Tapping Hitler's Generals

SPANG: No, really? Generalfeldmarschall von WITZLEBEN was my superior officer before the war. I was in COLOGNE and built the so-called ‘Führer’ line. He used to fly over to visit me and always expressed his appreciation. I was ‘General’ in the 1st ‘Armee’ during the war.[408] Generalfeldmarschall von WITZLEBEN is one of our most correct, finest, most impeccable Generals; extremely honourable and correct in his ideas and very much loved by his men and even more by his staff. We held him in very great respect. I heard something about Generaloberst BECK, too.[409]

AAO: That happened way back on 20 July. There’s not doubt about his being dead.

SPANG: May I add something about Generaloberst BECK, so that you have a little character sketch of him, too. Generaloberst BECK was my ‘Regimentskommandeur’ when I had an ‘Artillereabteilung’ in 1927–28.[410] Generaloberst BECK is superior in intelligence to Generalfeldmarschall von WITZLEBEN. He’s an outstandingly distinguished character. He’s an insatiable worker, who is only satisfied with the best. He was my ideal of a ‘Regimentskommandeur’. As I had formerly been on the General Staff for thirteen years, I was always brought in to help with these regimental exercises, to work out the picture and help with all the preparations, even as a ‘Batteriechef’. Generaloberst BECK is a very, very fine, decent man. Once we had a trial of LUDIN and SCHERINGER, it was a National Socialist affair before the war, in which both officers were thrown out of the army, because they had carried on national-socialist activities. Oberst BECK, as ‘Regimentskommandeur’ actually spoke against them both.[411] Generaloberst BECK is a really irreproachable fellow, he possesses very great ability and knowledge and is a very sincere character. I couldn’t say that to you if I didn’t know them both (WITZLEBEN and BECK) so well personally.

Thank God this business has not affected the front. I called my officers’ corps together and addressed them and told them my opinion. I said: ‘These matters don’t affect us.’

I simply can’t believe that WITZLEBEN has been hanged. A ‘Generalfeldmarschall’ hanged! WITZLEBEN–if I may say so–was not so very active. He was a ‘grand seigneur’, a distinguished, decent man, who was very clever himself but who didn’t really–one might say–go at things with a will. He didn’t do that, he was more of a ‘grand seigneur’. That’s why I simply can’t believe that he–one thing is quite impossible, that the officers wanted to line their own pockets and do it for their own gain. It is quite impossible, too, that the officers could have done a thing like that merely as a bid for power. That’s quite out of the question.

AAO: No, you know, I have travelled a lot in GERMANY. I have always stressed the difference between the armed forces and this other thing. SPANG: It is very difficult for me to tell you… I can’t do that. I could tell you a great deal as an army officer, but you will understand that I can’t speak about it.

AAO: No, of course, you can’t, we realise that perfectly well.

BAO: But for you, Sir, at this moment the war is over; and it is practically over for all Germans. That is not the fault of the armed forces, it is the fault of this man…

SPANG: I have a very clear opinion on it, too, but the FÜHRER is my Commander-in-Chief. I ought not to speak about it.

Generalfeldmarschall von RUNDSTEDT[412] had become President of the Court of Honour and Generalfeldmarschall von WITZLEBEN was his subordinate, the is to say, Generalfeldmarschall von RUNDSTEDT was successor to Generalfeldmarschall von WITZLEBEN. They were on excellent terms and were great friends. It was an incredible… for Generalfeldmarschall von RUNDSTEDT