CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Not really a Nazi, though afraid to come out in open opposition he criticised Hitler’s leadership and expressed the opinion that it was high time for Hitler to abdicate.’
37. OBERST DR FRIEDRICH AUGUST FREIHERR VON DER HEYDTE
Born Munich, 30.3.1907. RC. Reichswehr: 1.4.1925 entered Army; 31.8.1926 left Army as Ensign and studied Law at Innsbrück, Vienna, Graz and Berlin; 1932 Doctorate in Law; 1.3.1935 re-entered Army. WWII: at outbreak of war Oberleutnant, Comp. Cdr, Pz.Abwehr.Abt.6; French campaign with 246.Inf.Div.; 15.7.1940 transfer to Luftwaffe paratroops, Comp. Cdr in Fallschirmjäger-Reg.3; as Hauptmann and CO, 1.Bataillon in operations on Crete and Russia; 9.7.1941 awarded Knight’s Cross; July 1942–January 1943 Major, CO, Fallschirm-Lehr-Bataillon, North Africa; 15.1.1943 No. 1 Staff officer (1a), 2.Fallschirmjäger-Div.; 15.1.1944 CO, Fallschirmjäger-Div.6 which he led in the fighting at Normandy; 1.7.1944 Oberstleutnant; 18.10.1944 awarded Oak Leaves; 23.12.1944 CO, Fallschirmjäger battle group, PoW Ardennes (US); 23.2.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 12.7.1947. After war entered politics (CSU 1947), Professor in Law, universities of Mainz and Würzburg (1951–54), Judge, Koblenz (1954–59). Died Aham, Landshut, 7.7.1994.
The only assessment is that of 15.11.1939: ‘Very impassioned officer characterised by flexibility, verve and a pronounced mental attitude for operations. Relishes independent decision making and responsibility. Open, decorous in opinions, reliable. To summarise, a personality of probably high warrior-like quality.’
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Von der Heydte was an enthusiastic Nazi until he was disillusioned in 1933/34, when he became strongly anti-Nazi. He is believed to be genuinely anxious to cooperate with the Allies to bring the war to an end. He gave a lot of information on the German paratroops and their part in the Ardennes counter-attack.’
38. GENERALLEUTNANT RÜDIGER VON HEYKING
Born Rastenburg/East Prussia, 10.1.1894. Entered Army 22.3.1914. WWI: Platoon and comp. cdr, Inf.Reg.85; 1918 Leutnant, observer KG 2. Reichswehr: Kraftfahrt.Abt.4 (mot.); 1.4.1934 transferred Luftwaffe; 1.1.1939 Oberst. WWII: 3.2.1938–24.2.1940 CO, Fliegerausbildungs-Reg. 2 (aircrew training); 24.2.1940–1941 CO, KG zbV2; 1.11.1941 Generalmajor; 1.7.1943 Generalleutnant; 24.22.1942–4.11.1943 CO, 6.Luftwaffe-Feld-Div., then Führer-Reserve; 20.3.1944 awarded German Cross in Gold; 30.4.1944 CO, 6.Fallschirmjäger-Div.; 3.9.1944 PoW Mons (British); 26.9.1944 Trent Park; May 1945 to USA. Repatriated June 1947. Died Bad Godesberg, 18.2.1956.
Assessed on 14.4.43: ‘Generalmajor v. Heyking has led the Division since 26.11.1942. He is a strong, vigorous personality, commander-type. From the first day on has held the reins of his Division very tightly. Well-liked by his subordinates. Enjoys being at the front, always well forward, quick to adapt to new situations. Master of the principles of military tactics and is able to explain them in training. Proven National Socialist.’
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Von Heyking is quite friendly and to a great extent cooperative in his attitude to Allied officers. He thinks the war is definitely lost and is disillusioned and disgusted by the commands of Higher HQ.’
39. GENERALLEUTNANT RUDOLF HOLSTE
Born Hessisch Oldendorf, 9.4.1897. Prot. WWI: 15.8.1914 entered Army; Feldart.Reg.62, finally Leutnant. Reichswehr: mainly Adjutant, Art.Reg.6; 1.3.1939 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 8.12.1939–11.4.1942 CO, Art.Reg.1 and 73; 1.2.1942 Oberst; 6.4.1942 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.1.1943–7.6.1943 acting CO, 14.Pz.Div.; 16.6.1944 acting CO, 4.Kav.Brigade; 27.8.1944 awarded Oak Leaves; 1.10.1944 Generalmajor; 28.2.1945 CO, 4.Kav.Div.; 20.4.1945 as Generalleutnant, acting CO, XXXXI.Armeekorps; 3.5.1945 Wittenberg PoW; 18.5.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 10.10.1947. Died Baden-Baden, 4.12.1970.
CSDIC (UK) opinion: Of above-average intelligence and fully cooperative. He claimed to have always been anti-Nazi, but it was felt that he was merely an opportunist, and must have kept in well with the Party, otherwise he would not have risen so quickly in rank and prestige.
40. LEUTNANT KLAUS HUBBUCH
Born Karlsruhe, 1.5.1922. RC. WWII: 12.3.1940 entered Army, Pz.Reg.8/15, Pz.Div., North Africa; 1.6.1942 Leutnant, finally Comp. Cdr; March – May 1943 Ordnance Officer to Divisional Commander Generalleutnant Willibald Borowietz; 9.5.1943 PoW Tunisia; end May 1943–30.1.1944 Trent Park, then Canada. Repatriated 26.6.1947. Died Cologne, 1.4.1997.
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘This young man is a typical Nazi product. Hubbuch has the typical lack of intelligence, narrowness of vision and overwhelming jingoism of the Nazi. He is an unpopular figure except with people like Crüwell, who find him a useful tool. His general knowledge is so limited that it is astounding – so are his manners. He thinks Boes a fine figure and worships Oberst Buhse, another Nazi and one of the early and youngest Knight’s Cross winners. If Germany should lose the war, however (an inconceivable event in his opinion), he will try to join a “Freikorps” on the lines of those in existence after the last war, and strive for revenge. He would make an implacable and cruel enemy.’
41. GENERALMAJOR HEINRICH-HERMANN VON HÜLSEN
Born Weimar, 8.7.1895. Prot. WWI: 13.8.1914 entered Army, mainly Leutnant, 4.Garde-Reg. zu Fuss. Reichswehr: Cavalry regiments; 1.3.1938 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 6.8.1939 CO, Aufklaerungs-Abt.44 (reconnaissance); 1.2.1940, Oberst; 1.4.1941–17.8.1941 CO, Reiter-Reg.2; 2.11.1941 awarded German Cross in Gold; 25.5.1942–15.12.1942 CO, 9.Schützen-Brigade, 9.Pz.Div.; 25.4.1943 as Oberst, acting CO, 21.Pz.Div, Tunisia; 1.5.1943 Generalmajor; 13.5.1943 PoW (France); 26.5.1943–25.5.1944 Trent Park. Repatriated 17.2.1947. Died Celle, 6.6.1982.
Assessed 15.12.1942: ‘Blameless character with noticeably elevated view of life and duty. Correct in his National Socialist attitude. Fully proven at the front. Has come on well tactically as troop leader. Mentally and physically extraordinarily active. Full of ideas. Strong side: Very agile, therefore many-sided, energetic. Combats slackness and unmilitary conduct harshly without regard to eventual personal disadvantage. Good instructor. Weak side: inclination to talkativeness and egotism tends to concern himself overmuch with trivialities.’
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘This tall, slim German General most certainly has not the figure of his age. He is very well preserved indeed and one of the keenest sport enthusiasts here. Hülsen is a strong supporter of the Nazi clique and of Crüwell. He is always urging the latter to give us as much trouble as possible, and, of course, Crüwell is only too willing to listen to his type of talk. On practically the first day here, Hülsen advised as many people as he could that it was their duty to annoy us and cause us as much trouble as possible. Hülsen is a hanger-on of the worst type and is always trying to be with Arnim.’
42. OBERST ERWIN JÖSTING
Born Remscheid, 30.6.1890. Prot. Entered Army 1911. WWI: Company cdr, finally Oberleutnant (aerial forces). Reichswehr: 1920 discharged; 1934 reactivated to Luftwaffe as Hauptmann; 1935 CO, Fliegerhorst Stade (aerodrome cdr); 1937 Major; 1938 CO, Fliegerhorst Bad Vöslau near Vienna. WWII: 1941 acting CO, Special Staff Bulgaria; 1944 Oberst, CO, Fliegerhorst Mainz-Finthen; 22.3.1945 PoW (US); 7.4.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 1946. Died Gütersloh, 1.6.1953.
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘He is a Nazi of the Prussian type. To Senior PoWs he shows himself outspokenly anti-Semitic, while decrying the unwisdom of atrocities against Jews.’