Tapping Hitler's Generals

Born Strasbourg, 19.2.1908. Prot. Studied law at Breslau. Reichswehr: 9.4.1930 entered Landespolizei; 15.10.1935 transferred into Army; 16.8.1937–15.1.1939 Oberleutnant, with von Thoma in Spanish Civil War. WWII: 1939 Hauptmann and Comp. Cdr, 12.Inf.Reg.458 in Poland; 1.8.1940 transferred to Luftwaffe (paratroops); May 1941 CO, II./Fallschirmjäger-Reg.1, Crete. 1.1.1942 Major, Battalion Cdr, Fallschirmjägerbrigade Ramcke; 5.11.1942 PoW El Alamein. 23.12.1942–2.43 Trent Park. For other details of his career, see TNA WO208/4182.

Assessed on 28 January 1942 as: ‘Pronounced soldierly appearance, emphatically correct military behaviour. Of unobjectionable character, ambitious, an exemplary officer, impassioned, full of verve and ideas. Excellent instructor. Leader type. Brave and hard on himself and his subordinates. Proven in the field as battalion commander in Crete. Convinced National Socialist.’

GENERAL DER INFANTERIE DIETRICH VON CHOLTITZ

Born Wiesegräflich/Upper Silesia, 9.11.1894. RC. Entered Army 6.2.1914. WWI: Leutnant, Inf.Reg.107. Reichswehr: Infantry and cavalry units, from 1.2.1937 Battalion Cdr, Inf.Reg.16; 1.4.1938 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.4.1941 Oberst; 18.5.1940 awarded Knight’s Cross; 10.9.1940–27.8.1942 CO, Inf.Reg.16; 1.9.1942 Generalmajor; 27.8.1942–12.10.1942 CO, 260.Inf.Div.; 7.2.1943–5.3.1943 CO, XVII.Armeekorps; 1.3.1943 Generalleutnant; 5.3.1943–1.10.1943 CO, 11.Pz.Div.; 1.10.1943–15.11.1943 CO, XXXXVIII.Pz.Korps; 1.3.1944–16.4.1944 CO, LXXVI.Pz.Korps (Italy); 13.6.1944 Cmmdg Gen., LXXXIV.Armeekorps (Normandy); 1.8.1944 General der Infanterie; from 7.8.1944 Wehrmacht Commander, Greater Paris; 25.8.1944 PoW; 29.8.1944–10.4.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated April 1947. Died Baden-Baden, 5.11.1966.

Assessment on 1 April 1942 by CO, 22.Inf.Div.: ‘By disposition and ability an able soldier and officer. Has a good tactical grasp and can make rapid decisions. Gets to the heart of a problem with few words. In battle leads his regiment with prudence and a strong, sure hand. When he puts his mind to it can be a personal example. Many successes are to be credited to his personal initiative. Adept at socialising. Unfortunately owing to the war suffers from stomach complaint. The increased nervousness makes him very irritable at times and he then becomes very excitable as a consequence.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘PoW is a cinema-type of a German officer, fat, coarse, bemonocled and inflated with a tremendous sense of his own importance.’ His fickle nature did not endear him to his colleagues who spoke of him unflatteringly, see e.g. GRGG 183, 29.8.1944 and GRGG 184, 30.8.1944, TNA WO208/4363.

GENERAL DER PANZERTRUPPE HANS CRAMER

Born Minden, 13.7.1896. Prot. WWI: 10.8.1914 entered Army, Leutnant, mostly Comp. Cdr with Inf.Reg.15. Reichswehr: Staff cavalry units; 1.2.1939 Oberstleutnant. WWII: From 22.3.1941 CO, Pz.Reg.8 in North Africa; 27.6.1941 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.10.1941 Oberst; 1.4.1942 Chief of Staff, General der Schnellen Truppen; 1.9.1942–22.1.1943 General der Schnellen Truppen; 1.11.1942 Generalmajor; 20.11.1942–10.12.1942, acting CO, XXXXVIII.Armeekorps; 22.1.1943–10.2.1943 CO, General-Kommando zbV (special purposes) Cramer; 22.1.1943 Generalleutnant; from 13.3.1943 Head of German Afrika Korps; 1.5.1943 General der Panzertruppen; 12.5.1943 PoW Tunisia; 16.5.1943–22.2.1944 Trent Park. Repatriated (severe asthma) arrived Germany 12.5.1944. Involved in 20 July 1944 plot; from 26.7.1944–5.8.1944 held by Gestapo, Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse prison in Berlin; transferred to satellite camp of Ravensbrück, transferred at end of September to Berlin Charité hospital; from 24.12.1944 placed under house arrest at home; 14.8.1944 discharged from Wehrmacht. From May 1945 appointed by British as C-in-C of all German PoWs in Holstein (Wehrmachtstab Nord); 15.2.1946 discharged again. Died Hausberge, 28.10.1968.

On 8 April 1942 assessed as: ‘Blameless, self-possessed character. Adept, quiet type. Imposes his will. Forward looking with very good tactical sense and ability. Quick to make decisions and give orders. Commits himself tirelessly against the enemy. An above-average regimental commander.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: An old cavalry man who had been forcibly motorised. Enjoyed the panzer battles in the North African desert, repeatedly emphasising that a ‘true’ soldier fought honourably, as in North Africa, unlike the war in Russia. Cramer’s colleagues considered him incompetent. Assessed by the British as ‘anti-Nazi’ and a pro-monarchist in favour of restoring the Kaiserreich under Rupprecht von Bayern, Cramer spent most of his time at Trent Park alone in his room, presumably because of his severe asthma.

GENERAL DER PANZERTRUPPE LUDWIG CRÜWELL