General Officers

Strange choice of Generals Higgs - Paulus and Fromm had 1 thing in common what was that ?

 

This is bad.. Left-handed???? :shock:

 

Both of them lacked the ability to take decisive action. Fromm faltered during the July 20 Putsch and Paulus lost his nerve after Kalach fell. Sadly it was a trend throughout the Nazi era, certain character traits helped gain political grace even though Military preparedness was waived. Initially you had schemers - generals with their hand in every pie that wer prepared to obstruct or conceal information from the government. Von Fritsch, Schell, Thomas, Von Blomberg, Lutz etc...
As the Nazis came to power Organizational planners came into play. Guys like Von Brauchitsch, Wever, Von Leeb, Paulus, Guderian, Von Manstein, Von Runstedt. As the Military Stabilized and new Officers were promoted the Old Gaurd generals had a political Rennaisance. Von Kluge, Von Bock, Von Witzleben, Blaskowitz, List, Von Stuelpnagel, Von Weichs etc... Once War Began It shifted to Initiative - Guderian, Von Manstein, Reinhardt, Schmidt, Von Mackensen, Von Kleist, Rommel, Von Shobert, Hoepner, Hoth etc... As the War progressed further into defeat it became the turn of the Improvisers. Rommel, Kesselring, Model, Von Kuchler, Von Mackensen, Kempf, Hollidt, Meith, Heinrici, Balck the List goes on. Each period of war you can take a snapshot of the leadership and se the state of mind of the High Command. Paulus and Fromm were planners, they lacked any sort of initiiative and faltered badly when plans didn't work out. A general like Reichenau , Von Rundstedt, Guderian, Hoth or Hube at Stalingrad wouldv'e created an entirely new dynamic. Much the same as a Model or Rommel In Fromms job. Problem being that any general qualified to lead the Home amy effectively had the quality of decisiveness as well as improvisational skills and ruthlesness and that combination was very dangerous in a fascist state. The fac that Hitler made the correct decision politically in employing Fromm showed itself in July, 1944 and doubtlessly saved Hitler's life.
But the price he payed could be seen in May, 1945 when Fromm's poor Judgement led to the end of the War.