of a l l corps17
c d e r s with police backgrounds, and are shown below:
Table 13
Corps Gmnanders with Police Backgrounds
Grade Name Corps Highest Grade Higher Camands
Corrmand
GdPz Eberbach mv11 Pz GdPz 5th Panzer Army
XxxXvIII Pz 7th Amy
xxxx Pz
49
Corps Comnanders with Police Backgrounds (continued)
Grade N a m e Corps Highest Grade Higher Carmands
Gmmland
GdI Grasser XXVI GdI 11th Army
LVI Pz
GL Wller ,F V GdI 18
4th Army
XXXIV 2.b.V
LIX
LXVIII
GdI Wiese VIII GdI 19th Army
xxxv GdI von Zangen LXXXIV GdI 15th Amy
LXXXVII
In examining Blurent?i.tt's assertion more deepiy, xi find
that seven former poli.ce officers comnanded panzer corps, positions
that would seem to require the greatest understanding of modern
mobile warfare. This would seem to undermine che "anti-police"
school of thought until we look at durati.on of c m n d . The
following table shows that only two (29%) comnanded longer than one
mnth. Although Kaellner and Schuenemnn were killed in action it
appears as though "police" comnanders were thought of mre as
temporary panzer corps comrmders than permanent.
50
Table 14
Panzer Corps Comnanders with Poli.ce Bac'kgrounds
Grade N a m e Corps Durati.on of Cornnand
GL Beyer,F LVII Pz 8 days
GdPz Eberbach XxxxVII Pz 7 days
XxxXvIII Pz 27 days
xxxx Pz 9 days
GdPz Fries XxxxVI Pz 4 months
GL Grasser LVI Pz 24 days
GdPz Henrici,S xxxx Pz 18 months
GL Kaellner XXIV Pz 29 days
GL schuenerrmann m1x Pz 1 day
After the annexation of Austria i n i938 ( the Anschluss),
three Austrian corps composed of six divisions were incorporated
in to the German Amy, with a corresponding number of senior i9
off icers . Austri.an of f icers conpared favorably to the i r G e m n
counterparts i n conpetency and leadership. The following ten
Austri.an of f icers achieved corps ccnirnand and were promoted t o higher 20
ccrrmand positi.ons a s s h m :
51
Table 15
Austri.an Army and Army Group Comanaers
Grade Name
GdI Fiendulic
GdPz b u s
GI, Eibl
GdI Yiterna
GdI kyer ,E
GdA Marti-nek
GL Feurstein
GL Eglseer
GL Ringel
GL von Nagy
GdPz Hubicki.
Corps
cornnand
XXXV
XxxXvII Pz
XXIV Pz
XX
XVIII
XXXIX Pz
UII
Lxx
LI Mtn
XVIII Mtn
LXIX Mtn
WI
W I X Pz
Highest Grade
Go
Go
GdI (Post.)
GdI
GdI
GdA
GdGebTr
GdGebTr
GdGebTr
GdI
W Z
52
Bigker C m n d s
2nd Panzer Army
20th 4lountain Army
Army Group Kurland
Army Group North
Army Group South
1st Panzer Amy
3rd Panzer Army
4th Panzer Army L l
None (KIA)
None
None (Died)
None (KIA)
None
None (Ki l led i n
plane crash)
None
None
N O W
5RAiV.X AFFILIATION
Branch r i v a l r i e s played a large ro le i n comnand
relations’hips i n the Amy during both the expansion era and actual
w a r t i m e . David Nelson Spires again presents baseline data for branch
composition for promotion i n the Reichswehr e r a as shown for 22
generalmajor, generalleutnant, and general.
Table 16
Newly Promoted Generalmajor
Year Promoted Infantry Cavalry Ar t i l l e ry Technical
11 % 11 7. ;I % 11 x
1924 13 4 30.7 2 15.4 7 53.8 0 0.0
1925 8 1 12.5 2 25.0 4 50.0 1 1.2.5
1926 10 5 50.0 1 10.0 3 30.0 1 10.0
1927 15 7 46.6 1 6.6 5 33.3 2 13.3
1928 16 11 68.7 0 0.0 5 31.2 0 0.0
1929 i 7 i0 58.1; 2 i1.7 5 29.4 0 0.0
1930 19 12 63.1 0 0.0 7 36.8 0 0.0
1931 1 7 10 58.8 1 11.7 4 23.5 2 11.7
1932 19 11 57.8 2 10.5 6 31.5 0 0.0
Total 134 71 52.9 11 8.2 46 34.3 6 4.4
53
Table 17
Xewly Romoted Generalleutnanr:
Year Promoted Infantry Cavalry Artillery Technical
11 % II % /I 70 c %
1924 4 3 75.0 0 0.0 1 25.0 0 0.0
1925 4 2 50.0 1 25.0 1 25.0 0 0.0
1926 5 5 100.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
1927 7 4 57.1 1 14.2 2 28.5 0 0.0
1928 6 1 16.6 3 50.0 2 33.3 0 0.0
1929 6 3 50.0 1 16.6 2 33.3 0 0.0
1930 7 4 57.1 1 14.2 2 28.5 0 0.0
1931 5 3 60.0 1 20.0 1 20.0 0 0.0
1932 6 4 66.6 0 0.0 2 33.3 0 0.0
Total 50 29 58.0 8 16.0 13 26.0 0 0.0
Tabie i8
Newly P r m t e d General der Infanterie, etc.
Year Pronoted Infantry
I %
Cavalry
/I %
Artillery
/I %
Technical
II %
1924
1925
0
2
0
1
0.0
50.0
0
1
0.0
50.0
0
0
0.0
0.0
0
0
0.0
0.0
54
Newly Promoted General der Infanterie, etc. (continued)
Year Promoted Infantry Cavalry Artillery Technical
I 7. t 7. t '7. I 1926 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
1927 2 1 50.0 0 0.0 1 50.0 0 0.0
1928 2 1 50.0 0 0.0 1 50.0 0 0.0
1929 1 1 100.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
1930 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 100.0 0 0.0
1931 1 1 100.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
1932 1 1 100.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
Total a 5 62.5 0 0.0 3 37.5 0 0.0
Older generals viewed infantry as the dominant branch and
attempted t o control the Army Personnel Branch to the detriment of 23
other branch offi.cers. This was especially so w i t n respect to the
formation of the new panzer forces. Hasso von W t e u f f e l stated that
the new 7anzer brancn required speciai leaders anu carmnanaers, but
the older arms displayed opposing views. To maintain s tab i l i ty
within the armored force, GO Heinz Guderi.an r e p r t e d directly to
Hitler as Inspector-General of b r e d Troops and had full input 24
concerning appointments to the comnand of armored formations.
55
The distribution of corps comnanders by branch was as
follars:
Table 19
Branch Aff i.lia t ion
Branch Number of Comnanders Percentage
InfXCTY 171 51.5
Artillery 63 18.9
Panzer 54 16.2
Cavalry 18 5.4
bunta in Troops 15 4.5
Engineer 9 2.7
Luftwaffe 2 0.6
Another aspect of branch affi.liation concerns the comnanders
of panzer corps and mountain corps. Sixtyone per cent of a l l panzer
corps comanders were of the panzer branch, h i l e forty-one perc.ent
of the conmanders of the m t a i n corps were mountain troop
officers. Artillery and cavalry officers comnanded i n both infantry
and panzer corps. Infantry generals served across the entire
spectnnn of uni ts.
56
GENERAL STAFF SERVICE
The German General S t a f f Corps was a group of specially
selected, trained, and educated officers. Its mission was to serve
as a control mechanism to assis t the ccarmander i n directing large
military units. This included planning, coordinating, supervising, 25
and assuring operational readiness.
Candi.dates for the General Staff were selected based on 26
"character, di .spsit ion, physi.ca1, and intellectual abil i t ies".
Nemkrship was always select. Fewer than one percent of a l l officers
i n the Army were selected as General Staff Corps officers i n the
PNSsian Army. Membership rose t o twenty percent during the Weimar 27 28
Republic. By 1939 this amounted to 417 officers.
Austri.an General Staff officers had l i t t l e difficulty after
the Anschluss in obtaining positions on the German General Staff. A
former Austrian officer, General de Sartha, stated that in many
respects th Austrian General Staff was the equal of its German 29
counter?art.
Although the size of the General Staff increased to 1167
offi.cers by 1944, their relative importance i n the Amy hierarchy 30
began t o decrease beginning i n 1941. After the failure to take
Moscow i n December 1941, Hitler unfairly blamed not only several
high ranki.ng c m n d e r s , but also the General Staff for the lack of 31
adequate winter preparations.
57
In September 1942 Hitler accused the General Staff of
"cowardice" and berated GO Haiaer, Cuef of Army General Staff. This
led to Halder's dismissal and marked the end of the period when the 32
General Staff t r u l y conducted operati.ons.
Many corps ccmmanders were menbers of the General Staff.
Their prominence during the war was significant and will be
i discussed a t length in a later chapter. Distribution of corps 33
c d e r s with General S taf f experience is as shown:
Table 20
Comnanders from the General Staff
Year hnber of Comnanders Percentage, of Total
from General Staff
1939 31 66
1940 50 70
1941 61 il
1942 75 57
1943 83 49
1944 82 40
1945 50
58
36
Thi.s trend minors Hit ler ' s increasing intervention with the
officer corps. 8y January 1943 he ordered the reintegration of the
General Staff into the regular officer corps and established
performance as the primary c r i te r ia for promoti.on, not General S t a f f 34
membership.
PREVIOUS COMMAND AND STAFF EXPERIENCE
As i n a l l military organizations, mst corps cmmnders had
established a pattern of successful performance a t previous cornnand
and staff assi.gments. In the staff arena, two General Staff
positions were considered extremely important: operations officer
( Ia ) of a division and chief of staff a t a corps or higher level.
Division operations officers normally held the rank of
major. In addition to his duties in operations, he also served as
the chief of staff as the division structure di.d not allocate a
separate position for one. The division supply officer ( Ib) and the 35
di.vi.sion intelligence officer ( Ic ) were subordinated to him.
Chiefs of staff had m h m r e prestige and authority than 36
other oEficers of equal rank. Colonels and lieutenant colonels
59
served as corps chiefs of s ta f f , while army chiefs of staff were
usual ly colonels or major generals. Responsibilities for the corys
chief of staff were in i t ia l ly laid out in the h s i a n Army in 1814 37
and formalized in 1865 i.n a royal order which stated:
When I have given no special i.nstructi.ons on f i l l i ng the post of a general comnanding duringhis temporary absence, the chi.ef of the General Staff will transact the current duties of the general.. .
In reviewing prior staff service, thir ty corps comnanders
had been division operations officers, sixty-six served previ.ously
as corps chiefs of staff, and thirty-eight were army chiefs of
s taff . m t i p l e staff assignments of service as both corps and army
chief of staff were held by thirty-four la ter c d r s . While
these staff assignments were not mandatory prerequisites for future
comnand, they certai.nly were indicators of excellent performance and
potential.
In addition t o previous staff experi.ence, prior division
comnand was essenti.al for elevation to corps c m n d . This trend is 38
imrplified by the following division comnand s m r y :
60
Table 21
Prior i)ivisi.on camand Experience
Corps Comnanders Mmkr Percentage
who were colnnanders of: -
Infantry Divisions 246 74.1
Panzer Divisi.ons 40 12.0
Reserve Divisions 0 0.0
Infantry and Panzer Divisi.0- 11 3.3
No division comnand 35 10.5
An analysis of pri.or division cornnand experience reveals
several important trends. F i r s t , 89.59. of a l l corps cmmnders had
srior di.visi.on c m n d experience. Yost of the 5irf:r-five -ho did
not were very senior generals h o comnanded corps a t the s t a r t of
the war. Tnus, their opportunities for division cnrmand were limited
by the smaller size of the army i n the mid-1930s. Those less senior
who did not comnand a t the divisi.on level frequently were General
Staff officers who held significant staff comnands a t corps, army,
and army group level.
61
None of the corps comnanders had previous reserve division
coIimand as his sole division comnanci experi.ence. I t is safe to
conclude that reserve division colTpnand signalled li.ttle possibility
for further conmand progression.
Fifty-one corps c m d e r s (15.4%) previ.ously comnanded
panzer divisions. In examining the panzer corps, thirty-six
comnanders (40.9%) had previously comnanded panzer divisi.ons. Of
every three panzer division comnanders who la ter comnanded a t the
corps level, two commded a panzer corps while one comnanded a
corps of a different type. No single panzer division served as an
overwhelming source of future panzer corps c m n d e r s . The 4th and
11th Panzer Divisions each produced four. When an individual proved
' he could successfully covmand division mobile forces, he was quite
li-kely to be retained by Guderian and the panzer branch for further
panzer corps comnands, rather than be 'transferred to other
formations.
LNFLUENCE OF THE XAZI PARTY
According to Helmt Kleikamp, author of "The Army Personnel
Office", with very few excepti.ons the Nazi party exercised no
influence on A m y appointmentments. Army officer promotions and
assignrents were based on performance and qualifications, not 39
polit ical considerations.
62
One facet of party aff i l ia t ion was the Nazi Party's highest
decoration for service, "The Decoration of 9 Xovember 1923" also
horn as "The Blood Order". Hitler created this decoration in b r c h
1934 to comnemorate the failed Putsch (attempted overt'mow of
Bavarian government) of November 9, 1923 in M i c h . Eligi.bi.lity was
i.niti.ally limited to persons who had participated i n the events of
November 9th and who were Party members by January 1, 1932. These
individuals were affectionally known as "Old k a d e s " . In 1938,
e l ig ib i l i ty was expanded to persons who had rendered outstanding
services to the Party i n the 1920s and had received a Weeimar court
death sentence and served a t least one year i n j a i l for poli t ical40
crimes, or been severely wounded or kil led i n Party service.
. Awards for this f i r s t cri terion of eligibil i . ty totaled 1500. .
O f these 810 went to Party members, 500 to Freikorps troopers, and
140 to Reichswehr and Poli.ce members. Seven Reichswehr recipients
went on to become general officers: Johannes Block, Curt-Ulrich von
Gersdorff, Wolfdietrkh von Xylander , Edurd lorn, Robert a c h e r ,
Paul Hermann, and Theodor i(retschwr. Only one went on to become a 41
corps cnrmander.
Although Party off ic ia ls may have had no influence on
appointments and promotions, indirect pressures existed in the
presence of several senior Army off ic ia ls who sympathized with the 42
Nazi.s and could affect personnel issues. Generalfeldmarschall
W i l h e l m Keitel, General der Infanterie Rudolf Schmundt, and General
der Infanterie W i l h e l m Burgdorf were three of these men.
63
W i . l h e l m Keitel served as Chief of Staff of the Combined
Services (OKW) from 1938 to the end of the war. Xichard Brett-Smith,
author of Hitler's Generals, states that Keitel did mre than anyone
to "bring about the domination of the Xeichswehr by the Nazis."
Married to Generalfeldmarschall von Blomberg's daughter, he was in
addition the brother of the Chief of the Army Personnel Office
Bodewin Keitel and undoubtedly had some influence in appointxents.
H i s duty assigrrment can be sumnari.zed as funneling Hitler's orders
dam t o the Army and passing up, with a dose of interpretation, 43
their complaints and questions t o the Fuehrer.
Rudolf Schmndt was Chief of the Army Personnel Office f r m
Bodewin Keitel's departure in 1942 to his am death as a resul t of
. injuries suffered i.n the July 20 bombing a t Hitler's .headquarters.
Again Brett-Smith categorizes S c M t as an avowed Nazi who was
ham throughout the Officer Corps as "John the Disciple". Schmundr
influenced a wide range of appointmnts to include even army group
comnand and probably speeded the rise of several like-minded 44
officers.
Wilhelm Burgdorf served faithfully as chief Wehrmacht
adjutant to Hitler pri.or t o assuming the postion of Personnel Chief
from Rudolf Sctrrrmndt i n 1944. He was "hated for hi.s brutali ty by 99
per cent of the officer corps" stated Manfred R m l , son of
Generalfeldmarschall R m l . Frcm colonel to general he did not
64
c d troops but did show loyalty and discretion toward Hi.tler and
was entrusted wi.th v i s i t i n g R-1 .*ith the choice of suicide or 45
arrest for involvement i n the July 20 Plot.
The influence of these mn on the Army Personnel Office was
probably i.n the l ine of what they did not do mre than what they
did. I t would have been very diff icul t t o explain that a particular
officer was selected for a position because he was a National
Socialist. But for officers seeking to return t o active duty from
retirement or volunteering for frontline service from the
Replacement Army bureaucratic delays and refusals 46
were surely i n
order for chronic complainers against the Nazis.
The background i.nformation i n th i s chapter shows the corps
comnanders generally to be mature indi.viduals of approximately 50-57
years of age. About 23 7. were members of the nobili.ty, generally the
same as for general offi.cers as a whole. Most corrmanders were career
soldiers with minterrupted service from "'Or?d ':Jar I , sore encerec
the Army from the police, the Austrian Army after the Anschluss, and
some were recalled from reti.rement. Concerning branch aff i l ia t ion,
52 7. were infantry officers, 19 % ar t i l l e ry , and 16 7. panzer. A l m o s t
50 % of the corps comnanders were General Staff officers with many
having staff experience as division operations officers and corps
chiefs of s ta f f . More than 89 7. had been d ivkion ccmnanders.
Finally, Nazi Party influence was minimal i n their ri.se.
65
--- - 1 Ri.chard Brett-Smith, Hitler 's Generals, (San Rafael,
Cali.fornia: Presidi.0 Press), 1937, p.12. 2
J.F.C. Fuller, Generalship Its Diseases and Their Cure: A Studv - -of the Personal Factor i n Comnand,-(Harrisburg, PennsyTvania:Military Servi.ce Umngx.),, p.70.
3 Martin van Creveld, Fi.ghti.ng Power, Gem Militar Performance, 1914-1945, (Potanac, Maryland: C&L Associates)* pp. 150-152.
4 Martin van Creveld, Fightiw, Power -, p. 152.
5 Martin van Creveld, Fi.&tirg -Power, p. 152.
The selection process for Eduard Zorn, a later generalmajor, w a s a typical one and worthy of review. Late i n 1920 Zorn applied in writing to the comnander of Infantry Regiment 19 Colonel Ritter von Haack for admission for officer training. In his application Zorn included informati.on on: date of bi.rth, s ta te aff i l ia t ion, religion, level of educati-on, profession of father, and personal history. In addition he furnished two r e c m n d a t i o n l e t t e r s from prominentcitizens of his comrmnity.
During the ensuing background investigation, Zorn underwent a physical aptitude and mdical tes t . With these complete, he participated in a one t o three day personal interview with Colonel von Haack and selected members of hi.s staff .
The results of this process ref lect Zorn's aptitude for service. He was a candidate for the Abitur which fulf i l led educati.ona1 requirements. H i s character was exemplary as he was the son of an officer killed in action during World War I. Additionally,hi.s brother Hans was already a juni.or officer i.n the regiment and had an excellent service record himself. In sum, Eduara Zorn was i.ntellisent, physically f i t , motivated, and apli . t ica1. Davi.d Nelson Spi.res, "The Career of the Reichswehr Offi.cer", ( k c t o r of Philosophy ilissertation: Universi.tjr of iqasningtcn), iY79, pp.3-iZ.
6 David Nelson Spires, "The Career of the Rei.cnswetu Officer",
p.508. I her Bartov, The Eastern Front, 1941-45, German Troo s and
Barbarisation -of W a z r m Y o r k : S t . Martin's P r e s s d 6 z . 4 3 . a Richard Brett-Smi.th, Hitler's Generals, p.5. 9
her Bartov, -The Eastern E,p.43. 10 David Nelson Spires, "The Career of the Reichswehr Officer",
p.27.
66
11 Ckner Bartov, -The Eastern Front, p.172.
12 Michael Geyer, "The Transformation of the German Officer Corps"
(Ann Arbor, Echigan: Uni.versi.ty of Michigan), p.44. 13
Telford Taylor, The March-- of Conauest: -The German Victories i n Western Europe, 1940,Tew York: Simon and Schus- 1958, p p . zand.
-14 Telford Taylor, The March, p. 409.
Table 22 Corps Comnanders Coming Gut of Retirement
Grade Name Corps Date 0ri.gi.nally Date Fi.nally Comnanded Retired R e t i red
GL Brandt ,G XXXI I 31.1.31 31.8.42 GL Feige m 30.9.35 30.6.42 GdI Geyer IX 30.4.39 31.12.43 GL von Gienanth XXXVI 30.9.33 30.6.43 GdI von Grei.ff I11 31.12.29 31.8.42
xiMx7I GdI Haenicke m 1 1 30.9.32 Did not GL Heinemann LXv 30.9.37 28.2.45 GdA Kaupi sch XXXI 30.9.32 30.6.42 GdK von Kleist XXI I 28.2.38 Did not GdI Koch,F XXXXIV 30.9.31 31.5.42 GdA Lucht XI11 31.3.32 Did not
GdI Met2.H 1.4.31 31.1.43 GdI von Nagy LXXI 31.12.35 31.1.43 GdK von Pomell XXXI I 28.2.38 31.5.42 GdI von G g e r XXV 1.2.31 30.5.42
XXVII~~~ ~
GdI von Schenckendorff xIc(v 28.2.30 Died 6.7.43 GdI Schmidt,H IX 31.1.31 31.10.43 GdI Sctiwandner LIX 1934 30. a .42 GdA Ulex.~~~~ X 31.3.39 31.12.41 GM von Unger XXXIII 31.7.32 Did not GdI Wiktorin XXVIII 1935 30.11.44
15 Erwin k n f e l d and Franz Thomas, Die Eichenlaubtraeger, p.91.
G d K Ewald von Kleist comnanded the XXII Corps from 1939-1940. He continued h i s ri.se wtth the comnands of Panzer Group Kleist, 1st Panzer Army, Army Group A , and Army Group South Ukraine. He was dismissed from the service March 30, 1944 and died i n 1954 i n a Soviet Pri.soner of War Camp.
67
- -
16
17
Guenther Blurrentri.tt, “The German Armies of 1914 and 1939”, U.S. .Amy 9istori.cal Division Study 611 8-296, (Washington, 9.C.: Office of the Chief of a l i . t a r y History), 1947, p.46.
Wolf Kei.lig, Die Generale des Heeres, pp.76,113,232,370,379.
The following corps comnanders transferred frcm the Police t o the Army:
Table 23 Corps Comnanders from the Police
Grade Name Corps Date Transferred Grade retai.ned from Police from Police
GdI Abraham W I I 15.10.35 Naj or GL Seyer ,F XVII 1.4.35 Oberstleutnant
LIX GdPZ Henrici,S xxxx Pz 1.10.35 Oberst GL Hohn IX 1.9.35 Xauptmann GL Jahr XXIV 22.11.35 Oberstleutnant GL .Kaellner XXIV 1935 HauptmannGL Lasch LXIV 1.7.35 MajorGdI von Leyser xv 15.3.35 Oberstleutnant
XXI XXVI
GZ Weller ,F V 16.3.36 :.laj or XXXIV LIX LXVIII
GL XXX 15.10.35 Oberstleutnant XXXIII IXXXIX
GdI von Oven XXXXIII 15.3.35 Oberstleutnant GdA Pfei.f f er VI 1.10.35 Oberstleutnant GL Roetti.g LXVI 1.10.35 Oberst GdPi. S a c k LXIV 1.10.35 Oberst GL Schuenenmann XXXIX Pz 16.3.36 Major GL Sponheimer XXVIII 16.3.36 Oberst
X LIV LXVII
68
Corps Corrmanders from the Police (continued)
Grade "ame Corps Date Transferred Grade retained from Police from Poli.ce
GdI Strec'ker X I 14.6.35 Generalnajor XVII
GL Usinger I 1.10.35 MajorGdI Wiese V I I I 1.8.35 Majorxxxv GdI Witthoeft XXVII 1.4.36 Oberst GM Wolpert IXXXVIII 15.10.35 Oberstleutnant GdI von Zangen IXXXIV 1.8.35 Oberstleutnant
LXXXVII 18
Erwin Lenfeld and Franz Thomas, Die Ekhenlaubtraeger1940-1945. (Wiener Neustadt, Cesterrei.ch: Weirburg Verlag), 1952, p.105. GdI Friedrich W i . l h e l m Nueller mde the mst rapid rise of the "Police" cOmnanders. Laterally transferri.ng frm the Hamburg Police i n March 1936, he was a bat ta l ion ccmnander from 1938-1940, a regimental comnander 1940-1942, and a division comuander from 1942-1944. In 1944 he served as both temporary and permanent corpscamnander before assuming cornnand of the 4th Army January 29, 1945. After the w a r he was condenmed for war crines and hanged i n Athens, Yay 1947.
19 Friedrich Stahl, Heereseinteilung 1939 (Friedberg, FRG:-9
Podzun-Pallas-Verlag), 1953, p.145. 20
Wolf Keilig, Die Generale des Heeres. (Friedberg, FRG: Podzun-Pallas-Verlag) , 1 9 8 3 , p ~ 8 0 , 8 9 , 1 5 2 , 2 1 8 , 2 3 7 , 2 7 3 , 2 7 8 .
LJ. Dernot Bradley and Richard Schulze-Kossens, Taetigkeitsbericht ---des Chefs des Heerespersonalamtes General & Infanterie 3udolf
S c h d t : 1.10.42-ck, FRG.: Biblio Verlag), 19W, ~ . 4 2 . GL Eibl became the onlv corm comnander t o be k i l led by h isbwn troops when he was seriously wbundea by a handgenade t h r k bya soldier i n a passing I t a l i an truck column as he was s i t t i n g on the fender of h i s s ta f f car. He undemenr: emrgency surgery, h3chour: anathesi.a, whi.cn resulted i n the amputation of a leg, but died.
22 David Nelson Spi.res, "The Career of the Reichswehr Officer",
pp.508-509. 23
Hei.nz Guderian and K u r t Zeitzler, "Comnents on P-041a-P-O4lhh", U.S. Army Histori.ca1 Di.vision Study MSI/ P-04111, (Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Mili.tary Hi.story), 1953, p.2.
24 Hasso von Manteuffel, "Fast Mobile and Armored Troops", U.S.
Army Hi.storica1 Division Study MSll 8-036, (Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History), 1945, pp.3,10,19.
69
zation), 1984, p.6.
26 Franz Halder, "Control of the German Army General Staff", U.S. Army i l istorical Divi.si.on Study MSd P-O41d, (Washington, D.C. : Office of the Chief of Yil i tary History), 1952, p.3.
27 Trevor N. ~epuy ,General ~taf f ,pp. 6 and B-1.
W. Victor Madej, German Army -Order of Battle 1939-1945, (Allentown, Pennsylvania: Garre Y t r k e t i n g c O m p a n ~ 9 8 1 , Vol 1,p.37.
29 de Bartha, "Austro-Hungarian General Staff", U.S. ArmyHistorical Division Study bS# C-063, (Washington, D.C. : Office of the Chief of .Military History), 1946, p.5.
30 Walter Goerli-tz, Histo of the G e m General staff 1657-1945. ( N e w York: Praeger), 1e3, p.4n.-
31 Walter Goerlitz, History, p.405. 32 Hansgeorg i.lodel, deutsche Generalstabsoffizier , (Frankfurt,
ERG: Bernard & Graefe Verlag),8, p.127.
33 ~ c h a e le y e r , "~b_e Transformation of the ~ermanoff icer . corps" p.47.
34 Helmt Kleikamp, "German Army High Cannand: The Central Branch of the Army General Staff", U.S. Army Hi.stori.ca1 Division Study z/s#P-O41x, (Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History), 1952, p.7. . 35 phrt in van Creveld, Power, German Xil i tar
Perfornance, 1914-1945, (Potomac, Mary ==f and: dc&L Defense Cosu tants 1980, p . 3 .
36 %chard Brett-Smith, Hitler's Generals, p.13.
37 Bronsart von Schellendorf, Tne ht ies of the General Staff (Volume -1). (London: C. Kegan Paul&Co?@$, n772.160.-38 Tne following individuals comnanded both panzer divisions and
panzer corps.
Table 24 Panzer Corps Cannarulers frm Panzer Divi.si.ons
Grade Name Corps Gmnanded Division Comnanded
GdF'z von Amim,H XXXIX Pz 17th Pz
70
Panzer Corps Comnanders f rom Panzer Di visions (continued)
39 Helmut Kleikmp, "The Army Personnel Office", U.S. Army Historical Division Study YSf! P-O4lhh, (Washington, D.C. : Office of :he LXef of Xilitary History), 1952, 2.37.
4o John R. Angolia, For Fueher Fatherland; Military Awards of -the Third Reich ( V o l m T - m n Jose: R.- James Sender), 1976,Vx 2, p x -
Block was dismissed from the Xeichswhr May 31, 1924. He reentered i n 1934 and served as a battalion comnander from 1937-1940, and a regimental comnander from 1940-1942 prior t o connnand of the 294th Infantry Division. k i n g the l a s t two years of the war he commnded three different corps before being kil led i n action January 26, 1945 near Lask Poland. H i s "Blood Order" medal number was 111393. Source: k n f i e l d and Thonas, Die Eichenlaubtraeger,p.353.
42 Dr. S.A. Lewis, Combat Studies Insti tute, U.S. Army Coxnand and General Staff College, F t . Leavenworth, Kansas, i n a privatediscussion circa October 1987.
43 Richard Brett-Smith, Hitler's Generals, pp.188-190.
44 Richard Brett-Smith, Hitler ' s Generals, pp. 193-194.
45 Richard Brett-Smith, Hitler's Generals, pp.194-195.
46 H e m Geyer, D a s I X Armekm s im (Neckargemuend, FRG: Scharnhorst Buchkamera --% s c h s t )
An excellent example of this is shown i n the career of Herman Geyer. i3orn i n 1882, he served i n both staff and c d positionsi n World War I and the Reichswehr before assuming comnand of the V Corps i n 1935. He l e f t active duty i n April 1939 embittered a t the thought of the "injustice" a t having to retire a t this t i m e . However his re t i rewnt ended ar'rer onby four nonths hken he returned :3 service as the conmander of the I X Corps which he led i n the French Campaign winning a Knight's Cross. Geyer was dismissed again i n January 1942 after a serious disagreenent with his army comander Generaloberst Hceppner. He attempted to regain active c m n d but was known to Post Minister Ohnesorge as a c r i t i c of the Nazi Party. H i s requests went unanswred fron the Personnel Office and he finally c m i t t e d suicide in 1946.
72
PERFORiiCE, PRCNOTION, AND FQTEWIAL
INIRODUCTION
To t h i s point this study has exmined many of the background
characteri.stics of corps conmanders. This chapter w i l l review the
actual performance of the generals i.n corps c m n d by examining
four major areas: demonstrated performance, as evidenced by awards
and decorations, promotion, by examining the German Army promotion
system, potential, through advancement to higher c d , and the
final di.spsiti.on of the cclmnanders t o include retirements, re l iefs ,
prisoners of war, and killed in action.
The f i r s t characteri-stic exanined is demonstrated
performance of duty through the German system of awards and
decorations. J.F.C. Fuller, i.n his t reat ise on generalship, stated
that heroism is the "soul of 1eadershi.p" and is essential to 1
genera1shi.p.
73
The Germans apparently agreed with Fuller as they
established the mst elaborate awards system of any ccnnbatants i n
the war, due i n parc to their experience in Uorld W a r I. The awards
system then was mismanaged, with too few different medals, confusing
distinctions between bravery and service, and separate awards for
officers and enlisted men. In addition, the subordinate states of 2
Germany, such as Bavaria, issued their own awards.
A t the outbreak of World War 11, the Iron Cross 1st Class
and 2nd Class were reinstituted. Both medals had originally been
proposed by Colonel Gneisenau to King Friedrich W i l h e l m 111 of
Prussia i n 1811, for acts of military bravery. Two years later both
were offici.ally founded and awarded to Prussi.an soldiers during the
campai.gns against Napoleon. Both awards were reinstituted by Kaiser
Wilhelm I i n 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, and were open to
a l l Germans, not only PNssians. In 1914 Kaiser W i . l h e l m I1 reopened
the awards and expanded e l ig ib i l i ty t o include bravery i n the f ie ld 3
or for service to the war effort .
On September 1, 1939 Hi.tler rei.nstituted the venerable Iron
Cross 2nd Class to reward a single act of bravery in combat beyond
the normal requi.remnts of duty. I t could be awarded to a l l members
of the Arrred Forces or to non-mili.tary i.ndivi.duals serving with the
mili.tary. The Iron Cross 1st Class, reinstituted the same day, was
74
4 usually awarded for an addi.tiona1 three to five si.gni.ficant acts.
Although the i.ntent was to le t an appropriate ti= pass between
award of the 2nd Class t o that of the 1st Class, th i s could be 5
compressed to one or two days.
-
Also on September 1, 1939 Hitler insti tuted a new
decoration, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for continuous acts
of exceptional bravery or i n the case of higher ranks for successful 6
execution of bat t le or for formulating oustanding bat t le plans.
Recmndat ion for the Knight's Cross required the endorsement of
the chai.n of c m d through army c d e r with the f inal decision 7
made by Hitler. Prerequisites included previous award of both
classes of the Iron Cross. Enlisted personnel as w e l l as officers
were eligible for this award. Some 7,300 Knight's Crosses were 8
awarded.
For conananding offi.cers however, bravery alone was not
justificati.on for recmndat i .on for the Kni.ght's Cross. In addition
the officer had to demonstrate several instances of exercising
independent decisions. This is best amplified by c m n t s by Field
Harschall Schoener concerning a recmndat i .on for the award to a
colonel. Schoerner wrote that for a regimental comnander to lead a
counterattack personally with machi.ne-guns and hand grenades was not 9
excepti.ona1 bravery but a "self evident duty".
75
On June 3, 1940 Hitler instituted the next higher grade the
of Knight's Cross, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross wi.th
Oakleaves. This award was intended to further recognize those
individuals, already winners of the Knight's Cross, for continued
- accomplishrents of bravery and i.niti.ative. Enlisted personnel,
.officers, and foreign military personnel were e l ib le to receive the 10
Oakleaves and by war's end 882 had.
Gne year la ter on June 21, 1941 Hitler agai.n introduced
another higher grade of award the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
wi.th Oakleaves and Swords. This grade was designed to continue t o
reward those previous recipients of the Oakleaves who accomplished
further feats of military achi.evement. Although a l l German mili.tary
personnel were eligible t o receive t h i s award, only 159 offi.cers 11
actually did.
On July 15, 1941 Hitler introduced what was believed to be
the f inal upgrade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with
Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds. Again it was intended to reward
further achievemnt and by the end of the war had only been awarded 12
27 times.
By December 29, 1944 Hitler deci.ded that one ultimate award
be created for Germany's twelve bravest soldiers, the Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds.
76
Three days la ter the f i r s t of these decorations was bestowed on
Lur'twaffe Stuka pilot Colonel Hans Ruciel. No other presentati.ons 13
were made.
Each of the grades of the Knight's Cross except the l a s t was
won by Army personnel and are shown below:
Table 25
~ r m yRecipients of the ~nigt~i'scross
NLrmbeK Percentage of Total
Knight's Cross 5070 69
Oakleaves 486 55
Swords 75 47
Diamonds 11 41
Corps cOmnanders figured prominently as reci.pi.ents of a l l of
these awards as Hitler used the higher classes of Knight's Cross as 14
an effective motivati.ona1 tool. The following i.s a presentation of
77
those corps cc-armanders as a function of their hi-ghest award received
and the percentage of all corps comnanders receiving each grade:
Table 20
Highest Decorations Received by the Corps Com;landers
NLrmber Percentage of Total
Knipht's cross 133 40.1
Oakleaves 102 30.7
Swords 35 10.5
Diamonds 7 2.1
Many of the corps comnanders received these awards for
previous service as regimental and division c d e r s . In reviewing
actual corps comnand, we find that none received the Dimnds for
78
corps comnand. Individuals &IO received the Knight's Cross with 15
Oakleaves and Swords for achievewnt -as corps corrnnanders were:
Table 27
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords for Corps Ccnrmand
Grade Name Decorati.on corps Date
GL HUbe Swords XIV Panzer 21.12.42
GdPz Harps Swords XXXXI Panzer 15.9.43
GdPz Breith Swords 111 Panzer 21.2.44
GdGebTr Kreysing Swords XVII 13.4.44
GdI Jordan Swords V I 20.4.44
GdI Wegener Swords ' L 17.9.44
GdPz v. Knobelsdorff Swords XXXX Panzer 21.9.44
GdI Recknagel Swords m11 23.10.44
GdI v. Obstfelder Swords LXXXVI 5.11.44
GdA Wei.dli.ng Swords XXXXI Panzer 28.11.44
GdPz Herr Swords LXXVI Panzer 18.12.44
It is i.nteresting to note that of these eleven comnanders,
six received the award as cnrmanders of panzer corps. Forty-five
received the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves for service as corps
c m n d e r s . Fifteen of these men were c m d e r s of panzer corps.
Fi.nally, a further forty five individuals earned the Knight's Cross.
79
only f ive of these E n were panzer corps camanders. This
dist.ribution reveals two item. Firs t , recognition for achievement
i n panzer corps came quicker than that i n other types. Second, by
the time mst individuals reached corps comnand they had already
been awarded the Knight's Cross for previous subordinate comnand -
level achievement, although th is was certainly not a prerequisi.te.
The importance of the bestowal of the grades of the Knight's
Cross can not be over estimated. Xudolf Hofmann, a former department
chief i n the Army Personnel Office, i.n his descri.pti.on of the
officer promotion system stated that Knight's Cross winners 16
"automatically" were given mre generous, preferential prorrmtions.
Recipients received favorable publicity including tours among
civi l ian industry, Wstcards i n their honor and free g i f t s .
Interviews with several radianen i n the 12th SS Panzer Regiment
aptly sum up the presti.ge associated with the award. They stated
that after a particularly di.ffi.cult tank assault the following radio
message was transmitted by the battalion cOmnander: "Tanks halt! 17
That should get us the Knight's Cross!" ( I t did).
Although many corps comnanders received the Knight's Cross,
others were awarded the German Cross i n Gold. Hitler instituted this
award i n September 1941 for repeated acts of valor or outstanding
service not justi.fying the higher Knight's Cross. The recipient had
t o have the Iron Cross 1st Class, but the German Cross was not i n
the cumulative l ine as previously described. W i n g the Fried 1941-
1945 Army personnel recei-ved 16,876 German Crosses. Twenty corps 18
comnanders had this award as thei.r highest decoration.
PROMOTIONS
The basis for officer promotions i n the German Army was the
officer efficiency reporting system. This program had a t i m e honored
tradition, i.niti.ally established i n the Prussian Army by King 19
Frederick W i l h e l m I i.n 1725. Prior t o World War I1 the system
called for an annual report for each officer. Based on these reports
seven categories. were established into which an officer could be
classified. The highest two classifications were: (1) Officers
suitable for service a t the Hi.& Comnand, and (2) Officers sui.table 20
for General Staff duty.
General offi.cers were arranged on lists submitted every
three months to the A m y Personnel Office. The top chree categories
were: (1) "Born Leaders", ( 2 ) Officers who would perform well in the
next higher comnand, and ( 3 ) Officers d-10 should be placed 21
temporarily i.n the next hi.gher ccrrmand to prove their abi1i.ties.
The efficiency report provided the most important i .nfomtion i n nn
determi.ni.ng appoinmnts and promotions. LL
81
The narrative c m n t s on the report furnished valuable
insights into the potential of each officer. A promotion list
prepared i n February 1945 on several officers reflects these 23
observations.
GdGebTr Jcdl - "Bright w i t h a strong willed personality, p r d n e n t
tactical ability."
W z Roettiger - "Suitable as a c d i n g general (corps), la ter an
army comnander ."
GdK Westphal - "Tareri.ng personal leader. Great achiever .I'
GL von' Gyldenfeldt - ""Tactical and operational talent. Clear
judgement, sure decisi.ons."
GL Foertsch - "Outstanding tactical and operational vision.. . steady
i n a crisis."
GL ?lelzer - "Personally valiant.. . g o d tactical vision. s:eaay in a
cr is is . Gccd improvisor."
As reflected by the comnents, these individuals represented
the best i n the promotion system and a high level of competency.
a2
Until 1942 the promotion system was oriented on seniori.ty.
However after this time, under pressure from Hitler and growing
officer losses, the system reoriented fron seniority t o frontline
service. In practical terms this meant that General Staff officers ,
for example, could not qualify for promotion without doi.ng a 24
frontline tour. Wi.th this i n mind Kurt Zeitzler, f o m r Chief of
Staff of the Army, stated after the war that promoti.ons were handed 25
out too quickly and lavishly during the war. The following table 26
shows this expansion of general offi.cer grades fran 1938 to 1944:
Table 28
General Officers i n Service
Grade October 1938 May 1942 May 1943 May 1944
Genera1fel&r schal1 0 8 15 16
Generaloberst 3 19 ia 26
General der Infanterie, '31 99 141 170
etc.
Generalleutnant a7 223 369 473
Generalmajor 154 465 501 565
Total 275 814 1044 1250
a3
Eleven corps ccxnnanders were promoted to generalfeld-
marschall. They are sharn in the table below:
Table 29
Corps Comnanders Promoted to Generalfeldmarschall
Grade Name Corps Corps Comnander Date Romoted
from to to G M
GdA von Brauchitsch I 1.10.35-1.4.37 19.7.40
GdI Busch VIII 4.2.38-24.10.39 1.2.43
GdK von Kleist VIII 1.5.35-4.2.38 1.2.43
XXII 8.39-11.40
GdA von Kluge VI 1.d.35-1.12.38 19.7.40
GdA von Kuechler I 1.4.37-8.39 30.6.42
GdI von Manstein XXXVIII 1.2.40-15.3.41 1.7.42
LVI 2.41-12.9.41
GdPz Wdel XXXXI Pz 1..lo .41-15.1.42 1.3.44
GdA von Rei.chenau VII 1.10.35-4.2.38 19.7.40
GdGbT Schcerner XIX 15.1.42-1.10.43 5.4.45
xxxx Pz 10.43-4.44
GdK von Wei.chs X I 1 1 1.10.37-20.10.39 1.2.43
GdI von Wi.tzleben I11 1.12.34-10.11.38 19.7.40
Several poi.nts beccme obvious when examining this data.
F i r s t , eight of eleven (73%) of these men came from the nobi.lity.
84
Branch representati.on was led by a r t i l l e ry with four of the
comnanders (36%) foilowed 3y infantry .with three (27%). The average
time span from leaving corps cornnand t o promotion to GM was
approximately twenty-seven months, with von Manstein the fastest
riser a t ten months and Busch and von Weichs the slowest a t forty
months each. Six (55%)were prewar corps comnanders, while two (18%)
were promoted out of this level within two months of the beginning
of the w a r . Finally, the average corps cDrrmand tom was twenty-one
months, with Mcdel serving the shortest time, less than four months.
The rank of generaloberst was the next senior grade i n the
general officer structure. Twenty-eight corps cOmnanders attained
this rank, with very different results frcm those reaching GFM. Only
six (21%) came from the nobility. Branch representation was led th i s
time by infantry with thirteen of the cnrmanders (46%) followed by
eight panzer (29%), three ar t i l l e ry (11%),three cavalry (1172, and
one engineer (3.5%). The average time span from leaving corps
conmand to prcmoti.on to GO was less than twelve months. Only two
(7%) served entirely as prewar corps comnanders. The average corps
comnand tour was fourteen month, with GdPi Jaenec'ke serving :he
shortest time a t only two an a half months i.n comnand of the 27
IV
Corps i n the surrounded 6 th Army a t Stali.ngrad.
85
The great majority of corps comnanders served a t the
General der Infanterie, etc. , level and were not promoted hi.gher.
This was not a reflection of unsatisfactory performance but rather a
result of the personnel needs of the Army. By May 1944 there were
seven requirements for t!!e rank of general der infanteri.e for every
need for a generaloberst. N i n e officers served as cdrmanders a t the 28
generalleutnant grade and were p r a t e d t o the GdI level.
HIGHER COMMAND
rln even mre important factor than prmoti.on was selection
for higher level comnand, army and army group. As mentioned before,
general officers with the highest ratings could be categorized i n
efficiency reports as those who would perform well in higher
cdrmands or who should be placed temporarily i n the next higher
ccmnand to prove their abi.liti.es. As only twenty-seven armies
existed during the w a r , and not a l l simultaneously, selection
cri.teri a was i.ntense.
Ei.ghty-two corps comnanders were elevated to army comnand
with twenty-two (27%) members of the nobility. Seventy-six (93%) had
served as career officers through the Rejchswehr period, f ive (6%)
had transferred from the police, and two (1%)returned from earlier
80
r e t i r a n t . m i n i n g branch affiliati.on, thirty-five (43%) were
from the infantry, twenty-one (26%) from the panzer, and thirteen
(16%) from the ar t i l lery. Sixty-two (73%)were General Staff.
Concerning awards mnty-eight (34%) were Knight's Cross
recipients, thirty-one (389.) Oakleaves, eighteen (22%) Swords, and
five (6%) Diamonds. No army c d e r failed to receive one of the
above awards.
In examining actual corps c d factors, twenty-two of the
army comnanders had been panzer corps c d e r s , four were mountain
corps comnanders and sixty-three were infantry corps comnanders. The
average time of service as a corps comnander was eighteen months
before elevati.on to army ccnnnand.
The hi.ghest f i e ld c-nd i n the German Army was the army
group. Eighteen existed during the course of the war with selection
t o cannand being even mre stri.ngent than that a t armylevel.
Twenty-five corps comnanders were ultimately elevated to army group
camand after successful army comnand. The remaining army group
cmnanders were very senior officers who had started the war a t army
level or higher. Ten (40%) of a l l army group comnanders were members
of the nobility. Twenty-three (92%) had served completely through
the Kei.chswehr period as career soldiers, one (4%)had transferred
from Austrian Army. and only one (4%) returned from reti.rement.
Concerni.ng branch aff i l ia t ion, eleven (44%)were from the infantry,
six (24%)were panzer offi.cers, four (16%) came from the ar t i l l e ry ,
87
three (12%) from the cavalry, and one (4%)was a mountain troop
officer. N i n e (36%) of these indi.viduals were General Staff
officers .
In the f ie ld of awards, three (12%) were Kni.ght's Cross
recipients, ten (40%)Oakleaves, nine (36%) Swords, and three (12%)
Diamonds. S ix (24%) of the army group ccmnanders had been panzer
corps comnanders, one (4%)a m t a i n corps comnander and eighteen
(72%) infantry corps c m d e r s . The average time of service as a 29
corps comnander was twenty-one months.
FINAL DISPOSITIONS OF THE CORPS cGU4ANDER.S
In the previous segplent many corps comanders Were promoted
to higher grades and ccmnand positions. This section will exmine
those individuals kil led i n action as corps comnanders, taken
prisoner during the war and joined the National Camittee for a Free
Germany, or who were retired or dismissed from conmand.
G e m losses during World War n o were staggering. A yearly
breakdam of casualti.es by total dead and offi.cer dead shown on the
next page reveals the scope of this statement:
88
Table 30
Gem Dead 1939 - 1944
Year Total Dead 0ffi.cer Dead Officer % of Total
1939-1940 73,829 4,357 5.9
1940-1941 138,301 7,831 5.6
1941- 1942 445,036 16,960 3.8
1942-1943 418,276 16,484 3.9
1943-1944 534,112 20,696 3.9
1944-12.44 167,335 5,304 3.2
Total 1,776,889 71,614 4.0
Losses amng general off icers was also high. Bernhard von
Claer, i n his study "Generals of the Third Rei.ch", stated that 342 31
general off icers died during the war as s h m .
Table 31
General Officer Fa ta l i t i es (By Grade)
G raae h b e r Died
Generalfeldmarschall 7
Gener alober st 11
General der Infanterie,etc. 62
Generalleutnant 126
Generalmajor 136
Total 342
89
Table 32
General Officer Fatali.cies (By Cause)
Fate General Officers
Killed in Action 169
Missing i n Action ( F - r e s d Dead) 45
Accidental Death 25
Died of Natural Causes (On Duty) 46
Died of Natural Causes (After Discharge) 12
Suici.de 25
Executed 20
Total 342
Corps comnanders also suffered heavily. Tne following is a
l i s t ing of a l l corps comnanders kil led while i n c d :
Table 33
Corps Comnander Fatali.ties
Grade Name Cornnand Date Killed Location
GL Baa& IXXXI 8.5.45 Segeberg
GdI Block,J LVI Pz 26.1.45 Lask
GL von Bodenhausen L 2.5.45(S) Kurland
90
Corps comnander Fatali t ies (continued)
Grade Name corranand Date Ki.lled Location
GclI von Briesen,K LII 20.11.41 Derijewka
GdPz Decker XXXIX Pz 21.4.45(S) Braunschwei g
GdI Dostler IXXIII 2.5.45 I ta ly
GdGbT Eglseer XVIII 23.6.44(A) Salzburg
GL Eibl XXIV Pz 21.1 .it3 Don
GdI von Erdmannsdorff,W XCI 8.5.45 Laibach
GdPz Fehn,G XV 5.6.45 Yugos1avi.a
GdI Hauffe XI11 22.7.44 %ai.ne
GL Jahr XXIV Pz 20.1.43 (S) Storoshewoje
GL Kaellner XXIV Pz 18.4.45 Sokolnica
GdI von Krosigk XVI 16.3.45. Kurland
GdPz von Langermann XXIV Pz 3.10.42 Storoshewoje
GdA Marcks,E LXXXIV 12.6.44 Normandy
GdA Martinek XXXIX Pz 28.6.44 Beresi now
GdI Mieth IV Pz 2.9.44 Jassy
GdI Priess M I 21.10.44 Easr: Prussia
GdI Recknagel XXXXII 23.1.45 Petrikau
GL Schuenemnn XXXIX Pz 29.6.44 Pagost
GL von Speck XVIII 15.6.40 France
GdA Stemnermann,W XI 18.2.44 Tscherkassy
GdA Wandel XXIV Pz 14.1.43 Chilino
GdI Megener L 24.9.44 Kurland
GdI von Wickede X 23.6.44(A) Salzburg
GdPZ Zorn m 1 Pz 2.8.43 Krassnaja
91
This information provides several important conclusions.
Twenty-seven corps comnanaers were killed while i n comnana. O f these
mnty-two (817.1 were killed in acti.on, three (11%)comni.tted
suicide (S), and two (7%) were :killed in a i r accidents (A). Eleven
individuals (41%) were kil led while comnanding panzer corps. As
expected losses increased la ter i n the war after the t ide had turned
against Germany. only three comnanders (117.) were killed during
Germany's offensive years of 1939 t o 1942, while four di.ed (15%) in
1943, a year of transition, and twenty f e l l (747.) during the
defensive fighting of 1944 and 1945. Examining locations for each
fatali.ty reveals that twenty-one (777.) were kil led on the Eastern
Front against the Soviets and three (11%)were killed on the Western
/ Italian Fronts against the Western Allies.
The Nati.ona1 Corrmittee for a Free Germany was formed in July
1943 from German emigrees and prisoners of war held in the Soviet
Union. Thi.s group published a manifesto which called on the German
people t o overthrow Hitler, establi.sh a non-Nazi governmnt, stop 32
the war, and relinquish a l l occupied terr i tor ies . Membership in
the comnittee was open co a l l ; liarever, che Soviets encouraged
hi.gher ranking officers t o j0i.n to legitimize the m v e n t . 'he High
Cornnand and Hitler naturally condemned the members as t ra i tors .
Reaction of junior mili.tary personnel seems to have been mixed,
perhaps leaning against the comnittee also. I t would seem that no
92
personnel as high ranking as corps comnanders would have joined, but
this is not the case. The following table lists those h o did:
Table 34
Nati.0-1 Gmucittee for a Free Germany-
Grade N e corps cornnand Date Captured
GdI Buschenhagen LII 8.44
GdI Gollwitzer LIII 28.6.44
GdA Hell VII 8.44
GL Hoffmeister XXXXI 1.7.44
GL von Luetzar xxxv 5.7.44
GdI &Her ,L XXXXIV 21.8.44 .
GL Mueller ,V xxII,xxvII 7.7.44
GL Postel xxx 8.44
GL Schloemr XIV 29.1.43
GdA von Seydlitz-Kurzbach LI 30.1.43
GdI Strecker XI ,XI11 2.2.43
GdI Voelckers WIi 9 . i . U
i n examining thi.s i.nfonnati.on it is seen that tmlve
generi s who had been corps comnanders joined the Connittee. Eleven
(92%) were career officers; one (8%) had been in the poli.ce. Four
c d e r s (33%) were General Staff officers and two (17%) were
members of the nobility. i n branch analysis nine (75%) were
infantry, two (17%) arti.llery, and one (8%) engi.neer. No panzer or
mountain generals joined.
93
Twenty corps comnanders were dismi.ssed from the service a t
the termination of c m d . Dismissed is a d i f f icu l t word io define.
Four were probably fired; GdA Behlendorff, GdE'i Fcerster, GL von 33
Spneck, and GdPz S t u m e . Sixteen others were perhaps more
gracefully retired after corps comnand. When exami.ning these sixteen
it is seen that six (38%)were members of nobility and three (19%)
were General Staff officers. Not many were recipients of higher
awards, i n fact eleven (69%) di.d not win even the German Cross i n
Gold. Eight were infantry offi.cers, three were ar t i l l e ry , three were 34
cavalry, one was an engineer, and one w a s a panzer officer.
In reviewing the factors of performance, promoti.on, and
potential the corps comnanders were well decorated soldiers, in a
society that valued this characteristic. Two hundred seventy-seven
c m n d e rs , (83.4'Z), received one of :he grades of the Knight's
Cross, Germany's highest m i . l i tary decoration. Concerning promotions,
eleven corps comnanders continued their careers to be promoted to
Generalfeldmrschall which represents 3 . 3 percent of a l l corps
comnanders. Twenty-eight reached the rank of Generaloberst, most
within twelve months of leaving a corps.
94
Eighty-two ccnnnanders la ter conrnanded armies and twenty-five
went on to c m n d army groups. i n reviewing both promotions and
la ter connards these cOmnanders represented a higher percentage of
nobility and General Staff officers t'mn the overall general officer
pop1ation.
Sumnarizing branch affili.ation i.t would appear as though
panzer and mountain cOmnanders fared well concerning awards
promotions, and later comnand i n comparison to overall branch
strength.
Twenty-seven corps conmanders were kil led while i n c d ,
mst on the Eastern Front and mst during the latter course of the
w a r . Many camanders became prisoners of war with twelve joining the
National Ccmnittee for a Free Germany. A further w n t y were
di.smi.ssed from service after their corps corranand.
In the f inal chapter a more detailed suamary of a l l factors
of c m n d will be presented and the corps c m n d e r s on t'ne
Eastern, 'Geestern, and I ta l ian Fronts .xiil be measured against t h i s
standard.
95
1 J.F.C. Fuller, and Their Cure: AGeneralship Its Diseases ----
- -of the Personal Factor & Comnand,(Harrisburg, Pa.: Mili.taryService Publi.shing Co.), 1936, p.23. L
Martin van Creveld, F i ti Power, German Militar Performance,1914-1945, ( P o t m c , ?hry C o s u d 1980, p.124. *-me J1
John R. Angolia, On the Field of Honor, A History of the Kni-ght's Cross Bearer r (V&m, =an Jose: RT James B e g e x 1980, Vol l,.14-22. 4
John R. Angolia, For Fuehrer and Fatherland; Militar Awards of the Third Keich ( V o l e - k m - & e : James -ad-- R. Ben r 1476,Vol'1, p.337 a n 3 4 3 .
Unpubli.shed award d o c m n t s to Unteroffizier Karl B i n z , 25th Infantry Division, show the award of the Iron Cross 2nd Class on June 5, 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st Class the following day.
John R. Angolia, -For Fuehrer, Vol 1, pp.356-357.
Martin van Creveld, Fighting Power, p.126.
John R. Angolia, _--On the Field, Vol 1, p.14.
Marti.n van Creveld, Fighting P m r , p.126.
lo John R. Angolia, On --Field, Vol 2, pp.108 and 125. Leopoldthe Stei.nbatz, a Luftwxfe Non-Ccrrmissi.oned Officer pi lot , was posthumously awarded the Swords and promoted to lieutenant after bei.ng shot dam by Soviet anti-aircraft f i r e near Woltshansk. tie had amassed 99 kills before his death. Thi.s is the only i.mtance of an NCO winning the award.
John 9. Angoli.a, -For Fuehrer, Vol I , pp.366-367
l2 John R. Angolia, On the Field, Vol 1, p.52.
l3 John R. Angolia, On- -the - 9Field Vol 1, pp.46-50. Rude1 was a legend in World War I1 Germany for his incredlble feats of dive banbing effici.ency. By war's end he had destroyed 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, numerous smaller naval ships and mre than 519 armored vehicles. He was wounded five times, one resulti.ng i n the loss of a leg.
l4 John R. Angolia, -For Fuehrer, Vol 1, p.336.
96
15 Erwin LenEeld and Franz Thomas, Die Eichenlacbtraeger 1940-1945,
GL Hube won the Kni.ght's Cross as c m n d e r of the 16th Panzer Division August 1, 1941, and the Oakleaves as cOmnander of the same unit January 16, 1942. He was awarded the Swords for hi.s leadership of the XIV Panzer Corps i n the Stalingrad pocket December 12, 1942, and the Diamonds as comnander of the 1st Panzer Army during the breakout from the Kamnez-Pcdolsk pocket. On April 20, 1944 Hube received this l a s t award a t Berchtesgarden from Hitler and was ki l led in an a i rcraf t accident the followi.ng day enroute to the front.
GdPz Harp was awarded the Knight's Cross August 13, 1941 and the Oakleaves December 31, 1941 as corranander of the 12th Panzer Division. He won the swords as comnander of the XXXXI Panzer Corpsfor actions during the Kursk offensive September 15, 1943.
GdPz Breith won the 1;ni.ght's Cross as corrmander of the 5th Panzer Brigade during the French Campaign in 1940. He assumed c d of the 3rd Panzer Di.vi.si.on and received the Oakleaves i n this position January 31, 1942. He won the Swords as comnander of the I11 Panzer Corps February 21, 1944 for defensive actions alongte Dnjepr River.
GdGebTr Kreysi.ng was awarded the lbight's Cross as c&er of the 16th Infantry Regiment May 18, 1940 and the Oakleaves January 18, 1943 as the c m d e r of the 3rd Mountain Division. He received the Swords on April 13, 1944 as colrmander of the XVII Corps also for acti.ons along the Dnjepr River 1i.m.
. GdI Jordan received the Knight's Cross June 5, 1940 as comnander of the 49th Infantry Regiment and the Oakleaves June 16, 1942 i n the same unit. After a tour as the 7th Infantry Division cmnander, he assured conmand of the 6th Corps and received the Swords for mili.tar7 acnievemnt in t h i s unit April 20, 1944 as part of the 9th Army a t Rshev.
GdI Wegener won the Kni.ght's Cross October 27, 1941 and the Oakleaves January 18, 1942 as colTpnander of the 94th InfantryRegiment. Promoted to colrrnand the 32nd Infantry Divi.sion la ter i n the year, he a s s m d camand of the L Corps and won the Swords September 1 7 , 1944 for actions i.n Kurland with Army Group North. He was ki.lled i n action seven days later.
GdPz von Knobelsdorff earned the Knight's Cross as comnander of the 19th Panzer Division September 17, 1941. On November 12, 1943 he won the Oakleaves as corrmander of the XxxXVIII Panzer Corps. For actions a t Jassy Rumania he was awarded the Swords as corrrmander of the XXXX Panzer Corps.
97
GdI Recknagel won the Knight's Cross as the 54th Infantry Regiment c m d e r August 5, 1940. As comnander of the 111th Infantry Divisi.on he won the Oakleaves November 6, 1943. He recei.ved the Swords October 23, 1944 as connnander of the XM(xI1 Corps for defensive actions a t Kmel w i t h the 4th Panzer Army. Recknagel was k i l led i n action near Lodz Poland January 18, 1945.
GdI von Obstfelder received a l l three grades of the Knight'sCross as a corps ccutnander. As the XXIX Corps cOmnander he won the Knight's Cross on July 27, 1941, and the Oakleaves June 7, 1943. On November 5, 1944 as coamander of the IXXXVI Corps for actions in s tab i l iz ing the Western Front near Venlo i n the Netherlands.
GdA Weidling was awarded the Knight's Cross as the 86th Infantry Divi.sion ccutnander January 15, 1943. He received the Oakleaves and Swords as corrmander of the XXXXI Panzer Corps February 22 and November 28, 1944 respecti.vely for acti.ons i n defense of Army GroupCenter during the massive Soviet Sumner 1944 0ffensi.ve. He died i n 1955 i n a Soviet prisoner of war camp.
GdPz Herr won the Knight's Cross as comnander of the 13th mtori.zed Brigade, October 2 , 1941 and the Oakleaves whi.le i n c d of the 13th Panzer Division August 9, 1942. He f ina l lyreceived the Swords as c m d e r of the IXXVI Panzer Corps December 18, 1944 for the tenacious defense up the Italian peninsula with the 14th Army.
l6 Rudolf H o h , "Gem Efficiency Report System", U.S. h n yHistori.ca1 Division Study MS# P-134, (Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History), 1952, p. 46.
l7 Jost W. Schnei.der, Their Honor was Loyalty! -An I l lustrated and Docurnentar Histor of the K n i g h t ' s C G s Holders of -the K a f f e n x d- d 9 = , 7 S a n J o s e , m i m James BendG F u b l i m , 1977, p.167. l8 Horst Scheibert, Die Traeger des Deutschen Kreuzes i n Gold (Band -I , --Das fleer), (Friedberg, FIG: P o & - P a l l a s - V e m 1983, 3p.11-15. 19
Rudolf H o h , "German Efficiency Report System", U.S. ArmyHistorical Di.vision Study MS# P-134, (Washington, D.C: Office of the Chief of lulilitary History), 1952, p.3. 2o Kartin van Creveld, Fight iW Power, p. 166.
21 Helmut Klei.nkmp, "The Army Personnel Office", U.S. ArmyHi.storica1 Di.vision Study MS/I P-O4lhh, (Washington, D.C: Office of the Chief of Military History), 1952. p.21. 22 Rudolf Hofmann, "German Effi.ciency Report System", p.36.
98
23 Oberkomnando des Heeres, Heerespersonalamt, Amtsgmppe P3, Roll U3, Item H 8 l 7 , Series T-78, Records of Headquarters German Army Hi.gh Connand Mi.crofi.lm, (Washi.ngton, 3.C: The National Archives), 196i.
24 Martin van Creveld, Fighting -Power, p.167. 25
Heinz Guderian and K u r t Zeitzler, "Comnents on P-41a - P-O4lhh", U.S. azTny Historical Division Study Wl P-04111, (Washi-lgton, D.C: Office of the Chief of Nilitary History), 1953, p.34. 26 Wolf Keilig, D a s Deutsche Heer 1939-1945 (Band 1-1111, (BadNauheim, ERG: P o d i % 3 J e ~ 5 6 ~ 1111, p.203. 27
The following corps cannanders were promoted to the rank of generaloberst:
Grade N a m e
GdPz von Arnim,H GdI Blaskaritz GdA Dollmann GdI von Falkenhorst GdI Friessner GdPz Guderian
GdA Haase,C GPz HarpeGdI Heimici
GdA Heitz GdI Hilpert
GdK HcepnerGdI Hol li.dt
GdI Hoth GdPZ Hube
GdPi Jaenecke GdK Lindemann,G GdK von Mackensen
GdPZ Raus
GdPZ Reinhardt GdI Rendulic GdI Ruoff
Table 35 Generaloberst
k P S
XXXIX PZ I1 I X XXI XXIII XVI XIX~ ~~~ ~
I11 XXXXI PZ VII X II XXXXIII VIII LXIX XXIII LIV VI I
The f o1 lowi .q cor?s cormnanders went on t o c m n d z t :he axmy group level:
Table 38 Army Group Comnanders
Army Group
Tuni.s G G H 4 Center Northwest
Date Promoted t o Go
1.1.43 1.1.&2 19.7.40 30.1.43
1.9.43
1.2.44
entire tour as a
Date Promoted
1.8.44
1.9.44
1.10.44 1.4.45 1.8.43 1.12.43
1.10.42 27.6.44 1.1.44
Dates Carrmanded
9.3.43-12.5.43 9.44-12. 44
12.44-1.45 28.1.45-7.4.45
1937-1939 12.10.43-27.6.44 20.3.45-23.3.45
100
--
Army Group Conmanders (continued)
Grade Nane m Group Dates Comnanded
GdI Friessner North 1.7.44-25.7.44 South Ukraine 25.7.44-22.12.44
GL GdI
tIarpeHeinrici.
A Vistula
28.9.44-16.1.45 20.3.45-29.4.45
GdI GdK
Hilpert von Kleist
b l a n d A
24.3.45-30.4.45 10.9.42-9.3.43 -
South Ukraine 9.3.43-31.3.44 GdA von Kluge Center
D 2.7.44-17.8.44 19.12.41-10.43
B 2.7.44-17.8.44 GdA von Kuechler North 17.1.42-9.1.44 GdK GdI
Lindemann,G von Manstein
North b r . 1 South
31.3.44-1.7.44 22.11.42-31.3.44
GdPZ Model North 9.1.44-31.3.44 North Ukraine 31.3.44-27.6.44 Center 28.6.44-16.8.44
GdA von Reichenau B South
17,8.44-21.4.45 1.12.41-17.1.42
GdPZ GdI
Xeinhardt ,G Rendulic
Center Kurland
16.8.44-25.1.45 15.1.45-27.1.45
North 27.1.45-10.3.45 b l a n d 10.3.45-24.3.45 South 25.3.45-8.5.45
GdGbT Schoerner South 31.3.44-20.7.44 North 25.7.44-18.1.45 Center 18.1.45-30.4.45
GdI GdPZ
Schulz,F von Vietinghoff
G KUKland C
2.4.45-8.5.45 29.1.45-10.3.45 10.3.45-30.4.45
GdK von Wei.chs B 15.7.42-10.7.43 F 26.8.43-25.3.45
GdI Weiss North 12.3.45-5.4.45 GdI von Witzleben D 26.10.40-15.3.42 GdI Woehler South 28.12.44-25.3.45 30 Martin van Creveld, Fighting -Power, p.183. 31 krnhard von Claer, "Generals of the Thi.rd Rei.ch", U.S. AxmyHistorical Division Study WII B-513, (Washington,D.C.: Offi.ce of the Chief of Mili.tary History), 1946, Annex 2.
Bod0 Scheurig, Free German The Nati.ona1 Conittee and the League of German m c e i & k d d E m , Connecticutt: WesleyanUniversity Ress), 1-3.
101
33 D e m t Bradley and Richard Schulze-Kossens, Taeti.gkei.tsbericht
---des Chefs des Heerespersonalamtes General Infanterie Rdolf Schmdt: 1.10.~2-29.10.G4. (Osnabrueck, FRG: B i b l i m , 1 9 8 4 , pp.72,126._ -34
Wolf Keilig, Die Generale des Heeres, (Friedberg, FRG: Podzun-Pallas-Verlag), m 3 , pp. 1 7 , 4 ~ 1 ~ 2 , 1 6 4 , 1 8 6 , 2 3 7 , 2 6 0 , 2 6 2 , 2 9 0 , 31%,305,318,355,359.
102
CtlARFX6
OvERtzLI, CHAl7ACTWISTICS
Taken together, the data relating to various characteristics
selected in this study offer a revealing profile of German corps
comnanders. This sumnary w i l l form the "baseline" for comparison of
the conmanders serving on the Eastern Front and those on the Western
/ I ta l ian Fronts. Although there is no single b e n c h r k
characteristic on which t o base degrees of comnand success, several
i n combinati.on give new insight t o the thesis question. Factors
considered in th i s evaluation include the cmnander's career pattern
(career servi.ce, recalled from r e t i r e n t , transferred from p l i c e ,
etc. 1, branch affi.li.ation, General Staff service, previ.ous comnand
and staff assigrmnts, decorations, and la ter promotion to hig'her 1
rank and higher ccnmand.
The comnander's background i.s a significant factor of
c m n d success. Career comnanders (individuals with uninterrupted
service in the army from W to M I ) canposed 80.7% of the total i n
c m n d , while those i.ncorprated from the Austrian Army after the
Anschluss, 3.3% of the total , should also f a l l into this category.
According to Blumentri.tt's assertion, therefore, 84% of a l l corps
cdrmanders would possess the mst current professional conpetence,
versus the 1CL who transferred from the police or returned from
retirement.
103
A review of branch affili.ation reveals that three major
branches held the l ion 's share of corps corranand positions: infantry
with 51.5%, a r t i l l e ry with 18.91, and panzer with 16.2%. Avai.lable
data indicates t'nat panzer generals overall may have fared k t t e r in
awards and promotions, but it is outside the scope of this thesis t o
examine this point fully. Additionally, i.t would be i.ncorrect to
s ta te that panzer officers were mre proficient than other branch
officers. HaJever, the relationship between these three percentages
on each front is significant i n examining the application of
traditi.ona1 tact ics of the infantry, m b i l i t y tactics of the panzer,
and fireparer application of the ar t i l lery.
General Staff service was viewed highly by senior military
lea&rship who made the selections of corps colrmanders. Although
, Hitler disliked the General Staff and implemented several policies
t o 1imi . t i.ts importance, th i s study has found no evidence that he
became deliberately involved i n selection of comnanders a t C O T ~ S
level. Further research must be done as sources indicating General
Staff officers are not complete and complete fi,mes may be
u l t ima te ly 'nigher than the 50% found belonging t o chis group.
b r o w examples of successful cornnand a t this and higher levels by
non-General Staff officers exist. However, with the German High
Camand's am special selection, training, and education processes,
i t i.s evident that General Staff service was considered a mark of
success. Therefore it also w i l l be considered i n the final
conpari son.
104
Previous comnand and staff experience are addi.tiona1 factors
that w i l l be considered for compari.son. A l m o s t 907. of a l l corps
comnanders had comnandea a t the divjsion level, with 15.3% previous
panzer division conmanders. Concerning prior s taff service, 9% had
served as divisi.on operations offi.cers, 207. as corps chiefs of
s ta f f , and 11%army chiefs of staff. These three s taff positions are
closely related to General S t a f f service as during both the
Reichswehr, albeit secretly, and the Wehrmacht they were coded for
General Staff officers.
Overall the corps ccmnanders were highly decorated with
various military decorations of their nation. Consideri.ng the
emphasis that a l l segnents of government and society placed on these
decorati.ons it would appear that they were indicative a t that time
of military success. Individual examples of cOmnanders not receiving
a specific award due t o conflicts with Hitler exi.st but do not
disprove overall results. Combi.ning a l l grades of the Knight's
Cross, 83.4% of a l l corps ccmnanders were winners of th i s award.
Concerning the bestowal of awards for achi.everent as corps
comanaers, 3 . X received the Knight's Cross w i . t n Oakieaves anc
Swords, while 13.6% received the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.
105
Later promotion to higher rank and higher c d is a
significant indi.cator a l l ami.es use to reward success and indicate
potential. The Gennan Army was no different with respect to corps
comnand. Eleven forner corps ccnnnanders ( 3 . 3 % ) attained the rank of
Generalfeldmarschall while twenty-eight former c m n d e r s (8 .4%)
achieved the rank of Generaloberst. Above the corps level were the
armies and army groups. Eighty-five corps ccmanders (25.6%) were
elevated t o army comnand while twenty-five (7.5%) ultimately assumed
anny group comnand. Selecti.on for either was a significant indicator
of past success and are crucial t o the thesis.
The results that will be used for the analysis can also be
displayed i n table format t o fac i l i t a te cqar i . son:
Table 38
Corps Carmander Baseline Characteristics
Category Percentage
Career Officer 84
Branch Affiliation:
Infantry 51.5
Artillery 18.9
Panzer 16.2
106
Corps Com;lander Baseline Characteristics (continued)
Category Percentage
General Staff Membership 49.7
Previous Division Cornnand
Infantry 77.4
Panzer 15.3
Infantry and Panzer 3.3
Previous Staff erience
Division Operations 0ffi.cer 9.0
Corps Chiefs of Staff 19.8
Army Chiefs of Staff 11.4
Award Recipients
A l l Grades of Knight's Cross 83.4
Swords as Comnander 3.3
Oakleaves as Comnander 13.6
Later Promotion
To Generalfeldmarschall 3.3
To Generaloberst 8.4
Later Cornnand
To Army Gmnander 25.6
To Army Group Comnander 7.5
107
Before i.nferences can be drawn based on the above data, one
poi.nt rust be addressed. There is sow built- in inequi.ty in the
comparison due t o the duration of the war on each front. The German
military effor t on the Eastern Front lasted from June 1941 to May
1945, a period of almost four years. The I ta l ian Front lasted from
July 1943, with the invasion of Sicily, t o May 1945, s o m twenty-two
months. The Western Front was i n operation for an even shorter
duration, f rom June 1944 to May 1945, only eleven months. Corps
cdrmanders on the Eastern Front had more time to be promoted as more
higher corrmands became avai.lable in four years than i n two. However,
prior background factors s t i l l exi.sted for a l l ; and the awards
system continued t o the very end of the war.
With these factors i n mind the following Front comparisons
can be made:
Table 39
Carps Comnanders by Front Comparison
Category Overall Eastern Xestern Italian
7. Front Front Front
Career Officer 84.0 55.8 84.8 100
Branch Affiliation:
Infantry 51.5 53.5 55.7 16.6
Arti.llery 18.9 15.6 21.7 25.0
Panzer 16.2 19.1 5.7 33.3
10s
Corps Comnanders by Front Comparison (continued)
Category Overa11 Eastern Western I ta l ian
70 Front Front Front
General Staff Membership 49.7 49.8 32.6 41.6
Prior Division cornnand
Infantry 74.1 75.1 82.6 66.6
Panzer 12.3 12.0 8.7 16.6
Infantry & Panzer 3.3 4.4 2.2 16.6
Prior Staff Experience
Division I a 9.0 5.3 4.3 8.3
Corps Chief of Staff 19.8 23.1 17.3 25.0
Chief of S t a f f 11.4 13.3 10.9 8.3
Award Recipients
Knight's cross 83.4 93.3 80.4 91.7
Swords as Corrmander 3.3 4.0 4.3 8.3
Oakleaves as Comnander 13.6 18.7 6.5 8.3
Later Promtion
To G M 3.3 1.3 0.0 0.0
To GO 8.4 8.9 0.0 0.0
Later ccmnand
Army ccmnander 25.6 27.6 8.7 8.3
Army Group Comnander 7.5 8.4 2.2 8.3
109
I t is evident, according to these cr i te r ia , that m front was
"stacked" with more cmpetent corps ccrrmanders to the disadvantage
of the others. Career officer representation for the Eastern and
Western Fronts closely paralled the overall trend, with the I ta l ian
Front showing SOmewhat greater representation of this category.
Corps ccmuianders on static fronts, such as France from 1941 t o
before the Normandy invasion, were generally older, less decorated,
and less l ikely t o be prromoted or be given army/army group c d .
Upwardly mobile corps carmanders with more complete credentials were
given c b i n active combat sectors, regardless of front.
Branch affi1i.ation i.s also well represented by the three major
branches on a l l three fronts. It is interesting to note, however,
the relatively high proportion of panzer officers i n I ta ly , where a
mre traditional, position- oriented campaign was fought, rather
than a fluid bat t le that such a representation' of panzer cOrrmanders
night suggest. Panzer officers did receive a hi.gher proportion of
awards and promotions than a s t r i c t branch allocation would
indicate. Twdve of eighteen panzer corps fought exclusively in
Russia, one solely on the Western Front, one exclusively in Italy,
and one only in Africa. The other three rotated between the Eastern
and WesterdItalian Fronts. With th i s ra t io , i.t is obvious that many
mre panzer corps comnanders served i n Russia than on other fronts.
The extremely low percentage (8.7%) of corps comnanders of the
panzer branch on the Western Front was partially offset by the
presence of Waffen SS panzer corps and panzer comanders during the
batt les of Normandy and the Ardennes.
110
The two traditional branches, a r t i l l e ry and infantry, provided
the highest overall percentage of comnanders. The preponderance of
panzer officers i n tile East apparently cut directly into the numbers
of a r t i l l e ry corrmanders on this front. In reviewing army command,
representation by branch was highest for infantry (43%), followed by
panzer (2673, and arti.llery (16%). As more panzer comnanders served
on the Eastern Front, i.t is clear that these individuals muld
constitute much of the panzer representation for army comnanders.
The same is t rue for army group cornnand *re 44% were infantry, 24%
panzer, and 16%art i l lery.
General Staff membershi.p declined as the war progressed and is
reflected i n the reduced General Staff representation amow corps
cdrmanders on the Western Front from 1944-1945.' Again more work must
be done in thi.s area. The rank lists f r m 1920-1938, the primary
sources for this criteri.on, are not complete as by the Versailles
Treaty Germany was prohibited from'~vi.ng a General Staff. Ymy
individuals could be identified as members of the General Staff by
examining duty positions tradi.tionally held by General Staff Corps
officers, but no Xeichswetu l i s t wouid actually uelineace
membership. O t h e r officers, who did not hold these tradilional
positions may have been General Staff offi.cers also.
Most corps c m n d e r s on a l l three fronts had been di.vision
corrmanders. I t is again interesting to note that a full third of the
corps c m n d e r s in Italy had c m n d e d panzer divisions, double the
111
percentage of those i n Xussia, and three tiws that of cOmnanders on
the Western front. Although many infantry and panzer division
c-nders la ter comnanded corps, no reserve division cORnanders
did. Thirty-five corps c m n d e r s di.d not comnand a t division level.
Most, however, comnanded corps a t the s t a r t of the war. Their
opportunity for di.vi.sion comnand, therefore, would have been during
the Reichswehr, when the German Army was extremely small. After 1940
almost a l l corps conmanders had served as division comnanders. A t
the other end of the spectnnn, eleven corps comnanders had comnanded
both infantry and panzer divisions. Some of these cdi.nati.ons
occurred when infantry divisions converted to panzer status a t the
beginning of the war, although the division headquarters remained
unchanged. Repeated divisi.on conmand could occur, but certainly was
not a prerequisite for elevati.on to corps c m n d .
‘fie results concerning prior staff experi.ence are well-balanced
for a l l three fronts, The slightly higher results for army level
chiefs of staff for the Eastern Front most accuracely relect the
longer durati.on of this caqaign. Again, comnanders i n I ta ly are
well represented i n Division Operations 0ffi.cers and Corps Chiefs of
Staff. These numbers are probably more accurate than overall General
Staff representation as the Reichswehr rank l i s t s included specific
assignments for a l l officers.
112
Overall award recipients sli.ghtly favor those on the Eastern
Front, especi.ally in Winni.n& the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves as a
corps comnander. Part of this i.s due t o the duration of the
campaign, and also the offensive nature of this front Eron 1941 to
1943. The other two fronts, with some exceptions such as the 1944
Ardennes Offensive, were predominantly defensive in nature. In
looking a t any awards system discrepancies do exi.st. Undoubtedly,
some general officers deserved t o wi.n one of ti= hi.gher grades of
award, but did not. Some may have received awards when ti1ei.r
performance did not truly merit the award. There i.s scant evidence
of di.ssati.sfaction with the awards system. If widespread inequities
existed, they surely would have been noted i.n postwar memoirs.
Therefore, overall results are probably valid, keeping i.n mind that
any such system is imperfect.
Promtion to both generaloberst and generalfeldmarschal can only
be seen on the Eastern Front. Later camand a t army and army goup
level i.s not so one- sided, but sti.11 is clearly represented core by
comnanders i n Russia. Again many of these promotions and assigments
went to individuals who comnanded a t t'he corps level in 1941 and
1942. Late war comnands do not appear to be by default. More than
2400 men reached general officer c m n d . About 350 became
fa ta l i t i es . Assuming another 500 were tw old or i l l to take on the
ri.gors of corps c m n d , the German High Gnnnand sti.11 had well over
1000 eligible officers, from whi.ch t o select. Qualifi.ed alternates
113
did exist. Temporary corps comnanders were often selected from mre
readily available officers, but could be replaced by penanent
cdrmanders wi.thi.n a few days.
Ideally, inmdiate postwar interviews with High Coomand personnel
officers on the relative merits of each cmmnder would establi.sh
exact c r i te r ia for promotion. The USAREUR Historical Division
undertook a wide ranging interview program, but di.d not include
subject matter of t h i s nature. Without such sources this thesis nust
turn t o traditi.ona1 military leadership theory to vali.date the
c r i te r ia used for the study. The Xeichswehr was highly competitive
and demanding i n the respect of officer advancent . The High
Camnand leaders, above corps level, were products of this system.
Despite the presence of several "politi.ca1" generals i n the Army
Personnel Office, these leaders had great i.nput t o the selection of
corps c m n d e r s . The mst l i k e l y response would have been to select
junior individuals "in their own image." That image included s m
representation by the nobili.ty, an excellent educational background
evidenced by selection for the General Staff , demonstrated
excellence i n s taff and comand assignwrics, che potenci.al for
higher semice, and like-minded thi.niti ng.
To deviate sharply from these princi.pals would have opened the
possibility of an unfavorable clunge i n the enti.re officer caste
114
system. To be sure, some radically different indivi.duals, perhaps
mre closely ali.gned with prevai.li.ng poli.ti.ca1 conditions, were
elevated to corps c m d . But it was not i n the best interest of
a l l the higher military leadership for this t o occur too often. A s
this thesis has shown, men of high quality were di.stributed
throughout a l l major theaters of the war.
In sumnary, the corps cuunanders on the Eastern Front were not
conspicuously mre competent than those on the Western or I ta l ian
Fronts. The German High CQrmand distributed talent well in a l l three
areas, and continued t o select quality indivi.duals for th i s level of
responsi.bility for the duration of the war. Using the evaluation
system employed here, it does not appear that corps colrnnanders
gravitated t o any specific front t o get a "ti.cket punched". Quality
indi.vi.duals were selected t o cornnand in active combat fronts, where
dedicated courageous leadership was needed.
115
1 Concerning age, 49.5% of the comnanders were between 51 and
55 and 31.8% between 45 and 50 upon a s s d n g corrmand. Only 1.8%were younger than 45 and 3.37. older than 60. Other aspects of relative colIpnand success cannot be di.rectly related to age, so this criterion w i l l not be used i.n comparing various front camanders.
Xepresentation of the nobility remai.ned constant throughout tlze w a r a t approximately 22.6% of a l l corps conmanders. This percentage dramatically increased t o 73% of a l l corps c d r s prcmoted to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall, the characteristi.c of nobility i t se l f i s not a valid b e n c h r k of relative success and will also not be used in the cumpari.son.
Nazi. Party membership and influence wi.11 not be used for canpari.son. More concrete research "St be done in this area t o adequately document the extent of the relati.onship between Amyleaders and the Nazi. Party. This thesis however, w i l l not use unsubstantiated post-war i.nuendo t o categ0ri.z certain officers as Nazi.s.
Twenty-seven corps comnanders (8.17.) were killed whi.le i n comnand. kn ty - two were killed in action, three were suicides, and two were killed in accidents. While this information shows that corps camand w a s hazardous, it does ~t reveal any conclusion concerning proficiency of these i.ndividuals. Additionally,membership i n the National Cornnittee for a Free Germany was solely an Eastern Front phenomenon, with the question of resulting honor versus disloyalty l e f t t o other dissertations.
116
-APPENDIX A - ABBREVIATIONS
AF'PmIX A
The following i.s a glossary of Geman terms and
abbreviations used both in th i s m u s c r i p t and related Gernan
sources which w i l l ass i s t in further research. For t e rn that have
mre than one abbreviation I have used the fi .rst l isted.
German term Abbreviation Equivalent
Arnee A / h a q
Arrreekorps AK army corps
Armeeoberkomnando AOK army conmand
Arti.lleriekLxrmandeur Ark0 army level a r t i l l e ry
corrmander
Auszei.chnung decor ati.on
Blutorden Blood Order of Nazi
Party
Deutsches Kreuz i n Gold DK Geman Cross i n Gold
Division DivlD division
Eisernes Kreuz Ex Iron Cross
Gebirgskorps GebK mountain corps
Geboren geb born
&fallen gef fallen (kil led)
118
General der Art i l ler ie
General der Flieger
General der Gebirgstruppen
General der Infanterie
General der Kaval1eri.e
General der Panzer
General der Pionier
Generalfeldmarschall
Generalkomnando z.b.V.
Generalleutnant
Gener a h j or
Generaloberst
Gener alstab
GdA / Gen.d.Art.
GdF / Gen.d.Fl.
GdGebT/Gen.d.Geb .
GdI / Gen.d.Inf.
GdK / Gen.d.Kav.
W z I Gen.d.Pz.
Wi / Gen.d.Pi.0.
GFM / Feldm
GenKdo 2.b.V.
GZ / Genlt
Q1/ Genmaj
GO / Genobst
Genstbe / GSt
119
General of Artillery
( 3 star rank)
General of Flying
troops (Luftwaffe
3 star rank)
General of Mountain
troops ( 3 star rank)
General of Infantry
( 3 star rank)
General of Cavalry
( 3 star rank)
General of Panzer
troops ( 3 star rank)
General of Engineers
( 3 star rank)
Field &shall
( 5 s ta r rank)
corps for special
employment
Li eutenann-Gener a i
( 2 s ta r rank)
Yljor-General
(1 star rank)
Colonel-General
( 4 star rank)
General Staff
H e e r H
Heeresgruppe m Hoehere Arti.lleriekomandeur Park0
Hceheres Komnando z.b.V.
Infanterie Division
Kavalleri.ekorps
Kosaken-Kava1leri.ekorps
hank
Kri.egsgef angenen
Kriegslazarett
m i t der Fuehrung beauftragt
Oberkonmando des Heeres
Oberkorrmando des M e h c h t
O b e rst
Panzerbrps
Reserve-Korps
Ritterkreuz des Eisernes
Kreuz
Ri tterkreuz des Eisernes
Kreuz mit Ei chenlaub
HoehKdo 2.b.V.
I.D.
Kav.Korps
Kos.Kav. Korps
kr
Kriegsgef
Kr.Laz.
m.d.F.b. I m.f.b..
OKH
OKW
Ob i Obst
PZK
RK
RK
EL I Ei.cn
the h l y
army S O U P
army level arti.llery
comnander
corps for special
employrent
infantry divi si.on
cavalry corps
cossack cavalry
corps
sick, ill
pri.soner of war
frontline hospi.ta1
charged with cornnand
(temporary cdr)
High Cannand of the
h Y
Hi.gh Conmind of the
a d Forces
Colonel
a m r e d corps
reserve corps
Knight 's Cross
Knight's Cross with
Oakleaves
120
Ri.tterkreuz des Eisernes
Kreuz nit Eichenlaub und
Scllwer ten
Ritterheuz des Eisernes
keuz nit Eichenlaub,
Scl-rwerten und Brillanten
. Stellvertreter
Verfugung
Verwundet
Volks-Arti.llerie-brps
Volksturm
GJaffen SS
Weiurnacht
sk' I schw
BR
St l lv
vf I vfg
v I vem
VAK
vst
ss W e b .
121
Xnight's Cross wi.th
Oakleaves and
Swords
Knight's Cross with
Oakleaves, Swords,
and Diamonds
deputy
a t disposal
wounded
Peoples Artillery
Corps
Peoples forces
Waffen SS
Arned Forces
APPENDIX B - CGYNANDFJS
APPENDIX B
The following is a listing of all corps cnrmanders. Two
ranks are given when the general was pronoted while i.n c o m d .
GL-GdA von Brauchitsch
GdA von Kuechler
GL-GdA Petzel
GL-GdI von Both,H
GL-GdI Wcehler
GL-GdI Grase
GdI Hilpert
GL Hartmann,W
GdI Hilpert
GL-GdI Busse
GL Mayer
GL-GdI Fangohr
GL Usinger
GL-GdI Blaskowitz
GdI Strauss,A
123
1.10.35-1.4.37
1.4.37-8.39
8.39-26.10.39
26.10.39-1.4.43
1.4.43-15.8.43
15.8.43-10.11.43
10.11.43-1.2.44
1.2.44-30.3.44
30.3.44-1.9.44
1.9.44-19.1.45
19.1.45-21.2.45
21.2.45-25.4.45
25.&.&5-.2.5.&5
1935-1938
10.11.38-30.5.40
GdI Stuelpnagel ,K
GL-GdI von Brockdorff-Mefeldt
GdI von Tippelski.rch
GdI von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt
GdI Law
GL Mayer ,J GdI Laux
GL Mayer ,J
GdI Laux
GL Yiyer ,J GL-GdI 1Iasse,W
GL xcepke
GdI Hasse,W
GL Mayer ,J
GL Gause
I11 ARMEEKORPS (12.34-5.42)
GL-GdI von :.Ji tzleben
GdA-GO base ,C
GdI von Greiff
GdK von Mackensen
W z von Schweppenburg
GdK von Mackensen
GdSS Steiner
30.5.40-20.6.40
20.6.40-5.42
5.42
5.42-28.11.42
28.11.42-1.4.44
1.4.44-5.5.44
5.5.44-11.5.44
11.5.44-14.6.44
14.6.44-2.7.44
2.7 .44-14.7.44
15.7.U-9.44
9.44
9.44-15.1.45
15.l.45-1.4.45
1.4.45-8.5.45
/ 111 PA"X0WS (6.42-5.45)
1.12.34-10.i1.38
19.11.38-13.11.40
13.11 .P0-15.1.41
15.1.41-31.3.42
31.3.42-19.7.42
20.7.42-22.11.42
22.11.42-2.1.43
124
GdPz Breith 2.1.43-20.10.43
GL Ziegler 20.10,. L3-25.11 .L3
GL, Schulz,F 27.11.43-9.1.44
GdPz Breith 9.1.44-31.5.44
GL von Saucken 1.6.44-29.6.44
GdPz 6rei.th 29.6.44-5.5.45
I V ARMEFKORPS (10.35-9.44) / IV PAICEFXSPS (10.44-11.44)
PAHZEFXW'S~WXRR"E (11.44-1.45)
GdI L h t 1.10.35-4.2.38
GdI von Sched le r 4.2.33-13.10.42
GL-Gdpi Jaenecke 1.11.42-16.1.43
GdA Pfeffer 17.1.43-31.1.43
(Corps destroyed a t Sta1ingrad;reforr;led)
GdI Mieth 1.3.43-2.9.44
(Corps destroyed Gnjestr;reformd)
GdPz Kleenann 2.9.44-5.5.45
GL-GdI Geyer 16.5.35-29.4.39
GdI Ruoff 29.4.39-12.1.42
GL-GdI Wetzel 12.1.42-1.7.43
125
GdI Allnendinger 1.7.43-4.5.44
GL Mueller,? 4.5.U-2.6.44
GL-GdI Beyer,F 2.6.44-19.7.44
(Cor?s destroyed Crima;reformed)
GdA Waeger 26.1.45-5.45
GL-GdA von Kluge 1.4.35-24.11.38
GdPi Foerster 24.11.38-12.41
GdI Bieler 12.41-31.10.42
GL-GdI Jordan 1.11.42-20.5.44
GdA Pfei.ffer ,G 20.5.44-26.6.44
GdA Wei.dlirg 26.6.44-1.7.44
(Corps destroyed Witebsk;refomd)
GL-GdI Grossmann 11.8.44-8.5.45
V I I ARXLKOKPS (10.35-8.44) / VII PANZERKORPS.(12.U-5.&5)
GL-GdA von Reichenau 1.10.35-4.2.35
GdI vOn Schobert 4.2.38-1.2.40
GL Heinri.ci.,G 1.2.40-8.4.40
GdI-GO von Schobert 9.4.40-25.10.40
GdA Fahrmbacher 25.10.40-8.1.42
126
GL-GdA Hell 8.1.42-5.10.43
GdI Dostler 5.10. L.3-30. li .43
GdA Hell 30.11.43-8.44
(Corps destroyed a t Jassy;reformed)
GbCdPz von Kessel 27.12.44-8.5.45
VIII ARmEKoRPs
GL-GdK von Kleist 21.5.35-4.2.38
GdI Busch 4.2.38-24.10.39
GdA-Go Heit2 25.10.39-31.1.43
(Corps destroyed a t Sta1ingrad;refonned)
GdI H c e h n e 20.7.43~1.4.44
GL Block 1.4.44-14.4.44
GL Schlemner 15.4.44-12.5.44
12.5.44-4.8.44GdI H c e h n e
GL Mueller,J 4.8.44-24.8.44
GdA Hartmann,W 24.8.44-20.3.45
GdI Wiese 20.3.45-19.4.45
GdA von Xellenthin 19.4.45-8.5.45
127
a-GdA Dollmann
a1Geyer
GL-GdI Schmidt,H
GdI Cloessner
a - G d A WUthmaM
GL Dr Hohn
GL-GdK Knochenhauer
GdA Ulex
GL-GdA F!en,C
GdI Sponheimer
GdA Hansen,C
GL-GdI von Wicicede . GdI Koechling
LL-GdI Foertsch,H
GL Wyer
a-GdA Thcmlaschki.
IX ARMEEKWS
128
1.10.34-8.39
8.39-31.12.41
1.1.42-15.10.43
15.10.43-3.12.43
3.12.43-20.4.45
20.4.45-8.5.45
16.5.35-28.6.39
8.39-15.10.39
15.10.39-'1.7.43
1.7.43-1.8.43
1.8.43-4.10.43
4.10.43-23.6.44
25.6.44-3.9.44
3.Y.U-20.12.U
20.12.44-27.12.44
27.12.44-8.5.45
GL-GdA Ulex
GdA Leeb,E
GL-GdI von Kortzflei.sch
GdI O t t
GdI von Kortzfleisch
GdI Strecker
6.10.36-1.4.39
1.b.39-1.3.40
1.3.40-6.10.41
6.10.41-10.12.41 .
10.12.41-6.5.42
6.5.42-2.2.43
(Corps destroyed a t Stali.rgrad;reformed)
GdPz ;(aus 1.3.43-10.43
10.43-5.12.43
GdA Stemmmann,W 5.12.43-18.2.44
(Corps destroyed a t Tscherkassy;reformed)
GdI von Euenau
GdA von Hellenthin
GdK Kress von Kressenstein
GdI Schroth
GdI Heimici.,G
GdI Schroth
GL Heinemann
20.3.44-16.3.45
16.3.45-19.4.45
19.4.45-8.5.45
6.10.36-28.2.38
1.3.38-9.4.40
9.4.40-16.6.40
16.6.40-12.41
12.41-17.2.42
129
GL-GdI Graessner 18.2.42-15.2.43
GdI Tippe1ski.rcn 15.2.43-6.44
GL k l l e r , V 6.44-7.7.44
(Corps destroyed at Xogi.lew)
GdK von Weichs 1.10.37-20.10.39
GL-GdF'z von Vietinghoff 26.10.39-25.10.40
GdI Felber 25.10.40-13.1.42
GL Ottenbacher 14.1.42-21.4.42
GL-GdI Straube 21.4.42-20.2.43
GL-GdI Siebert 20.2.43-7.9.43
GL-GdI Hauffe 7.9.43-25.4.44
GL Block 25.4.44-5.6.44
GdI Hauffe 5.6.44-22.7.44
(Corps destroyed a t Ercdy;refonned)
GdI Felber 6.12.44-12.2.45
LL von Oriola ?2.2.L5-1.4.45
GL Park 1.4.45-15.4.45
GdI Hatun 15.4.45-18.4.45
GL Tolsdorff 18.4.45-20.4.45
GdA Lucht 20.4.45-1.5.45
130
XIV ARNZEK3RPS (4.38-5.42) / XIV PAL~ZEFXORPS (6.42-5.45)
GdI von Wietersheim 1.4.38-14.9.42
GL-GlPz Hube 15.9.42-17.1.43
GL Schloener 18.1.43-29.1.43
(Corps destroyed a t Stalingrad ;reformed)
GdPz h b e 5.3.43-2.9.43
GL Balck 2.9.43-2.10.43
GdPz We 2.10.43-22.10.43
GL-GdPz von Senger und Etterlia 23.10.43-2.5.45
XV AREFKORPS (11.38-11.40) / XV GEBIRGSKORPS (8.43-5.45)
GdI tioth 10.11.38-11.40
(Corps converted t o Panzer Group 3 ;reformed)
GdI Lueters 25.8.43-10.10.43
* GdI von Leyser 1.11.43-1.8.44
W z Fehn 1.8.44-8.5.45
XVI ARMFEKORPS
GL-GdPz Guderian 4.2.38-20.11.38
GL-GO Hoepner 24.11.38-2.41
(Corps converted t o Panzer Group 4;refo-d)
131
GdK Kleffel 4.7.44-20.10.44
GL von Mellenthin 20.10.44-2O.ll.U
GdI von kos igk 20.11.44-7.4.45
GL Weber 7.4.45-8.5.45
GdI Kienitz
GdI Holli.dt
GdI Strecker
GdI Hollidt
a-GL von Cholitz
GL-GdI Schneckenburger
GdPz Brandenberger
GdGbT Kreysing
GL Beyer,F
GdGbT Kreysing
GdPi. Tiemann
XVIII ARMEEKORPS (4.38-11.40)
GdI Beyer
GL von Speck
1.4.38-23.1.42
23.1.42-2.4.42
2.4.42-6.5.42
6.5.42-7.12.42
7.12.42-5.3.43
5.3.43-7.9.43
7.9.43-21.11.43
21.11.43-27.4.44
27.4.44-25.5.44
25.4.44-28.12.44
28.12.44-8.5.45
/ XVIII Gl3RGSKORPS (12.40-5.45)
1.4.38-5.6.40
5.6.40-15.6.40
132
GL-GdI B o e k , F
GL-CdGbT Eglseer
GL-GdIHochbaum
XIX ARNEEKOWS (1.39-11.40)
GL von Vietinghoff
GdPz Guderian
15.6.40-10.12.43
10.12.43-23.6.44
24.6.44-8.5.45
/ XIX GEBIRGSKWS (1.42-5.45)
1.39-8.39
8.39- 11.40
(Corps converted t o Panzer Graup 2;reformed)
GL-GdGbT Schoerner
GL-GdGbT von Hengl
GL-GdGbt Jodl
GL-GdI Materna
GL-GdA von i(0man
M I Vierow
GdA von Xornan
GdK Koehler
15.1.42-1.10.43
1.10.43-15.5.U
15.5.44-5.45
1.10.40-10.9.42
10.9.42-14.2.43
1&.2.L2-i0.3.4?
10.3.43-3.45
3.45-5.45
133
XXI A R i o R p S (8.39-4.40) / XXI GEBIRGSKORPS (8.43-5.45)
(Corps converted to Generalluxmando z. b. V. XXX Ameelcorps)
LXVI RESEEWKOWS (9.42-8.44) I LXVI AaMEE;<oRpS (8.44-4.45)
GL Marcks,E 21.9.42-12.11.42
GL-GdI Kniess 12.11.42-10.5.43
GL Roettig 21.5.43-6.43
. GdI Kniess 6.43-7.7.43
GdI Wetzel 7.7.43-20.12.43
GdA Lucht 20.12.43-3.4.45
GL Flcerke 3.4.45-5.45
GdI Fischer von Weikersthal 25.9.42-7.6.44
GdI Sponheimer 7.6.44-16.12.44
GL Schwalbe 16.12.44-21.12.44
GL-GdI Hi.tzfeld 21.12.44-5.5.45
GENEFXKCHWXXJ 2.b.V. LXVIII (5.43-9.43)
L X I I & ~ O R P S (9.i3-5.&5)
W Felrny 5.43-8.12.44
GdI Wller,F 8.12.44-29.1.45
GdGbT Konrad 29.1.45-5.45
M I X RESERVEKORPS (7.43-1.44) / MIX A R i i O R F S (1.44-5.45)
GdI Dehner 15.7.43-1.4.44
GL-GdGbT Ringel 1.4.44-24.6.44
GdI Auleb 24.6.44-8.5.45
HOEHERES KWm 2.b.V. LXX (4.41-1.43)
LXX ARMEEKORPS (1.43-5.45)
GL-GdGbT Feurstei.n 16.4.41-22.6.43
cnla Tixel L2.5.43-5.Lj
155
H0EEERE.S KCMUNEO 2.b.V. LXXI (3.42-1.43)
L;MI ARMWW"S (1.43-4.45)
GL-GdI von Xag] 15.3.42-1.11.42
GL-GdA Moser 1.11.42-15.12.44
GdA von Mauchenheim 15.12.44-5.45
LXXII ARMFEKWS
GdI von FWrSter 22.7.43-25.9.44
GN Zwade 25.9.44-10.44
GL Schmidt,A. 10.44-4.45
GL Schmidt-tImr 4.45
GENEiULK- @ F iLXXIII PRfEEKWS 2.b.V.
GdI Dostler 9.44-5.45
1.8.43-16.12.44
16.12.44-4.45
156
GdI Dostler
GL-GdGbT Sch lemr
LXXVI ARi%EKOlZPS (6.43-7.43)
GL-GdPzHerr
von Choltitz
GdPz Herr
GdPz von S c k r i n , G
GL von Graffen
GdA Gallenkamp
GdI Beyer
GdPz Kuentzen
GL Schack
13.1.44-1.9.44
1.9.44-5.45
I W I PANZEFXOWS (7.43-5.45)
1.7.43-28.2.44
1.3.44-15.4.44
16.4.44-24.11.44
24.11.44-25.4.45
26.4.45-2.5.45
27.5.42-7.8.44
10.8.44-8.5.45
1.4.42-7.9.44
7.9.44-20.9.44
157
GdI Koechling
GL 6aade
GdI Boetun-Tettelbach
GL-GdI Dehner
~ - G d ASinnhuber
GL-GdI Hcernlein
GdI Hahm
GdA Lucht
GL Tolsdorff
lxxxIII ARMEEKORPS
GdI Felber
GdA Behlendorff
a-GdI von Zangen
158
20.9.44-10.3.45
10.3.45-5.45
27.5.42-31.10.42
1.11.42-10.7.43
10.7.43-7.9.44
7.9.44-1.12.44
1.12 .U-15.4.45
15.4.45-20.4.45
20.4.45-5.45
21.5.42-15.8.43
15.5.42-1.4.43
1.4.43-1.8.43
GdA Flarcics 1.8.43-12.6.44
GdA r'ahrmiiacher 12.5.44-15.6.3
GL von Choltitz 15.6 .44-30.7.44
30.7.44-20.3.44GL Elfeidt
(Corps destroyed a t Normandie) -
GdI Kniess
GL Schack
GdI Kniess
GdPz von Luettwitz
GdI Bieler
CdPi Jaenecke
GL von r"lauchienheim
W z Fehn,G
GdI von Obstfelder
GdI Fuechler
GdI Straube
10.7.44-15.11.44
15.11.44-16.12.44
16.12.44-26.3.45
26.3.45-8.5.45
16.11.42-1.4.43
1.4.43-3.6.43
3.6.43-;. 7.&3
1.7.43-25.8.43
25.8.43-30.11.44
30.11.44-15.12.44
15.12.44-5.45
159
GdA Ynrcks,E 12.11.42-1.8.43
GdI von Zangen 1 .S .43-5.7.44
GL Jahn 5.7.44-9.44 -
(Corps converted to hneeabteilung von Zangen)
GdI kinhard 1.7.42-21.12.44
GL-GdI Schwalbe 21.12.44-3.4.45
GM Wolpert 3.4.45-5.45
GdPz von tlubicki 25.10.42-11.6.43
GL-GdI von und zu Gilsa 11.6.43-1.12.44
MI Hoehe 1.12.44-5.45
W z Nehring 14.11.42-9.12.42
(Corps converted to 5th Panzer Army;refomd)
GdF Petersen 10.44-5.45
160
LXMXI ARMEEKORPS
GL-GdI von Erdmannsdorff,W
LxXXXVII AiwEEKORPs
GdGbT Kuebler,L
CI ARMEEKORPS
GdA Berlin
a GL Sixt
GdK Harteneck
15 KOSAKENKORPS
GL von P a d . t z
9.10.44-8.5.45
9.44-5.45
27.2.45-18.4.45
18.4.45-5.45
10.6.44-5.45
1.2.45-5.45
161
GdPz von Saucken 12.44-11.2.45
GdPz Jauer 12.2.45-8.5.45
GLCdPz RmEl
GL-GdPz CrUew2l l
GL-GdPz Nehring
Oberst Bayerlein
GM von Vaerst
GL.-GdPz v m Thoma
Oberst Fiayerlein
GdPz Fehn
GN von Li.ebenstein
GL Zi.egler
GL-GdPz Cramer
19.2.41-15.8.41
15. a .41-a. 3.42
8.3.42-31.8.42
31.8.42
31 .a.42-17.9.42
17.9.42-4.11.42
4.11.42-19.11.42
19.11.42-16.1.43
16.1.43-17.2.43
17.2.43-5.3.43
5.3.43-12.5.43
162
-- - Angoli.a, John R. -For Fuehrer and Fatherland; Military
Awards of the Third iiei.ch (Volme 1-2). San Jose: R. Janes E Z E , i 9 7 K
-. On the Fi.eld of Honor, A History of the f f i i h t ' s Cross E e a r ~ s ~ o ~ l ~ ) .San Jose: R. .J~s%n&&%O--
Bartw, Cmr. The Eastern Front, 1941-45,German Troops and the B a r b a r i . s a t i r o m r e .- New York: St. Martin s PresC1986.
Bender, R. Jams and Law, %.chard D. Uniforms, Organization, and Histor of the Afrikakorps. San Jose: R. James G d d 3 T -
Bender, R. Jams. and Cdegard, Warren W. Uniforms, Organization and Histo of the Panzertruppe. San Jose: R. Z d r T l m .
Bradley, Dennot and Schulze-Kossens, Richard. Taetj.Pkeitsberi.cht-des Chefs des Heerespersonalamtes General der-1nfanteri.e R u d o m m t : 1.10.42-29.10.44. Osnabrueck, FRG.: Biblio -, 1984.
Brett-Smith, Richard. Hixler's Generals. San Rafael,California: Presidio Press,
Cooper, H. The German plmy 1933-1945. New York: Stei.n and D a y , m 7 8 .
Creveld, Martin van. Fi ti Power, German Yi.litary Performance, 1914-19--$? Potomac, &-d: C&L Defense Consultants, 1980.
Cupuy, T.N. A Genius for Ldar: nx Geman .+.nnv and Ceneral Staff , 1 S g 7 T E E i j $ % E E d C l i ~ . E - P r F t i c e - Hall, 1977.
-. The German General Staff. 1nsti.tuti.on of Demonstrated -Excexn- -National Comnand, Planni.ng, Coordi.nation, -and Combat Perfoxmance. Dunn brine, VA.: Historical Evaluation and *search Organkation, 1984.
Downing, David. -The Devil's Vi.rtuosos: German Generals -- New York: St. Marti.n's Press, 1977.a t War 1940-5.
Fellgi.ebe1, Walter-Peer. Die Trae er des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kxeuzes, 1 9 3 n 9 4 F r i e E r g , FRG: Podzun%llas+ -1986.
164
- --- ----
--
------
--- --
--
- --
Fuller, J.F.C. Generalship Its Diseases and Their Cure: A Studv of the Personal Factor i n Conmand. Harrisburg, Pa.: Lgu.litary Service Pabli.shiq-Co., 1936.
Geyer, Hemam. Das I X Armeekorps im O s t f e l d q -1941. Herausgegebenvon Generalleutnant a. D. WilhelrnTeyer-Detr icry. Neckargecluend, FRG: S c h r n b r s t Buchradscha r ’ t , 1969.
Goerlitz, Valter. Histor of the German General Staff+-- -1657-1945. Translate by Brian Batters&. New York: Praeger, 1953.
Hart, B.H. Liddell. The Other Si.de of the H i l l . Landon: Cassell, 1948.
m e , Rolf. Der Zusmnbruch der Heeres Osten 1944. Stuttgart, FRG: --Mi.tte in--- Motorbuch Ver ag.198U.-
Keilig, Wolf. D a s Deutsche Heer 1939-1945 (Band -1-111). Bad Nauheim, m-Podzun-Verz 1956.
-. Die Generale des Heeres. Fri.edberg, FRG: Podzun-~ a l l Z ~ e r l a g , 9 8 3 1 ;
l iste des Deutschen Heeres 1944/45. Friedberg, - 3 G : - zun Pa%-Verlag, 1979.
Lenfeld, Erwi.n and Thomas, Franz. -Die Eichenlaubtraeger1940-1945. Wiener Neustadt, Oesterreich: Weilburg Verlag, 1982.
h a s , Jams. Alpine Elite - German Mauntain Troops of-World War 11. L o n d ~ a i i e ~ 8 0 .
Madej, W. Victor. German Army Order of Battle 1939-1945. Allentown, Pennsylvania: G m ? krketing Company, 1981.
Yehner, K u r t . , e t a l . , Editor. -Die zeheiynTa esbeTichte der kutscfien ‘2e’nmachrrr~hrung im Zweiten We tkri.eg:1939-1945.
Eiblio V e r l a n 8 +
-.-- (Band 10-12 Osnabrueck, EXG:
Mellenthi.n, F.W. von. G e m Generals of World War-11: As I Saw men. Norman, Oklahcana: Universityof O r A = - F ? ? s X 7 7 .
P a r Battles. Translated by H. Betzler. Norman, -.Oklahoma: Universi.ty of Oklahoma Press, 1971.
ivlodel, Hansgeorg. Der deutsche Generalstabsoffizi.er. Frankfurt, FXG:T&EFT&Traefe Verlag, 1968.
Patzwall, K l a u s . Per Blutorden der NDSAP. Hamburg, FRG.: Patmall Verlag, 1 9 8 5 .
165
--
Richter, Klaus Chri.stian. Di.e Geschichte der deutschen Kavallerie 1919-1945. Stuttgart , .".XG:-%torbuch Verlag , 1982.
Scheibert, Horst. -Die Traeger des Deutschen Kreuzes -- Pod--in Gold (8and I Das Heer). Friedberg, FRG: ? a l l a s - V z , l T J . -
. Die R a e e r des Ehrenblattspwe des Heeres und--W fen STFrieaberg, FRG: Pod=-der *
Pallas-Verlag, 1986.
Schellendorf, Bronsart von. The Duties of the General -S t a f f (Volume 1).Transla= b y . K G e x n : C. Keg- & Company, 1877.
Scheui.g, W o . -Free Gemany, me National Conmittee and the aof German Officers. Viddletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press, 1969.
Schramn, Percy E., et a l . , Editor. Krie s t a ebuch des 0berkol;mandos -der idehrmacht (Xeb-sXb 1 (Band I-VIII). Huenchen, FRG: Bernard & Graefe Verlag, 1982.
Schnei.der, Jost W. Honor was LayalFy! An Il lustrated and Docunentar H i s t o r T t h e K r u ht s Cross Holders r t d S d l z e T 4 & T a a -Dr. Wi-bxT. San Jose, California: R. James Bender Publi.shing, 1977.
Seaton, Albert, -Tne German Amy, Nineteen Thi.rtv-Three -to Forty-Five. New York: S t . Martin's Press, 1982.
S e a n , Gerhard von. -Die Ritterkeuztraeger. Friedberg, FRG: Pod--Verlag, 1976.
Stadler, Silvester. - --Die Offensive Kursk 19b3. O S M D ~ C K . ;7iG: h n i n Veriag, 1980.
'I"ne March of Conquest: The German Victori.es i.n Western Euo 1940. N e w York: Simon and znuster, 195
Taylor, Telford. --- -+ Tessi.n, Georg. Verbaende -und Truppen der deutschen
Wehrmacht und Xaffen-SS g Zweiten Weltki.eg 1939-1945 (Band I-XIII). Osnabrueck, FRG: Bi.blio V e r - l r
166
Warlimont, Walter. Inside Hitler's Headquarters, 1939-45. Translated by R.H. Barry. Xew York: Praeger, 1964.
Zikovic, Georg. -- der Welt.Heer- und Flot tenhelxer --Osnabrueck,.FRG: Bib1i.o Verlag, 1971.
GovlzRmmT rocui*iEiuTS
Blment r i t t , Guenther. "The German Armies of 1914 and 1939". U.S. Amy Historical Di.visi.on Study YWI 8-296. Translated by M. Otto. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, 1947.
Claer, Bernhard von. "Generals of the Third Xeich". U.S. Army Histori.ca1 Division Study MS# 8-513. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, 1946.
de Bartha. "Austro-liungari.an General Staff". U.S. ArmyHistorical Divisi.on Study MSII C-063. Washington, D.C. : Office of the Chief of Mili.tary History, 1946.
Guderian, Heinz and Zeitzler, Kurt. "Canrents on P-041a- P-041hh". U.S. Army Hi.storica1 Division Study MSII P-04111. Translated by J.B.Robinson. Washi.ngton, D.C.: Office of the Chi.ef of Military History, 1953..
Guides to German Records Microfilmed a t Alexandri.a V i rzn ia . ---L8,,%2-o s 5 v 59 TI-~ bJashington, D.C.: The National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, 1970.
Halder, Franz. "Control of the German Army General Staff". U.S. Army Historical Divisi.on Study MSII P-041d. Translated by Fi.F.8aerwaldt. Washington, D.C. : Office of the Chief of Yili.tary History, 1952.
llofmann, 3udolf. "German Effi.ciency Report System"; U.S. A m y Ei.storica1 Di.vision Study %.is,/ P-134. Translated by H. Heitman. Washi.ngton, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Hil i tary History, 1952.
I<leikamp, Helmut. "The Army Personnel Office". U.S. Army Historical Division Study iWI P-04lhh. Translated by H.Hei.tman. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, 1952.
Kleikamp, Helmut. "German Army High Comnand: The Central Branch of the Army General Staff". U.S. Army Hi.storica1 Divi.sion StudyPIS# P-041x. Translated by v. Bcetticher. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chi.ef of W.litary Hi.story, 1952.
167
--
--
--
blanteuffel, Hasso von. “Fast Mobile and Armred Troops”. U.S. .Army Historkal Divi.sion Study 3-036. Translated by %ysi.ng. Washington, 3.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, 1945.
Order of Battle of the German tzrmy October -1942. Kashirnton. EC-blil itarv I n t e m e 3ivisi.on. -Nar kpar&nt, 1942.
Order of 3attle of the -- German Anw April -1943. Washington, D.C. : Pi.li.li.tary Intelligence Division, W a r Department, 1943.
--Order of Battle -- Februarof the German Army +-1944. Washi.ngton, D.C. : Military Inte igence Di.vi.sion, war kjartnent, 1944.
-
Order of Battle of the German Afily March 1945. :dashington, EC-tGTy IntewmGTBivision,War Department, 1945.
van 12.Dienstaltersliste A zur Stellenbeset --Oktober 7,193 TSa.ce 0ffi.cer D z o f iiank Li.st as of October 12, 1937) (National Archives acrocopy NO. 78, ~ o i iNO. 512) .
Dienstaltersliste A zur Stellenbeset des Heeres 1938, (Service-Omcer Date of M*Lzm)(National Archives Microcopy No. 78, 3.011 No. 512).
DienstalterslisteA Stellenbeset des Heeres -1. -1940, (Service Officer Dazf-W List as of May 1, 1940) (National Archives Microcopy Xo. i 8 , A011 No; 513) .
Dienstaltersliste A zur Stellenbeset des Heeres -1. %-1941, (Sexce Officer Dazf-W Li.st as of Mav 1. 1941) (Xational Archives Nicrocouv Xo. 78, koli No. 514).
r,
. Dienstaltersliste A zur Stellenbeset des Heeres 1942, (gezce Officer D a E f - & k List
Dienstaltersliste I zur Stellenbeset des Heeres 1943,(gezce Officer D a z m & c Li.st 1, 1943) (National Archives Microcopy
No. 78, Xoll No. 515) .
168
Stellenbesetzung -des Heeres -1938, (Officer Posi-tions in che Army 1938) (National ArcM.ves Yicrocopy No. 78, 3011 Xo. 512).
Stellenbeset von Staeben, HPA, Agr. P3 (Staff Officer Positiom? the Army)(Nati.onal Archives Microcopy No. 78, 3011 No. 55).
Geyer, btichael. "Tne Transformation of the German Mfi.cer Corps". Deparwnt of History, University of MichiganSession 103 AHA Annual Meeting, San Francisco.
Spires, David Nelson. "The Career of the Reichsweh Officer". Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation: hiversi t y of Washington 1979.