Hitler’s Generals: Who They Were, What They Did, and What Happened to Them?

Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and subsequent military campaigns during World War II relied heavily on a group of high-ranking officers in the Wehrmacht, known as Field Marshals and Generals. Rumor has it that one of the presidential candidates wishes that he had generals like these.

So who were they, what did they do, and what happened to them?

Some of these men were loyal to Hitler and supported his campaigns, while others were skeptical, and a few even plotted against him. 

Let’s take a look at  the roles of key generals, their impact during the war, and what happened to them afterward, including those involved in anti-Hitler conspiracies like the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt.

Key Generals and Their Roles

1. Erwin Rommel

• Role: Known as the “Desert Fox,” Rommel commanded the Afrika Korps during campaigns in North Africa. He was admired for his tactical brilliance and earned respect from both his German troops and Allied enemies.
• After the War: Rommel was implicated in the July 20 plot to assassinate Hitler, despite having mixed feelings about the plan. In October 1944, he was forced to commit suicide by poison to avoid a public trial and protect his family.

2. Wilhelm Keitel

• Role: As Chief of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), Keitel was one of Hitler’s closest military advisors and was responsible for implementing many of the Führer’s policies, including the infamous Commissar Order.
• After the War: Keitel was tried at Nuremberg, found guilty of war crimes, and executed by hanging in 1946.

3. Alfred Jodl

• Role: Jodl served as Chief of the Operations Staff of the OKW, assisting in planning and executing military operations throughout the war.
• After the War: Like Keitel, Jodl was tried at Nuremberg, found guilty of war crimes, and hanged in 1946. His conviction was later annulled posthumously in 1953, though this decision was controversial.

4. Friedrich Paulus

• Role: As the commander of the German 6th Army, Paulus led the attack on Stalingrad. He was promoted to Field Marshal just before the surrender of the 6th Army, a futile gesture by Hitler, who expected Paulus to commit suicide rather than be captured.
• After the War: Paulus was taken prisoner by the Soviets and later testified against Nazi leaders at the Nuremberg Trials. He became a vocal critic of Hitler and lived in East Germany after the war, dying in 1957.

5. Heinz Guderian

• Role: A pioneer of Blitzkrieg tactics, Guderian commanded Germany’s armored forces and played a crucial role in the invasions of Poland, France, and the Soviet Union. He was often compared to US General George Patton whom Guderian admired.
• After the War: Guderian was captured by U.S. forces but was not tried as a war criminal. He lived in West Germany after the war and became an author, passing away in 1954.

6. Gerd von Rundstedt

• Role: Rundstedt was one of Germany’s senior military officers, commanding Army Group South during the invasion of Poland and France. He was later appointed Commander-in-Chief in the West.
• After the War: Captured by the Allies, Rundstedt was held as a war criminal but was never prosecuted due to his declining health. He died in 1953.

7. Erich von Manstein

• Role: Considered one of Germany’s most capable strategists, von Manstein was instrumental in the invasion of France and led German forces on the Eastern Front.
• After the War: Manstein was convicted of war crimes by a British military court in 1949 but was released in 1953. He later became an advisor to the West German government and wrote his memoirs.

8. Albert Kesselring

• Role: Kesselring commanded German forces in the Mediterranean and Italy. He was responsible for defending Italy against Allied forces and earned a reputation for skillful defensive tactics.
• After the War: Kesselring was sentenced to death for war crimes but later had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. He was released in 1952 and lived until 1960.

Generals Who Opposed Hitler and the July 20 Plot

The July 20, 1944, assassination plot against Hitler involved several high-ranking officers, including:

• Claus von Stauffenberg: The chief architect of the assassination attempt, Stauffenberg placed a bomb in Hitler’s conference room. He was executed the same day after the plot failed.
• Ludwig Beck: Former Chief of the General Staff, Beck resigned in protest against Hitler’s policies in 1938 and was involved in the July 20 plot. After its failure, Beck was arrested and forced to commit suicide.
• Henning von Tresckow: Another key figure in the July 20 plot, Tresckow was a central organizer in the resistance movement within the German military. He committed suicide following the plot’s failure.

Many of these generals were disillusioned with Hitler’s leadership, particularly after the disastrous campaigns on the Eastern Front. Their opposition was driven by both moral and pragmatic concerns, as they believed Hitler was leading Germany to ruin.

What Happened to Hitler’s Generals After the War?

In the aftermath of World War II, many of Hitler’s top generals were held accountable for their roles in the Nazi regime, while others managed to escape significant punishment.

• Executed: Generals like Wilhelm Keitel and Alfred Jodl were hanged after being convicted at the Nuremberg Trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• Imprisoned: Erich von Manstein and Albert Kesselring served time in prison but were released relatively early.
• Suicides: Several generals chose suicide over surrender or execution. Erwin Rommel was forced to commit suicide, while Friedrich Paulus, who defied Hitler by surrendering, lived a quieter postwar life in Soviet custody.
• Escaped Trials: Some generals, like Guderian, managed to avoid prosecution altogether, living out their postwar years in relative peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Blind Loyalty vs. Opposition: While some generals like Keitel and Jodl remained loyal to Hitler to the end, others like Rommel and Stauffenberg turned against him, leading to their downfall.
2. War Crimes and Accountability: Many of Hitler’s generals were implicated in war crimes, leading to execution, imprisonment, or other penalties after the war.
3. Resistance to Tyranny: The July 20 plot highlights that even within Hitler’s military, there was strong opposition to his policies, and some generals took significant risks to stop him.
4. Mixed Postwar Fates: The fates of Hitler’s generals varied widely—some were executed, some imprisoned, while others lived relatively quiet postwar lives.

Conclusion

The generals of Hitler’s Wehrmacht played crucial roles in both the success and failure of Nazi Germany’s military campaigns. Their actions, decisions, and loyalties shaped the course of the war. While many of them were complicit in war crimes, a few stood against Hitler’s tyranny, even at the cost of their lives. The fates of these men serve as a reminder of the complexities of military leadership under a totalitarian regime. Accountability for their actions varied greatly, with some paying the ultimate price and others escaping severe punishment. The legacy of these generals is a stern lesson in the dangers of unchecked power and blind loyalty.