Wilhelm Keitel: Difference between revisions
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He recovered, and thereafter was posted to the [[German General Staff]] in early [[1915]]. After World War I ended, he stayed in the newly created [[Reichswehr]], and played a part in organizing [[Freikorps]] frontier guard units on the [[Poland|Polish]] border. Keitel also served as a divisional general staff officer, and later taught at the Hanover Cavalry School for two years. |
He recovered, and thereafter was posted to the [[German General Staff]] in early [[1915]]. After World War I ended, he stayed in the newly created [[Reichswehr]], and played a part in organizing [[Freikorps]] frontier guard units on the [[Poland|Polish]] border. Keitel also served as a divisional general staff officer, and later taught at the Hanover Cavalry School for two years. |
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In late [[1924]], he was transferred to the Reich Defence Ministry ([[Reichswehrministerium]]), serving with the Troop Office |
In late [[1924]], he was transferred to the Reich Defence Ministry ([[Reichswehrministerium]]), serving with the Troop Office ([[Truppenamt]]), the post-[[Treaty of Versailles|Versailles]] disguised [[German General Staff|General Staff]]. He was soon promoted to the head of the organizational department, a post he retained after the [[Nazism|Nazi]] seizure of power in [[1933]]. In [[1935]], based on a recommendation by [[Werner von Fritsch]] he became chief of the newly-created Armed Forces Office ([[Wehrmachtamt]]). |
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==OKW and World War II== |
==OKW and World War II== |
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In 1937, Keitel received a promotion to General, and in the following year, in the wake of the [[Blomberg-Fritsch Affair]] and the replacement of the [[Reichskriegsministerium]] (Reich War Ministry) with the [[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]], a.k.a. [[OKW]] (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces), he assumed the position of Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. Accordingly, in 1940 he became a "[[Generalfeldmarschall]]" (Field Marshal). |
In 1937, Keitel received a promotion to General, and in the following year, in the wake of the [[Blomberg-Fritsch Affair]] and the replacement of the [[Reichskriegsministerium]] (Reich War Ministry) with the [[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]], a.k.a. [[OKW]] (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces), he assumed the position of Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. Accordingly, in 1940 he became a "[[Generalfeldmarschall]]" (Field Marshal). |
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During World War II, Keitel proved a weak and cautious commander: he advised [[Hitler]] against invading [[Battle of France|France]] and opposed [[Operation Barbarossa]]. Both times he backed down in the face of Hitler and tendered his resignation: the [[Führer]] refused to accept it. In 1942 he again stood up to Hitler over Field Marshal [[Siegmund List]]. Keitel's defence of List was his last act of defiance to Hitler, for after that he never again challenged one of Hitler's orders and was referred to by his colleagues as ''Lakaitel'' ("Lackey-tel"). He signed numerous orders of dubious legality under the laws of war, the most infamous of which being the notorious [[Commissar order]], and unquestionably allowed [[Heinrich Himmler|Himmler]] a free hand with his racial controls and ensuing terror in captured [[Russia]]n territory. Another was the order to have any of the French pilots fighting for the [[Normandie-Niemen]] fighter regiment in and on behalf of the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] to be executed instead of their being treated as prisoners of war. Keitel was also instrumental in foiling the attempted [[coup]] of the [[July 20 Plot]] in 1944, whose objectives were the assassination of [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] and the replacement of the current upper hierarchy in the Army, and sat on the following Army [[Court of Honour]] that handed many officers, including Field Marshal [[Erwin von Witzleben|von Witzleben]], over to [[Roland Freisler]]'s notorious [[Volksgerichtshof|People's Court]]. |
During World War II, Keitel proved a weak and cautious commander: he advised [[Hitler]] against invading [[Battle of France|France]] and opposed [[Operation Barbarossa]]. Both times he backed down in the face of Hitler and tendered his resignation: the [[Führer]] refused to accept it. In 1942 he again stood up to Hitler over Field Marshal [[Siegmund List]]. Keitel's defence of List was his last act of defiance to Hitler, for after that he never again challenged one of Hitler's orders and was referred to by his colleagues as ''"Lakaitel"'' ("Lackey-tel"). He signed numerous orders of dubious legality under the laws of war, the most infamous of which being the notorious [[Commissar order]], and unquestionably allowed [[Heinrich Himmler|Himmler]] a free hand with his racial controls and ensuing terror in captured [[Russia]]n territory. Another was the order to have any of the French pilots fighting for the [[Normandie-Niemen]] fighter regiment in and on behalf of the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] to be executed instead of their being treated as prisoners of war. Keitel was also instrumental in foiling the attempted [[coup]] of the [[July 20 Plot]] in 1944, whose objectives were the assassination of [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] and the replacement of the current upper hierarchy in the Army, and sat on the following Army [[Court of honour|Court of Honour]] that handed many officers, including Field Marshal [[Erwin von Witzleben|von Witzleben]], over to [[Roland Freisler]]'s notorious [[Volksgerichtshof|People's Court]]. |
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==After World War II== |
==After World War II== |
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Revision as of 11:40, 16 May 2006
Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel (September 22, 1882 – October 16, 1946) was a German Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) and a senior military leader during World War II.
Early life and career
The son of Carl Keitel, a middle-class landowner, he was born in Helmscherode, Brunswick, Germany. After completing his education in Göttingen, he embarked on a military career in 1901, becoming a Fahnenjunker (Cadet Officer), joining the 6th Lower-Saxon Field Artillery Regiment. He married Lisa Fontaine in 1909. During World War I Keitel served on the Western front with the Field Artillery Regiment No. 46. In September 1914, during the fighting in Flanders, he was seriously wounded in his right forearm by a shell fragment.
He recovered, and thereafter was posted to the German General Staff in early 1915. After World War I ended, he stayed in the newly created Reichswehr, and played a part in organizing Freikorps frontier guard units on the Polish border. Keitel also served as a divisional general staff officer, and later taught at the Hanover Cavalry School for two years.
In late 1924, he was transferred to the Reich Defence Ministry (Reichswehrministerium), serving with the Troop Office (Truppenamt), the post-Versailles disguised General Staff. He was soon promoted to the head of the organizational department, a post he retained after the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. In 1935, based on a recommendation by Werner von Fritsch he became chief of the newly-created Armed Forces Office (Wehrmachtamt).
OKW and World War II
In 1937, Keitel received a promotion to General, and in the following year, in the wake of the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair and the replacement of the Reichskriegsministerium (Reich War Ministry) with the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, a.k.a. OKW (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces), he assumed the position of Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. Accordingly, in 1940 he became a "Generalfeldmarschall" (Field Marshal).
During World War II, Keitel proved a weak and cautious commander: he advised Hitler against invading France and opposed Operation Barbarossa. Both times he backed down in the face of Hitler and tendered his resignation: the Führer refused to accept it. In 1942 he again stood up to Hitler over Field Marshal Siegmund List. Keitel's defence of List was his last act of defiance to Hitler, for after that he never again challenged one of Hitler's orders and was referred to by his colleagues as "Lakaitel" ("Lackey-tel"). He signed numerous orders of dubious legality under the laws of war, the most infamous of which being the notorious Commissar order, and unquestionably allowed Himmler a free hand with his racial controls and ensuing terror in captured Russian territory. Another was the order to have any of the French pilots fighting for the Normandie-Niemen fighter regiment in and on behalf of the USSR to be executed instead of their being treated as prisoners of war. Keitel was also instrumental in foiling the attempted coup of the July 20 Plot in 1944, whose objectives were the assassination of Hitler and the replacement of the current upper hierarchy in the Army, and sat on the following Army Court of Honour that handed many officers, including Field Marshal von Witzleben, over to Roland Freisler's notorious People's Court.
After World War II
On May 8, 1945, Keitel signed Nazi Germany's surrender to the Red Army. Four days later he was arrested, and soon faced the International Military Tribunal, which charged him with a number of offences: conspiracy to commit crimes against peace; planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression; war crimes; and, finally, crimes against humanity. The IMT rejected Keitel's defence that he was following orders in conformity to the Führerprinzip or leadership principle. Instead he was found guilty on all charges. To underscore the criminal, rather than military, nature of Keitel's acts the Allies denied his request to be shot by firing squad and hanged him instead. His last words were "I call on God Almighty to have mercy on the German people. More than 2 million German soldiers went to their death for the fatherland before me. I follow now my sons - all for Germany."
See also
Works related to German Instrument of Surrender (8 May 1945) at Wikisource- War crimes of the Wehrmacht
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