Chapter 005: Surprising Personnel Adjustments
On the other side, Kruger, who had been relieved of his duties, also stood up, his old face flushed with anger as he said: "Führer, why have I been relieved of my duties? I demand an explanation!"
He had just stood up and had not yet opened his mouth to question the Führer's decision when Hoffmann's orders came down: "General Wecks, your position has also been adjusted. You will go to the Central Army Group to take over Kruger's position, and the command of Army Group B will be assumed by Marshal Manstein"
General Weixis, commander of Group Army B, decided to stand up and speak on behalf of Paulus. Although after the initiation of the Southern Campaign, the Führer directly retained command of the 6th Army, and there was not much personal rapport between Paulus and him, at the very least, the 6th Army was still a subordinate unit of Group Army B. While Paulus was still fighting on the front lines, inexplicable orders from the rear reached him, which he could not accept under any circumstances. He decided to seek an explanation from the Führer. However, at the very least, the 6th Army was still a subordinate unit of Group Army B. While Paulus was still fighting on the front lines, inexplicable orders from the rear reached him, which he could not accept under any circumstances. He decided to seek an explanation from the Führer.
Hoffman cast a cold and stern glance over the crowd, and, in a rare display, tapped his fingers on the table. The people immediately ceased their discussions and returned to a state of complete silence.
People are whispering to each other, what does this appointment mean
If he were still in his original capacity as a scholar, those generals adorned with red stripes on their trousers and the bright cornflower patterns on their epaulettes would each be figures he should look up to—signing a name would be a trivial matter, as any one of them could easily author a monumental academic work. Unexpectedly, through a twist of fate, they have all become his subordinates, and he must command them to participate in war, which feels like an almost unattainable goal. He slightly waved his hand, his joints and wrists stiff; if someone were standing nearby listening closely, they might even hear the sound of his teeth grinding together as he clenched his jaw.
Watching the shining stars of the conference room and the orderly salute, Hoffman felt extremely nervous, his heart almost rising to his throat
A group of soldiers from the SS, armed with MP38 submachine guns, rushed in from outside, led by the tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Major Otto Günsche—the Führer's personal guard commander. About a dozen submachine guns were aimed at Krug, and at a single command from Hoffman, they could easily turn him into a sieve
On one of the longer walls hangs a massive swastika flag of the Third Reich, while the opposite wall displays the military flags of the Imperial Army, Navy, and Air Force. One of the shorter walls features a large full-body portrait of the Führer, and the other wall is adorned with an oversized map—meticulously marked with troop distributions and enemy positions, providing a clear overview of the current battlefield dynamics
The focus of attention was quickly shifted as Hoffman, in his capacity as the Army Chief of Staff, announced: "The main agenda for today is to discuss the Eastern Front operations. First, there are several personnel appointments and adjustments... General Halder is relieved of his duties as Chief of the General Staff and will take up the position of Director of Education at the Berlin Military Academy, with a primary responsibility for the training of staff officers at all levels of the Army. General Zeitzler will succeed him as Chief of the General Staff."
If this statement was still within their acceptable range, then Hoffman’s subsequent speech left them in shock, a shock comparable to that of a 500-pound aerial bomb being dropped into the venue: "Relieve General Paulus of his command of the Sixth Army and appoint him as Chief of Staff of the Western Front Command while concurrently serving as Chief of Staff of Army Group D."
The decision to remove Paulus was a result of Hoffman’s deep contemplation yesterday: Paulus is an excellent advisor, but clearly not a competent commander. The hundreds of thousands of troops in the 6th Army were lost under his command at Stalingrad. What is even more damning is that after being urgently granted the marshal's baton by the Führer, he neither fought to the death nor committed suicide, but instead ultimately surrendered to the Russians. Moreover, by 1944, he was still calling for a rebellion among the troops and ended up being a witness with a stain on his character at Nuremberg—this has caused Hoffman to disdain his character. It is better to transfer him to the Western Front using a method of subtle demotion, allowing him to utilize his strengths as chief of staff under the old general Rundstedt. This fellow will remain like this for the rest of his life; there is no need to harbor any further illusions about the marshal's baton.
The Führer visited the Eagle's Nest infrequently, and each visit lasted less than one hour. However, this does not imply that the Eagle's Nest is outdated or inferior; on the contrary, as a gift from the Nazi Party for the Führer's 50th birthday, the Eagle's Nest, overseen by Martin Bormann, was constructed over a period of 13 months with the efforts of more than 6,000 workers. It can undoubtedly be described as "magnificent and grand," with fresh air and beautiful scenery, making it a suitable mountain villa for residence. This stands in stark contrast to the dark and damp Wolf's Lair, not to mention the cramped conditions of the Vinnitsa wartime headquarters. The only drawback is its distance from the Eastern Front; however, if the focus of operations were to shift to the Southern Front, it would indeed be the most suitable command location.
Yesterday, during a small discussion with Martin Bormann, Guderian, and Zeitzler, he felt somewhat embarrassed. He gradually overcame this emotion later on. Today, he thought it would be better, but unexpectedly, the deafening cheers just now nearly made him tremble and fall down.
Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Hoffman, who had finally managed to calm his emotions, walked to his position. His opening remarks were steady, his voice impeccable, exuding a commanding presence. Only the observant could discern the slight distortion on his face due to nervousness, which could also be described as a grimace.
Hoffman cast a disdainful glance at him and suddenly raised his voice, shouting, "Guard!"
The Eagle's Nest Operations Conference Room spans over 300 square meters, and the junior staff officers from the General Staff Headquarters have arranged everything. The surroundings are in a standard light green, identical to the usual color of the Army Command. The floor is covered with a field gray synthetic carpet, which provides a quiet walking experience, perfectly meeting the requirements for a conference. Above, crystal chandeliers are arranged in a cross shape, illuminating the room brightly. The only aspect that may feel somewhat uncomfortable is the walls, which are lined with sealed windows and drawn curtains. However, this practice is understandable for reasons of safety and confidentiality, and thanks to a well-functioning ventilation system, the room does not feel stuffy.
As the guard of the Führer shouted "The Führer has arrived!", Hoffman entered the venue with a steady pace. The previously somewhat noisy conference room fell silent instantly, as everyone stood up from their seats and greeted with a synchronized "Heil Hitler".
I? '' Weikes obviously was not mentally prepared, his mouth was open wide enough to fit an apple, what on earth is going on?
Upon hearing this, Halder's expression turned unfriendly. He personally held no ill feelings towards Zeitzler, who was replacing him, but he felt that serving as Chief of Staff for someone who was unwilling to listen to advice was indeed a thankless task. Moreover, returning to Berlin in such a disheartened manner was a significant loss of face. Nevertheless, he restrained his impulse to explode in anger, wiped his glasses, and silently turned to leave, as the upcoming meeting held no significance for him.
Many were not surprised by Haldor's departure, but they did not expect this position to fall into the hands of the younger generation's Zeitzler. In the eyes of the crowd, there was a mixture of envy and jealousy. They also caught sight of Guderian, who, aside from his astonishment, displayed no further emotions—after all, Guderian's relationship with them was quite poor.
The Sixth Army commanded by Paulus is currently engaged in fierce battles at the Stalingrad front, which is a strategic direction personally designated by the Führer. How could there be a sudden change in command? Moreover, Paulus is a favored general of the Führer, having steadily risen through the ranks in the staff positions. The Barbarossa Plan was his brainchild, and logically, he should continue to be utilized effectively. Yet, he has been moved to the Western Front? Although it appears that he has been promoted from Army Commander to Chief of Staff of the Western Front, there is hardly any military action occurring there at present. What purpose does it serve to transfer Paulus? Furthermore, Paulus is a favored general of the Führer, having steadily risen through the ranks in the staff positions. The Barbarossa Plan was his brainchild, and logically, he should continue to be utilized effectively. Yet, he has been moved to the Western Front? Although it appears that he has been promoted from Army Commander to Chief of Staff of the Western Front, there is hardly any military action occurring there at present. What purpose does it serve to transfer Paulus? Has Paulus committed an unforgivable error that has angered the Führer? Yet, there are no rumors regarding such matters.
With the departure of Halder, a murmur arose among the crowd, their expressions varied. Even before the meeting, the news had spread that Zeitzler had replaced Halder as the new Chief of Staff. The attendees were even aware that last night, Zeitzler had been promoted directly to the rank of General of Infantry, bypassing the rank of Major General.