Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven
Encyclopedia
General
Bernd Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven (February 6, 1914 - February 27, 2007), was an officer in the German Army during World War II
and was later appointed to the German Federal Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr
.
, Governorate of Livonia. After one year of law studies at the University of Königsberg
, he joined the Reichswehr in 1933.
, however, he was flown out of the pocket in January 1943.
He was a decorated tank commander. From July 1944-April 1945, he served as an adjutant to both General Heinz Guderian
and General Hans Krebs
.
against Adolf Hitler
. They knew each other well but Bernd was not involved directly in the plot; after it failed he (Bernd) managed to escape arrest, due to the support of Guderian. However, Wessel was suspected of complicity in the plot and committed suicide on 26th July rather than risk implicating his family and colleagues.
and the BBC
. Fortunately, Hitler was not aware of this.
During the evening of 29 April, he left the Führerbunker
with Gerhardt Boldt
and Lieutenant-Colonel Rudolf Weiss
. Earlier in the morning, Loringhoven had approached Krebs and asked if he and Boldt could leave Berlin and "return to the fighting troops." Krebs talked to Burgdorf to get his advice. Burgdorf approved but indicated that they should take his assistant, Weiss. Hitler was approached for his approval at midday. Surprisingly, he asked many questions and offered his advice. Hitler asked: "How are you going to get out of Berlin?" When Loringhoven mentioned finding a boat, Hitler became enthusiastic and advised: "You must get an electric boat, because that does not make any noise and you can get through the Russian lines." When he agreed that an electric boat would be best but added that, if necessary, they might have to use a different craft, Hitler was suddenly exhausted. He shook hands limply with each of them and quickly dismissed the group.
, Loringhoven spent two and a half years as a prisoner of war
. He was not charged with war crimes. After being repatriated in January 1948, he lived in Munich
, where he became a publisher. He joined the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr
) in 1956 and attained the rank of General. He was later appointed Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Forces and retired from the army in 1973, with full honors. At the time of his death, he was one of the last three known living witnesses (along with bunker telephone operator Rochus Misch
and Hitler Youth
courier Armin Lehmann) to the events in the Führerbunker at the end of World War II.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Bernd Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven (February 6, 1914 - February 27, 2007), was an officer in the German Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was later appointed to the German Federal Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
.
Early life
Loringhoven was a Baltic-German descended from an ancient and illustrious family first ennobled in the 12th century (Baron: Livonia, Courland 1198; Master of the Teutonic Order 1485, Gotha Register 1896, 1934 1942). He was born in Arensburg (Kuressaare)Kuressaare
Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706...
, Governorate of Livonia. After one year of law studies at the University of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
, he joined the Reichswehr in 1933.
World War II
In 1942 a tank battalion under Loringhoven's command was encircled during the Soviet counter-offensive at the Battle of StalingradBattle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, however, he was flown out of the pocket in January 1943.
He was a decorated tank commander. From July 1944-April 1945, he served as an adjutant to both General Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
and General Hans Krebs
Hans Krebs (general)
Hans Krebs was a German Army general of infantry who served during World War II.-Early life:Krebs was born in Helmstedt. He volunteered for service in the Imperial German Army in 1914, was promoted to lieutenant in 1915, and to first lieutenant in 1925...
.
July 20 plot
Loringhoven's cousin, Wessel Freytag von Loringhoven, provided the detonator charge and explosives for the July 20 assassination attemptJuly 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
against Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. They knew each other well but Bernd was not involved directly in the plot; after it failed he (Bernd) managed to escape arrest, due to the support of Guderian. However, Wessel was suspected of complicity in the plot and committed suicide on 26th July rather than risk implicating his family and colleagues.
Berlin, 1945
Loringhoven's last assignment was as a staff officer responsible for the preparation of reports for German leader Adolf Hitler. This work required a constant presence in Hitler's entourage. After 23 April 1945, when Hitler's communications staff began to desert, he had to improvise and he based his intelligence reports on information he was able to gather from the Allied news agencies ReutersReuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Fortunately, Hitler was not aware of this.
During the evening of 29 April, he left the Führerbunker
Führerbunker
The Führerbunker was located beneath Hitler's New Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. It was part of a subterranean bunker complex which was constructed in two major phases, one part in 1936 and the other in 1943...
with Gerhardt Boldt
Gerhardt Boldt
Gerhard Boldt was an officer in the German Army who wrote about his experiences during World War II.-World War II:...
and Lieutenant-Colonel Rudolf Weiss
Rudolf Weiss
Rudolf Weiß was a German officer, and one of the last residents of the Führerbunker.-Military career:...
. Earlier in the morning, Loringhoven had approached Krebs and asked if he and Boldt could leave Berlin and "return to the fighting troops." Krebs talked to Burgdorf to get his advice. Burgdorf approved but indicated that they should take his assistant, Weiss. Hitler was approached for his approval at midday. Surprisingly, he asked many questions and offered his advice. Hitler asked: "How are you going to get out of Berlin?" When Loringhoven mentioned finding a boat, Hitler became enthusiastic and advised: "You must get an electric boat, because that does not make any noise and you can get through the Russian lines." When he agreed that an electric boat would be best but added that, if necessary, they might have to use a different craft, Hitler was suddenly exhausted. He shook hands limply with each of them and quickly dismissed the group.
Capture and aftermath
Captured by the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Loringhoven spent two and a half years as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He was not charged with war crimes. After being repatriated in January 1948, he lived in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, where he became a publisher. He joined the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
) in 1956 and attained the rank of General. He was later appointed Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Forces and retired from the army in 1973, with full honors. At the time of his death, he was one of the last three known living witnesses (along with bunker telephone operator Rochus Misch
Rochus Misch
Rochus Misch is a former Oberscharführer in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler during World War II. He served as a courier, bodyguard and telephone operator for German leader Adolf Hitler from 1940 to 1945...
and Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
courier Armin Lehmann) to the events in the Führerbunker at the end of World War II.
Sources
- Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven and François d' Alançon: Dans le bunker de Hitler : 23 juillet 1944 - 29 avril 1945 , Paris 2005, ISBN 2-262-02285-2
- Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven and François d' Alançon: In the Bunker with Hitler : The Last Witness Speaks, London 2006, ISBN 0-297-84555-1
- Beevor, AntonyAntony BeevorAntony James Beevor, FRSL is a British historian, educated at Winchester College and Sandhurst. He studied under the famous military historian John Keegan. Beevor is a former officer with the 11th Hussars who served in England and Germany for five years before resigning his commission...
. Berlin: The Downfall 1945, Penguin Books, 2002, ISBN 0-670-88695-5