Field Marshal Günther von kluge as c‐in‐c west in 1944
1998; Routledge; Volume: 143; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/03071849808446312
ISSN1744-0378
Autores Tópico(s)European history and politics
ResumoField Marshal Günther von Kluge was reputed to be one of the best generals of the Wehrmacht. However, his career in command of the Western Front in 1944 was to be short‐lived: Within two months of his appointment he was relieved from this position by Hitler himself. In this article, Colonel Riidiger Graeger examines the personality of Field Marshal von Kluge, whose leadership qualities and his operational talent were undisputed. Graeger comments on von. Kluge's special relationship with Hitter and tries to explain why he was seen in Germany as a failure on the Western Front. He argues that, as Hitler accumulated functions of the German High Command (OKW), the levels of command and responsibilities were distorted. This hands‐on style suited Hitler's personality and proved an excellent tool for policy management for him, but led to difficulties for the military in the field. Graeger concludes that von Kluge's conflicting personal ties to the Führer and his growing realisation of Hitler's flawed leadership were contributing factors to his suicide in 1944.
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