Name that MWiF counter - 27

[Greyshaft]

Of which German General did the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal say...

'We believe that there is much to be said for the defendant by way of mitigation. He was not a friend or follower of the Nazi Party or its ideology. He was a soldier and engaged in a stupendous campaign with responsibility for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and a large indigenous population spread over a vast area. It is not without significance that no criminal order has been introduced in evidence which bears his signature or the stamp of his approval.’

[pak19652002]

Just a quick, unresearched guess:

Field Marshall Friedrich Paulus?

[Shannon V. OKeets]

I'll go with Manstein.

[Greyshaft]

Paulus = no (BTW he's not even a MWif counter)
Manstein = no

[pak19652002]

Duh, obviously. I was thinking of his anti-Nazi activities after capture.

[Mziln]

THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND TRIAL

TRIAL OF WILHELM VON LEEB


“ We believe that there is much to be said for the defendant von Leeb by way of mitigation. He was not a friend or follower of the Nazi Party or its ideology. He was a soldier and engaged in a stupendous campaign with responsibility for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and a large indigenous population spread over a vast area. It is not without significance that no criminal order has been introduced in evidence which bears his signature or the stamp of his approval.

[Greyshaft]

Aged 63 in 1939. Field Marshall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb joined the Imperial German Army as an Officer Cadet in 1895 and received a commission in the Artillery. He served in China through the Boxer rebellion (1899 – 1901) before returning to Germany to study at the Bavarian Military Academy (1907-1909) followed by assignment to the General Staff in Berlin. During WWI he was promoted to Major and saw service on both the Eastern and Western fronts. After the war he returned to Munich as chief of staff of Wehrkreis VII and his relationship with the rising Nazi Party got off to a rocky start with his involvement in suppressing the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Despite this issue and the further complications of von Leeb’s religious beliefs and anti-Nazi attitude, von Leeb’s career continued to flourish. He was promoted to General of Artillery and given command of Army Group 2. His 1937 publication of ‘Die Abweht’, which argued against a two front war, was the limit of his involvement in politics however this did not stop Hitler forcing him into early retirement. The worsening international relationship with the western powers caused a reversal of this situation and von Leeb was recalled to service. His Second Army Group occupied the Sudetenland in 1938 and as Commander of Army Group C he broke through the Maginot Line in France for which he was made a Field Marshall. For the invasion of Russia von Leeb was placed in command of Army Group North with the objective of seizing Leningrad within one month of the invasion. Leningrad never fell, and in December 1941 von Leeb was relieved of his command and was never again employed by Hitler. After the war von Leeb was charged with Crimes against Peace, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity by the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal but was found guilty on only one charge – passing on Keitel’s May 1941 Barbarossa Jurisdiction Order which prescribed harsh treatment for captured Russian Political Officers. In defence of von Leeb the Tibunal found ‘We believe that there is much to be said for the defendant von Leeb by way of mitigation. He was not a friend or follower of the Nazi Party or its ideology. He was a soldier and engaged in a stupendous campaign with responsibility for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and a large indigenous population spread over a vast area. It is not without significance that no criminal order has been introduced in evidence which bears his signature or the stamp of his approval.’ Von Leeb was sentenced to three years imprisonment and upon his release lived quietly with his family until his death in 1956.