Hitler's Generals Book

In Hitler's Generals, Noted historian Correlli Barnett gathers a host of Historians to look at each of the central military Characters of the Third Reich in turn, reflecting on their incredible Tactical, Grand Tactical and strategic acumen. Yet they let Hitler waste their skills and eventually their beloved Fatherland, without really questioning any of the central tenets of his Strategies or of the insanities of his philosophy. This paradox, makes the study of each of their stories fascinating albeit a bit shabby and shameful at the same time. Dividing the narrative into the Anti-Nazi Generals, the Desk Generals, The Feldherren (the real masters like Kesselring, Kleist, Manstein) the Battlefront Generals(Rommel , Model and others) and lastly the Innovators where Guderian, who help to create Armoured Doctrine, and Student, who really brought airborne infantry into vogue are discussed, the book really gives each soldier exposition. But each essay tries and fails to give a really good explanation for their continued adherence to Hitler as his irrational behaviour and interference in military matters got worse and made their lives and their fellow citizen's lives worse. These days, it still makes a chilling and enigmatic read.

When Hitler comes to power, the Generals at the top try to resist and maintain their control of the Military. But scandal- and the Reichswehr wariness of the larger Nazi SA - contrived to make the leadership malleable just at the time of the "Night of the Long Knives"-where the SS murdered the SA Leadership and unified the Nazi Party. That brought with it the "Hitler Oath"- where Wehrmacht Officers took an oath personally to Hitler, instead of to the German State. When things began to go wrong in the war- many would discuss this oath as if it was a central reason for their complicity. But the narrators excellent writers in their own right, like Brian Bond, Barry Leach, Walter Gorlitz,Carlo D'este , Martin Middlebrook, and General Sir John Hackett, are pretty consistent in pointing out that that was not good enough. The plethora of illegal orders, political murders, the police state, and the "Final Solution" all were things that HAD to be stopped- and these Soldiers seemed to ignore them. Just not good enough- but a fascinating read.

There are a lot of adult themes but no graphic details of violence so this is a good book for a interested Junior reader over about 12 years of age. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is a real treasure trove. The gamer might not get too many Scenario details here- but they will get a much keener insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the Wehrmacht system of command. The Modeller will get a lot of Diorama ideas - a few every few pages - and the Military Enthusiast will love the focus on disparate backgrounds that could produce fine German technocrats. One hopes the readers of all bents will get the central message of don't allow yourself to serve a Violent Autocratic Dictatorship- otherwise you WILL be guilty of the charges against you. Too many of these "Simple Soldiers" refused to look around and see the state they served was corrupted- and too many of them deserved their sad fates of War Crimes trials. A great addition to the WWII library.