Former Wehrmacht in the DDR

[Ralph P]

Hello all...I am posting a question - discussion to the Communist bloc forum on your thought and knowledge about how many former Wehrmacht soldiers were active during the Cold War throughout the Warsaw Pact states...

Part of my thought process to post this question stems from a question posted on another thread and disscussions off line with fellow forum members.

I am interested in hearing what fellow forum members have to say on this thread...so please post your comments...

[Dag]

Hello all...I am posting a question - discussion to the Communist bloc forum on your thought and knowledge about how many former Wehrmacht soldiers were active during the Cold War throughout the Warsaw Pact states...

Part of my thought process to post this question stems from a question posted on another thread and disscussions off line with fellow forum members.

I am interested in hearing what fellow forum members have to say on this thread...so please post your comments...

Quite a lot. I have to dig out some details but the most commonly known are Paulus of Stalingrad fame (but not officially) and Vincenz Mueller, who set up the KVP. Also, in the KVP a lot of Wehrmacht NCOs were responsible for training, also officers. A certain percentage was taken over in 1956 but I think by the late 50ies/early sixties thay were all discharged. I will do my best to find the article asap.

[Ralph P]

Hey Dag...thanks for the reply and comments...will for sure be interested in what you come up with from the article and how far into the Cold War former Wehrmacht lasted. Myself and some other forum members are familier with Vincenz Mueller. I for sure appericate what you come with...Ralph

[AR-11]

Here a few names and percent figures. I have this information from another NVA forum. (www.nva-portal.de).

* Paulus, Friedrich; (in 1890-1957), career soldier, in the second world war last field marshal of the armed forces and commanders in chief of 6. Army, in 1944 NKFD/BDO, in 1953 return from more Soviet Captivity in the DDR, in 1954 to 1956 leader of her
War-historical research institution of Dresden.
* Adam, Wilhelm; (in 1893-1978), career soldier, in the second world war Colonel of the armed forces and adjutant of field marshal Friedrich Paulus, in 1952 entry into the KVP, in 1953-1958 commander of the Hochschule for Officers of the KVP/NVA in Dresden, Generalmajor.

All together:
3.5% of the KVP members were ex-Wehrmacht officers
approx. 9% of the KVP members were ex- Noncommissioned officers
19.5% of the KVP members were ex- teams of the Wehrmacht
in September, 1953 rather an astoundingly low number.

Hope, my translation is understandable.
AR-11
If you want more: http://www.wsws.org/de/2001/apr2001/wehr-a21.shtml

[Garulfo]

Generalleutnant Bormann (Rocket troops chief between 1972-1987) was a former Wehrmacht Flak Obergefreiter.

[Ralph P]

Hey AR-11...your timing is perfect and translation is very good ( ). I just received additional information about the former Wehmacht soldiers today in a e-mail of which I have posted it below.

It is very interesting to read what you posted on the percentages that were in the KVP in the early days. Forsure something to make you think about...

I hope Dag is able to find that article...so this thread can be built up with some more valuable information for us all.



Received today...I hope you all find it useful and interesting as much I do...Thanks...RR

Walter Freytag (b. 1892), Generalmajor, Ehrenblattspange holder. Although Commandant of Smolensk and Krasnodar, AND commander of a variety of "Ostrtruppen" from then until ending the war as Commandant of Danzig, NOT hanged by the Soviets!!

Kurt Hähling (b. 1897), Generalmajor, only POW from end of war, but through early 1951.

Dr. Otto Korfes (b. 1889), Generalmajor, Knight's Cross holder. POW at Stalingrad

Martin Lattmann (b. 1896), generalmajor, German Cross in Gold recipient. POW postwar to 1948.

Arno von Lenski (b. 1893), Generalleutnant, German Cross in Gold winner, POW at Stalingrad as CO of 24th panzer Division.

[Ralph P]

Hey Garulfo...Thanks...

[mig15]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/apr2001/ss-a25.shtml

Have a look at this.

"Ulbricht's helpers": the role of Hitler's army generals in former East Germany

[Ralph P]

Thanks Mig15 will check it out...

[torstenbel]

This book might be of interest to this thread: Original East German book from 1966. The book is the autobiography of Wehrmacht Oberst Rudolf Petershagen, whose claim to fame was to hand over the East German city of Greifswald to the Red Army without any fighting. He then spent ten years in jail in West Germany and returned back to live in Greifswald in East Germany becoming a very vocal opponent of Imperialism and supporter of the East German Communist course. A very scarce example of a Knights Cross holder being made a hero in East Germany. Cheers, Torsten.

PS: Please let me know if you would like me to post more pics from the book.

[Gene T]

It's interesting how they managed to 'denazify' Petershagen's image on the book cover.

I'm curious, Torsten, did DDR make any movies along the lines of "Die Bruecke" and "08/15"? I wonder how DDR's portrayal of ordinary soldiers during WW II differs from that of the BRD. Anything you had seen during your youth that you might recommend today?

cheers,
Gene T

[torstenbel]

The only movie that I can think of right now would be Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt. It's a good movie and book to read. Cheers, Torsten.

[Ralph P]

Thanks Torsten for reviving this thread and posting about the book. Have you read the book? And I would be interested in seeing more related to the book...

[torstenbel]

Thanks Torsten for reviving this thread and posting about the book. Have you read the book? And I would be interested in seeing more related to the book...

its a two volume book and everyone had to read it. it was part of the school curriculum in the ddr.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057816/

http://www.germanvideo.com/east_germ..._desc_a-k.html

PS: I assumed you were referring to Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt or did you mean the Petershagen book?

[torstenbel]

actually, that second link I provided below to the german video company contains a lot of very good, classic east german movies and quite a few and well known ww2 mvies among them that I had completely forgotten about...if you are interested in east german movies and live in the USA, then this company appears to be an excellent source....Cheers, Torsten.