| Kurt Zeitzler |
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| 1895 births | |
| 1963 deaths | |
| german military personnel of world war i | |
| german military personnel of world war ii | |
| german generals | |
| recipients of the knights cross | |
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He served as an infantry officer in World War I . In World War II he served as a corps chief of staff in the Polish and French campaigns and as chief of staff of First Panzer Group, later First Panzer Army, in Russia in 1941 . After a short tour as chief of staff of OB WEST he was appointed Chief of the Army General Staff in September 1942 . 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 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 recognized as a brilliant commander, though his performance at the head of the General Staff is very respectable. His initiative however, was eventually paralyzed by Hitler's constant demands. For instance, Zeitzler advocated the immediate withdrawal of von Paulus' Sixth Army after it had been surrounded in Stalingrad, and had even perceived this danger in advance. He was urged by his military colleagues to give the breakout order himself, but refused to act on his own, deferring to "der Fuehrer's" authority. Hitler refused to even consider the idea of withdrawal. When Zeitzler faced the overwhelming demands of supplying Paulus' beleaguered force, he put himself on the same diet available to its' soldiers, and did all he could to try to execute that almost insane task, which he could not do. He was ordered by Hitler to eat normally. Eventually, his relations with the Fuhrer became quite strained, and he was relieved of this position in July 1944 , retiring from the Army in January 1945 . |
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