Asessed on 1.3.1943 as ‘Well-integrated personality with serious outlook on life and great awareness of duty. Convinced National Socialist who knows how to disseminate his belief. Very well proven at the front… can think for himself, and puts over his ideas in a clear and adroit manner. A hard worker with strongly developed initiative and resolve. Rigorous military approach.’
82. GENERALMAJOR WILHELM VIEBIG
Born Horst, near Blumental/Ostpriegnitz, 3.6.1899 (brother of Hasso Viebig). Prot. WWI: 3.9.1916 entered Army, Feldart.Reg.3, Western Front, finally Leutnant. Reichswehr: Artillery units; 1.1.1937 Major. WWII: 1.9.1939–1.12.1941 CO, Art.Reg.257; 1.4.1940 Oberstleutnant; 25.1.1942 awarded German Cross in Gold; 1.3.1942 Oberst; 11.5.1942–18.10.1942 CO, Art.Reg.23; 19.10.1942–15.5.1944 CO, Pz.Art.Reg.93; from 10.8.1944 CO, 277.Volksgrenadier-Div.; 1.1.1945 Generalmajor; 9.3.1945 PoW Nieder Lützingen. Lacking orders on the eastern bank of the Rhine, Viebig, armed only with a single machine gun, with a few infantrymen defended the town until Allied tanks pulled up outside the house he was using as his HQ. 24.4.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 17.5.1948; from 1952 Warendorf, German Olympic Committee, military equestrian section. Died 16.1.1982.
In his last assessment before capture he was described as being of ‘distinguished, blameless character, firm clear personality, a little temperamental, likeable, comradely and sociable. A good National Socialist. His regiment, well trained by him in the West, proved itself unreservedly well in the Italian campaign… very caring, protective commander who has successfully trained and deployed his officers on the right lines.’
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Like his brother, he was at first arrogant but then became very charming and talked freely. He stated that he is not a Nazi and, as a regular officer, was not a Party member, though, again as a regular officer, he “thought National Socialism”. A number of his friends were connected with the 20 July “Putsch”, amongst them Hoepner, Lindemann, v. Witzleben and Stieff.’
83. GENERALMAJOR CARL WAHLE
Born Dresden, 7.2.1892. Prot. Entered Army 25.3.1912. WWI: Western Front, Staff and field, mainly in the Saxon Füsilier-Reg.108, finally Oberleutnant. Reichswehr: Various positions, including. 10.Inf.Reg.; 1.4.1936 Oberstleutnant,; 1.10.1938 Oberst. WWII: 1.8.1938–14.10.1940 Military Attaché, Bucharest (SRGG 1082, 25.12.1944 TNA 4169); 15.10.1940–1.1.1942 CO, Inf.Reg.267; 1.7.1942 Generalmajor; from 1.7.1942 City Commandant, Hamburg (for his report on bombing of the city July/August 1943 see SRGG 1066, 22.8.1944 TNA 4169); 4.8.1943 awarded Knight’s Cross of War Service Cross with Swords; 1.1.1944–14.2.1944 CO, 214.Inf.Div.; 15.2.1944–31.7.1944 CO, 719.Inf.Div.; from 1.8.1944 CO, 47.Inf.Div.; 4.9.1944 PoW near Mons (US); 12.9.1944–9.8.1945 Trent Park. Repatriated 30.9.1947. Died Prien/Chiemsee, 23.2.1975.
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘PoW has been abroad a good deal and has surprisingly sane views on the general political set-up, which includes his attitude towards Russia. Although very anti-Nazi, PoW still feels a queer sense of loyalty towards his government, which, however, appears to be more of a pose, as he is afraid of possible consequences for his family if he admits his real views. An unusual trait in a German general, PoW tried to stress his great stupidity, when, in reality, he gives the impression of a rather shrewd man of the world.’
84. OBERST GERHARD WILCK
Born 17.6.1898. WWI: 20.11.1916 entered Army, Western Front, Inf.Reg.21, finally Leutnant. WWII: 27.8.1939 CO, Inf.Feldersatz-bataillon. 16; 1.3.1940–10.8.1941 CO, II./Inf.Reg.362; 1.7.1940 Oberstleutnant, 9.10.1941–30.9.1943 CO, Grenadier-Reg. 362; 1.4.1942 Oberst; 25.11.1943–25.7.1944 CO, Grenadier-Reg.913; from 1.9.1944 acting CO, 246.Volksgrenadier-Div. defending Aachen; 10.10.1944 PoW Aachen; 26.10.1944–31.3.1945 Trent Park.
Last assessment on 24.8.1944 stated: ‘Straightforward character, especially reliable, prudent and determined, pronounced leader-personality. Led his regiment in difficult attacks and trench warfare with outstanding success. Correct National Socialist. Of good mental and physical disposition. Above average.’
CSDIC (UK) opinion: An ambiguous personality. He stated that in his opinion the defence of Aachen made no sense from a military standpoint, but his orders did not allow him to capitulate and in any case he feared retaliation against his family. Therefore he thought he had made the best of the situation and was relieved when the Allies occupied the area south of Cologne where his family lived.
85. OBERST EBERHARD WILDERMUTH
Born Stuttgart, 23.10.1890. 1908/9 One-year volunteer, 1.Württembergisches Grenadier-Reg. linked to study of law at Tübingen, Berlin and Leipzig. WWI: 1914 same reg., Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts. Reichswehr: 1921 at Stuttgart, attorney at Reich Institute for Unemployment Pay and Labour, ministerial adviser, Reich Labour Ministry; 1928 Director; and 1930 Board Member, Deutsche Bau-und-Boden Bank. WWII: 1939 Major (Res.) mobilised, CO, II./Inf.Reg.272, France; 15.8.1940 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1941/42 Serbia, CO, Inf.Reg.737, 717.Inf.Div.; 1.12.1941 Oberstleutnant; 1.5.1942 CO, Inf.Reg.317, Eastern Front; 1.12.1942 Oberst; 15.5.1943 CO, Grenadier Reg.578, 305.Inf.Div., Italy; 12.8.1944 Kommandant, Fortress Le Havre; 12.9.1944 PoW Le Havre; 5.11.1944 Trent Park. Repatriated 1946. Postwar involved in domestic politics; 20.9.1949 Federal Minister for Reconstruction. Died Tübingen, 9.3.1952.
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Reared in the atmosphere of Württemberg liberalism, PW’s outlook was fundamentally liberal but he was a staunch German patriot, a brave officer, and violently opposed to the present regime. He was anxious to re-educate the young Nazis and, to use his own words, “lead them back to the truth”. In May 1944 he had expressed to his friend Goerdeler his willingness to cooperate after the latter had sounded him out on his attitude to the impending putsch against Hitler.’ As an Oberst (Res.) he considered the generals ‘narrow’ and ‘lacking in clarity of purpose’. He enjoyed the company of von der Heydte, Eberbach and Heim (see Diary, Wildermuth, 1945 BA/MA NL 251–73 particularly entries 8.3, 6.4, 8.4 and 18.6 of 1945).
86. GENERALMAJOR DETLEF BOCK VON WÜLFINGEN
Born Kassel, 10.12.1895. Entered Army 10.2.1914. WWI: Various positions, including Dragoner-Reg.16; finally Oberleutnant. Reichswehr: 15.10.1935–28.2.1940 CO, Nachrichten-Abt.28 (signals); 1.8.1937 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.3.1940–20.12.1940 CO, Nachrichten-Reg.589; 1.6.1940 Oberst; 21.12.1940–15.4.1943 Head of Signals, 17, later 15.Armee; 1.6.1943–24.8.1943 CO, Inf.Reg.311; relieved of command by CO, 217.Inf.Div. for nervousness and repeated criticism of his predecessor, as a result of which he ‘had lost respect in the regimental officer corps’. 15.9.1943–31.3.1944 Head of Signals, German Army Mission, Rumania; 1.12.1943 Generalmajor; from 1.9.1944 Feldkommandant 681; 8.9.1944 PoW Liege; 22.9.1944–25.10.1944 Trent Park.
His last assessment on 10.3.1944 stated: ‘Soldier of the old school with good human qualities. Very knowledgeable and ideally industrious. His efforts to do his best, linked to a certain nervousness, make him irritable, and then he belittles the efforts of others and generally adopts quite the wrong approach. Convinced National Socialist, proven at the front. Cooperated well with the Rumanians… undoubtedly often exaggerates difficulties and makes life difficult for himself.’
CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Is an egocentric and not very bright. His main interest seems to be the survival of the German nobility. He said that Nazi ideology was firstly against the Jews, secondly against the nobility and thirdly against professional officers. This may well be the reason why he joined the Party himself.’