Wolf's Lair by Ian Baxter

Author:Ian Baxter
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780750979337
Publisher: The History Press

Chapter V

Unshakeable Allegiance

The military situation on the Eastern Front in January 1944 was dire for the German Army. It had entered the New Year with a dwindling number of soldiers to man the battle lines. The Red Army, however, was in even greater strength than ever before and Hitler’s reluctance to concede territory was still proving to be very problematic for the commanders in the field. The persistent lack of strategic direction in the East was causing major trouble too. In spite of the worsening conditions, the German Army were compelled to fight on.

At the Wolf’s Lair, Hitler always began the New Year with optimism. He had convinced the German people to stand fast in the face of adversary and through their iron will and fortitude he promised them victory. In front of his war staff he radiated that same confidence and instilled them with fresh hope and strength of mind. But whatever assurances he gave them, January brought nothing but a string of familiar problems. By 15 January, news reached the Wolf’s Lair that the Red Army had unleashed their much awaited winter offensive against Army Group North. Within days, reports confirmed that the Soviets had wrenched open the German front and poured powerful units through the decimated gaps. The 18th Army, which bore the brunt of the main attacks, were outnumbered by at least three divisions to one. As usual, the German troops were expected to hold the front, but the overwhelming enemy firepower proved too much and General Kuerchler’s Army Group was forced to fall back under a hurricane of enemy fire. Within four days of the attack the Russians had successfully breached Army Group North’s defences in three places. This effectively wrenched open a massive corridor allowing Red Army troops to pour through towards the besieged city of Leningrad. Troops of the 18th Army were beginning to disintegrate. Already there had been reports indicating that some 40,000 casualties had been incurred trying to contain the Soviets. Fighting in the mud and freezing water, the men were totally exhausted and unable to hold back the enemy for any appreciable length of time. Hitler was disgruntled by the collapse of the Front and sent a message to Kuerchler prohibiting all voluntary withdrawals and reserved all decisions to withdraw for himself.

In a drastic attempt to infuse determination in his generals and to strengthen faith in ultimate victory, Hitler decided to summon the principle generals from the Eastern Front to the Wolf’s Lair on 26 January. Row upon row, they sat before him in the dining room of the converted inn at Security Zone II. After Morell had administered Hitler the usual injections, the Führer took to the stage and lectured them. He made it clear that all officers were to support the drive for ultimate victory and influence the conduct of operations by instilling in their men a fanatical resolve to fight in the name of National Socialism. He challenged his generals, telling them that that they must induct

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