Kurt Zeitzler

Kurt Zeitzler (June 9, 1895 – September 25, 1963) was an energetic and efficient staff officer noted for his ability in managing the movement of large mobile formations. He was chosen at a young age by Adolf Hitler to the highest office in the German army, the Chief of the Army General Staff. In assuming this position he replaced Franz Halder, who had argued with Hitler over the wisdom of extending German forces deep into southern Russia. Ultimately Zeitzler had similar disagreements with Hitler, and asked on several occasions to be allowed to resign. These requests were denied. He finally relinquished his duties in July 1944, complaining of illness. He was replaced by Heinz Guderian.

World War I
Born in Goßmar in the Province of Brandenburg, Zeitzler came from a family of pastors. At the age of 18 he joined the 4th Thuringian Infantry Regiment of the German Army on March 23, 1914. Five months later Germany was at war. Zeitzler was promoted to Lieutenant in December, 1914, and commanded various units, including a pioneer detachment. At the end of the war he was a regimental adjutant.

Interwar period
Zeitzler was chosen as one of the 4,000 officers selected to serve in the Reichswehr, the small German army stipulated under the limits of the Treaty of Versailles. He was promoted to captain in January, 1928. In 1929 he began three years of service as a staff officer of the 3rd Division. In February, 1934 he was transferred to the Reichswehrministerium (Defense Ministry of the Weimar Republic) and was there promoted to Major. In 1937 he began working as a staff officer in the operations office for the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the General Staff of the army. In April 1939 he took command of Infantry Regiment 60, and was promoted to full Colonel in June. When mobilization came for the Poland campaign in August, he was made Chief of Staff to the newly formed XXII (Motorized) Corps.

Second World War
With the invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 Zeitzler functioned as Chief of Staff for General Siegmund List, who commanded the XXII Corps of the 14th Army.

Chief of Staff, 1st Panzer Army
In March 1940 he became the Chief of Staff for General von Kleist, who at that time was in command of Panzergruppe A. He served in support of Kleist during the Invasion of France. Zeitzler's staff work was indispensable in organizing and maintaining the panzer drive through the Ardennes. He continued in this post through operations in Yugoslavia and Greece, but his greatest success came in 1941 during the invasion of the Soviet Union. Assigned to Army Group South, the 1st Panzer Army was called upon to move southward to the Black Sea to cut off the retreat of Semyon Budyonny's army group at the Battle of Uman. It was then required to turn north to link up with Guderian in an encirclement of Soviet forces around Kiev. Then the panzer army was shifted south again to support the bridgehead over the Dneiper, creating a collapse in the Russian position. It was then sent further south to cut off Russian forces near the sea of Azov. In appreciation of Zeitzler, Kliest commented "The biggest problem in throwing about armies in this way was that of maintaining supplies." On May 18, 1941 Zeitzler was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

In January, Zeitzler was made Chief of Staff to General Gerd von Rundstedt, the Commander in Chief West. He plaid an important role in responding to the British raid on Dieppe of August 19, 1942.

Chief of Staff, OKH
After a short tour as Chief of Staff of Army Group D under General von Rundstedt he was promoted to General of the Infantry and simultaneously appointed Chief of Staff of the Army General Staff on September 24, 1942 as a replacement for Franz Halder. Hitler had been impressed by his optimistic and vigorous reports. Zeitzler was chosen though he was far from the top of the General Staff's list. It is probable that Hitler believed Zeitzler would be a more pliable and optimistic OKH chief than his immediate predecessor, Franz Halder. He was also thought to be a master of logistics, with solid organizational skills. Zeitzler was never considered a brilliant commander, though his performance at the head of the General Staff was very respectable. His drive and initiative was eventually paralyzed by Hitler's constant and increasingly unreasonable demands.

Zeitzler advocated the immediate breakout and withdrawal of General Paulus' Sixth Army after it had been surrounded in Stalingrad. Zeitzler stated that as soon as he saw what was developing he urged Hitler to permit the Sixth Army to withdraw from Stalingrad to the Don bend, where the broken front could be restored. The mere suggestion threw the Fuehrer into a tantrum. 'I won't leave the Volga! I won't go back from the Volga!' he shouted. The Fuehrer personally ordered the Sixth Army to stand fast around Stalingrad: "Stalingrad simply must be held. It must be; it is a key position. By breaking traffic on the Volga at that spot, we cause the Russians the greatest difficulties."

Zeitzler was urged by his military colleagues to give the breakout order himself, but refused to act in an insubordinate manner to the Commander-in-Chief. In a gesture of solidarity with the starved troops in Stalingrad, Zeitzler reduced his own rations to their level. Hitler was informed of these actions by Martin Bormann. After two weeks and the loss of some 26 pounds, Hitler ordered Zeitzler to stop the diet and return to normal rations. Hitler's refusal to even consider withdrawing the Sixth Army from Stalingrad resulted in its total loss.

After the loss of the Sixth army at Stalingrad Zeitzler was increasingly confrontational with Hitler. He planned the movement of troops and general outline for Operation Citadel, the final German offensive in the east. This battle ended in a loss for the Germans, and a series of defensive battles ensued. Throughout the war Hitler was unwilling to withdraw forces from exposed and over-extended positions. Five times Zeitzler offered his resignation over Hitler's refusal to allow troops to withdraw, but was refused at each request. At the end of his tether after a number of sharp confrontations with Hitler, he abruptly left the Berghof on July 1, 1944. He reported he could no longer serve due to health problems. Hitler never spoke to him again, and later had him dismissed from the Army in January 1945, refusing him the right to wear a uniform.

Postwar life
At the end of World War II Zeitzler was taken into custody as a British POW. He remained so until his release at the end of February, 1947. He appeared as a witness for the defense during the Nuremberg trials, and worked with the Operational History Section (German) of the Historical Division of the U. S. Army.

Zeitzler died in 1963 in Hohenaschau in Upper Bavaria.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Wound Badge (1914)
 * in Black
 * Cross of Honor
 * Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung 4th to 1st Class
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Order of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class with Swords (18 December 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 May 1941 as Oberst i.G. and Chef des Generalstabes Panzer-Gruppe 1