The Fates of Hitler's Generals After Their Demise
In the wake of World War II, the fates of Hitler's generals varied greatly, contingent on how they were dismissed from the German military. This article delves into the details of how these high-ranking officials were treated and the important roles they played in the German military structure.
Dependence on Dismissal: Retired and Removed
The German military, known as the Wehrmacht, had two main fates for generals once dismissed by Adolf Hitler: retirement and transfer to the Führer Reserve.
Those who were retired were typically given a pension, allowing them to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in their later years. For example, the former commander of the Fourth Panzer Army, Erich Hoeppner, was found guilty of plotting against Hitler and executed. However, some, like Hoeppner, did not find the transition to retirement easy, as they were forced to endure the vagaries of Hitler's whims.
Generals who were transferred to the Führer Reserve were essentially demoted and placed on inactive duty. They still received their salaries but no longer had command responsibilities. This reserve force was a pool of high-ranking officers who were temporarily without assignments and required to be ready to report for any new mission at a moment's notice. Unfortunately, many of these officers served as a temporary solution for the military's need to dispose of generals who no longer met the Führer's favor or were deemed politically troublesome or incompetent.
Could You Avoid Hitler's Wrath?
Certain generals faced severe repercussions for their actions or even for being in Hitler's bad mood. Such was the case with Erich Hoepner, who ordered a retreat in 1942 without first consulting Hitler. Upon learning of the unauthorized retreat, Hitler was in a furious state and mercilessly stripped Hoepner of his pension and right to wear military uniforms and medals.
The military regulations were swept aside, and Hoepner, while outraged, ultimately won his lawsuit and regained his pension and rights for about two years. This case is notable as Hitler rarely, if ever, went against the Wehrmacht's established rules and laws. Other generals, like Hans Graf von Sponeck, faced similar fates, losing their commissions entirely due to their perceived disfavor with Hitler.
The Führer Reserve: A Buoy for Troubled Times
The Führer Reserve served as a temporary resting place for officers who lacked a posting at the time or, in the later stages of the war, as a dumping ground for unwanted commanders. The term 'Führer' in the Führer Reserve had no direct connection to Adolf Hitler, as it simply meant 'leader.' This phrase 'Führer Reserve' thus referred to a pool of high-ranking officers without active command.
Although initially meant as a temporary measure, particularly in the early years, the Führer Reserve increasingly became a means to handle generals who had lost Hitler's favor. They were politically unreliable or proven incompetent. These chief officers, stripped of their command roles, received full pay and were kept on standby, ready to engage at any moment.
Variety of Fates
The effects on generals were not uniform. Besides severe retribution, some officers found themselves in the Führer Reserve or retired. Many of these generals, such as Guderian, von Rundstedt, and von Manstein, faded into obscurity after their demised from active command.
Generals like Franz von Halder and Fedor von Bock left the frontlines under tragic circumstances. Von Halder was effectively out of the limelight after his dismissal, and Fedor von Bock met an untimely end when he was killed by strafing British fighters in May 1945, just as the Germans were surrendering to the British.
Conclusion
The treatment of Hitler's generals was dictated by their association with the Führer and their performance during his reign. While some were honorably retired and others were relegated to the Führer Reserve, a select few faced the full brunt of Hitler's wrath. The fate of an officer could swing dramatically based on the whims and moods of the Führer, underscoring the fragile nature of loyalty and favor in the German military hierarchy.