Wilhelm Keitel (22 Sep. 1882 - 16 Oct. 1946)
At the beginning of the war until its end, Keitel served as the Chief of the Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht, or Supreme Commander of the Army. In this capacity he oversaw all military operations of German troops. Despite his power, he was still subordinate to Hitler. Despite his opposition to the invasions of France and Germany, Hitler still pursued these plans. Keitel would resign, only to be refused.
He received the rank of Field Marshal in 1940 following the fall of France. He was aware that Germany could not defeat Britain with Britain’s alliance with the United States, and advised Hitler not to pursue Operation Barbarossa as he believed it was doomed to fail. The initial success of the operation did much to damage Keitel’s status to Hitler.
His last objection to Hitler was when he defended Field Marshal List, who was sacked by Hitler. Later he would offer no objection to any of Hitler’s plans, even if he knew they were wrong. As Chief of the OKW he would sign he Commissar Order and Night and Fog Decree, ordering the executions of Soviet commissars and resistance fighters. He also allowed Himmler to run freely in the occupied territories.
Near the end of the war Keitel foiled the July 20 Plot against Hitler. When the Red Army reached Berlin, Keitel rallied German troops for retaliation and counterattack, but there were not enough men. He later signed the unconditional surrender to the Soviet Union as a member of Dönitz’s government.
For more information on Wilhelm Keitel:
Keitel, Wilhelm et. al. The Memoirs of Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel (New York: Cooper Square Press), 2000.
Mueller, Gene. The Forgotten Field Marshal, Wilhelm Keitel (Durham, NC: Moore Publishing), 1979.
He received the rank of Field Marshal in 1940 following the fall of France. He was aware that Germany could not defeat Britain with Britain’s alliance with the United States, and advised Hitler not to pursue Operation Barbarossa as he believed it was doomed to fail. The initial success of the operation did much to damage Keitel’s status to Hitler.
His last objection to Hitler was when he defended Field Marshal List, who was sacked by Hitler. Later he would offer no objection to any of Hitler’s plans, even if he knew they were wrong. As Chief of the OKW he would sign he Commissar Order and Night and Fog Decree, ordering the executions of Soviet commissars and resistance fighters. He also allowed Himmler to run freely in the occupied territories.
Near the end of the war Keitel foiled the July 20 Plot against Hitler. When the Red Army reached Berlin, Keitel rallied German troops for retaliation and counterattack, but there were not enough men. He later signed the unconditional surrender to the Soviet Union as a member of Dönitz’s government.
For more information on Wilhelm Keitel:
Keitel, Wilhelm et. al. The Memoirs of Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel (New York: Cooper Square Press), 2000.
Mueller, Gene. The Forgotten Field Marshal, Wilhelm Keitel (Durham, NC: Moore Publishing), 1979.