Gerhard von Schwerin

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Gerhard Graf von Schwerin
File:Schwerin2.jpg
Gerhard Graf von Schwerin
Born (1899-06-23)23 June 1899
Hanover
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Rottach-Egern
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1914–20, 1923–45, 1950
Rank General der Panzertruppen
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Other work Politician

Gerhard ("Gerd") Helmuth Detloff Graf von Schwerin (23 June 1899 – 29 October 1980) was a German army General in World War II. As General der Panzertruppe, he was tasked with defending the city of Aachen while in command of the 116th Panzer Division "Windhund" (the "Greyhound Division").[1]

Second World War

In July 1939, just weeks before the outbreak of the war, Schwerin, then a Major serving in the intelligence section of the German War Ministry, made a secret approach in London to the British, suggesting that if the British Government abandoned its policy of appeasement towards the Third Reich and moved to a stance of open military opposition towards escalating aggression in Europe, this would provide a rallying point and catalyst for elements in the Wehrmacht that were willing to stage a coup d'etat against the Nazi government.[2] At a dinner party in Marylebone hosted by Admiral Sir Aubrey Smith, Schwerin met James Stuart, representing the British government, Admiral John Godfrey, head of naval intelligence, and General Sir James Marshall-Cornwall, director general of air and coastal defence, to warn them of Hitler's intention to attack Poland. Schwerin urged that Chamberlain should be replaced as prime minister by Churchill, that a squadron of Royal Navy battleships should be sent to the Baltic, and that Royal Air Force bombers should be stationed in France. These suggestions were passed to Chamberlain, who considered them "provocative".[3][4] Frank Roberts, the Foreign Office official in the German Department who dealt with the issue, dismissed the approach as purely an internal German matter[2] and commented that the German Army seemed to want the British to save them from the Nazis.[3]

North-West Europe Campaign

As the 3rd US Armored Division reached Aachen on 13 September 1944, the once-formidable 116th Panzer-Division, commanded by Schwerin, had been reduced to 600 men, twelve tanks and no artillery pieces. In an attempt to prevent civilian casualties and to protect the city's historical architecture and relics (it was the ancient centre of Charlemagne's empire, or the Holy Roman Empire), he left a letter at the telegraph office to be given to the American commander, General Courtney Hodges, informing him of his intention to surrender the city without an armed struggle. Later, when he learned that the Americans had stopped to regroup and that an attack was not imminent, he tried to retrieve the message, but it had fallen into the hands of Nazi party officials. Upon learning of the note's contents, Adolf Hitler ordered Schwerin's arrest and trial for treason. With the aid of General Field Marshals Gerd von Rundstedt and Walter Model however he escaped death and received only a severe reprimand. He was then ordered to the Italian front and even promoted to General der Panzertruppe, commanding General of the LXXVI. Panzerkorps. On April 26, 1945 he was captured by the British Army, and subsequently released at the end of 1947. Although the town was heavily damaged by fighting after the note incident and his arrest and removal, after the war Schwerin styled himself "the Savior of Aachen".

Post war career

In May 1950, Schwerin was appointed as chief advisor on military issues and security policy to Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and head of the covert government agency Dienststelle Schwerin (with the code name "Zentrale für Heimatdienst"), responsible for preparations for German rearmament. However, after he talked to the press about his work, he was replaced by Theodor Blank in October 1950. Schwerin subsequently was active as an advisor on military policy for the parliamentary group of the liberal Free Democratic Party of Germany.

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
27 October 1943 Die rheinisch-westfälische 16. Panzergrenadierdivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Graf v. Schwerin verdient für ihre vorbildliche Einsatzfreudigkeit während der großen Absetzbewegungen ostwärts des Dnjepr und bei den Kämpfen im Brückenkopf von Saporoshje besondere Anerkennung.[10] The Rhenish-Westphalian 16th Mechanized Infantry Division, led by Lieutenant General Graf von Schwerin earned for their exemplary dedication and enthusiasm during the large withdrawal battles east of the Dnieper and in combat in the bridgehead of Zaporozhye special recognition.

Notes

Regarding personal names: Graf was a title before 1919, but now is regarded as part of the surname. It is translated as Count. Before the August 1919 abolition of nobility as a legal class, titles preceded the full name when given (Graf Helmuth James von Moltke). Since 1919, these titles, along with any nobiliary prefix (von, zu, etc.), can be used, but are regarded as a dependent part of the surname, and thus come after any given names (Helmuth James Graf von Moltke). Titles and all dependent parts of surnames are ignored in alphabetical sorting. The feminine form is Gräfin.

References

Citations

  1. "The Wehrmacht" Episode 5 documentary by Guido Knopp
  2. 2.0 2.1 'Tourists of the Revolution', tv documentary, First Circle Films, England (1997)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Peter Day, The Bedbug: Klop Ustinov: Britain's most ingenious spy (2015), pp. 92-93
  4. James Marshall-Cornwall, Wars and Rumours of Wars (1984), p. 125
  5. 5.0 5.1 Thomas 1998, p. 310.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 697.
  7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 396.
  8. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 69, 478.
  9. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 41.
  10. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, pp. 590–591.

Bibliography

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  • Quadflieg, Peter M. (2014). Gerhard Graf von Schwerin (1899-1980). Karrierepfade eines Generals zwischen Kaiserreich und Bundesrepublik, Dissertation RWTH Aachen University (in German, 640 p.).
  • Rass, Christoph; Rohrkamp, René; Quadflieg, Peter M. (2007). General Graf von Schwerin und das Kriegsende in Aachen. Ereignis, Mythos, Analyse (in German). Aachen: Shaker. ISBN 978-3-8322-6623-3.
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  • Searle, Alaric (2003). Wehrmacht Generals, West German Society, and the Debate on Rearmament, 1949-1959, Praeger Pub.
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External links

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Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Gerhard Müller
Commander of 116th Panzer Division
1 May 1944 – 31 August 1944
Succeeded by
Generalmajor Heinrich Voigtsberger
Preceded by
Generalleutnat Ernst-Günther Baade
Commander of 90th Grenadier Division (motorised)
December 1944 – ?
Succeeded by
none
Preceded by
General der Panzertruppen Traugott Herr
Commander of LXXVI. Panzerkorps
26 December 1944 – 25 April 1945
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Karl von Graffen