General fired for criticizing Hitler speech
Von Rundstedt ouster shows Nazi power
By Nat A. Barrows
Stockholm, Sweden –
Field Marshal Karl Gerd von Rundstedt dared to criticize Hitler’s latest speech. That was an affront to Der Führer and, combined with the High Command’s dissatisfaction over the poor German defense against the Allied push in Normandy, was sufficient to cause the German decision to remove von Rundstedt as their Western Front commander.
This change in top command on the Western Front is only a thinly disguised symptom of the crisis in Nazi leadership, proving again that Hitler still retains powerful control over his political and military subordinates, according to the interpretation given to the move here.
Ouster termed political move
Bern, Switzerland –
Politics once more appear to have the upper hand over military exigencies in Nazi Germany.
On July 3, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and simultaneously received a press accolade for his military “merits.” Der Führer even wrote him a personal letter of appreciation.
Today, four days later, von Rundstedt “for reasons of heath” is out as commander-in-chief of Germany’s Western Front, replaced by Marshal Günther von Kluge.
It is, of course, obvious, that “reasons of health” have nothing to do with von Rundstedt’s removal. His departure comes at the very moment when Nazi propagandists are playing up the cruelties of war. And he is a man known for his moderate Nazi sympathies and relative leniency in suppressing French patriots.
No doubt, now that the Gestapo are arresting French hostages by the thousands, he is considered too moderate to rule over divided France.