Hans Krebs

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not to be confused with Hans Adolf Krebs or Hans Krebs (National Socialist)

Hans Krebs (4 March 1898 – 1 May 1945) was a German general of infantry who served during during World War II. He was holder of the 749th award of Oak leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Contents 1 Positions held 2 The Führerbunker 3 References 4 See also 5 Footnotes 6 External links

[edit] Positions held

Krebs was born in Helmstedt. He volunteered for service in the army in 1914. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1915 and to first lieutenant in 1925. Krebs was a career officer, and reached the position of Head of General Staff of various army groups until he became an infantry general.

• 1936–1939 military attaché in Moscow (Krebs spoke fluent Russian)
• 1939 Chief of Army Training Section
• 1939–1942 Chief of Staff VII Corps
• 1942–1943 Chief of Staff German Ninth Army, Eastern Front
• 1943–1944 Chief of Staff Army Group Centre, Eastern Front
• 1944–1945 Chief of Staff Army Group B, Western Front
• 1945 Deputy Chief of Army General Staff
• 1945 April 1–May 1 Chief of Army General Staff

[edit] The Führerbunker

As Chief of Staff, Krebs was in the Führerbunker during the Battle for Berlin. On 28 April 1945, he made his last telephone call from the Führerbunker. Krebs called General Wilhelm Keitel at the new Supreme Command Headquarters in Fürstenberg. He told Keitel that, if relief did not arrive within 48 hours, all is lost. Keitel promised to exert the utmost pressure on General Walther Wenck (German 12th Army) and General Theodor Busse (German 9th Army).

Later on 28 April, when it was discovered that Heinrich Himmler was trying to negotiate a backdoor surrender to the Allies via Count Folke Bernadotte, Krebs became part of a tribunal set up by Hitler to court-martial associates of Himmler who could be rounded up in Berlin. One person to face this tribunal was Hermann Fegelein, Eva Braun's brother-in-law. General Wilhelm Mohnke presided over the tribunal which, in addition to Krebs and Mohnke, included General Johann Rattenhuber and General Wilhelm Burgdorf.

On 29 April, Krebs, Burgdorf, Joseph Goebbels, and Martin Bormann witnessed and signed the last will and testament of Adolf Hitler. Hitler dictated the document to his personal private secretary, Traudl Junge. Bormann was head of the Party Chancellery (Parteikanzlei) and private secretary to Hitler.

Late in the evening of 29 April, Krebs contacted General Alfred Jodl (Supreme Army Command) by radio and made the following demands: "Request immediate report. Firstly of the whereabouts of Wenck's spearheads. Secondly of time intended to attack. Thirdly of the location of the 9th Army. Fourthly of the precise place in which the 9th Army will break through. Fithly of the whereabouts of General Rudolph Holste's spearhead." ^[1]

In the early morning of 30 April, Jodl replied to Krebs: "Firstly, Wenck's spearhead bogged down south of Schwielow Lake. Secondly, 12th Army therefore unable to continue attack on Berlin. Thirdly, bulk of 9th Army surrounded. Fourthly, Holste's Corps on the defensive." ^[2]

Late on 30 April, as the Soviet forces continued to fight their way into the center of Berlin, German dictator Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun in the Führerbunker. Hitler and Braun then committed suicide. Braun by taking cyanide and Hitler by shooting himself. Per instructions, their bodies were burned. In accordance with Hitler's last will and testament, Joseph Goebbels, the Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, became the new "Head of Government" and Chancellor of Germany (Reichskanzler).

At 3:15 am on 1 May, Reichskanzler Goebbels and Martin Borman sent a radio message to Admiral Karl Dönitz informing him of Hitler's death. Per Hitler's last wishes, Dönitz was appointed as the new "President of Germany" (Reichspräsident).

On 1 May, within hours of Hitler's suicide on April 30, Reichskanzler Joseph Goebbels sent Krebs, under a white flag to talk with General Vasily Chuikov. Chuikov, as commander of the Soviet 8th Guards Army, commanded the Soviet forces in central Berlin. Krebs arrived shortly before 4 a.m., taking Chuikov by surprise. Krebs, a Russian-speaker, informed Chuikov that Hitler and Eva Braun, his wife, had killed themselves in the Führerbunker. Chuikov, who was not aware that there was a bunker under the Reich Chancellery or that Hitler was married, calmly said that he already knew. Chuikov was not, however, prepared to negotiate with Krebs. The Soviets were unwilling to accept anything other than unconditional surrender. Krebs was not authorized by Goebbels to agree to an unconditional surrender. The meeting ended with no agreement. According to Traudl Junge, Krebs returned to the bunker looking "worn out, exhausted". The surrender of Berlin was thus delayed until Goebbels himself committed suicide.

In the late afternoon, Goebbels poisoned his children. At about 8:30 pm, Goebbels orderered an SS guard to accompany him and his wife to the garden of the Reichs Chancellery. He further ordered them to shoot them both and to burn the bodies. ^[3]

On 2 May, General of the Artillery (General der Artillerie) Helmuth Weidling, the commander of the Berlin Defense Area, contacted General Chuikov. They met and had the following conversation:

Chuikov: "You are the commander of the Berlin garrison?"

Weidling: "Yes, I am the commander of the LVIIth Tank Corps."

Chuikov: "Where is Krebs?"

Weidling: "I saw him yesterday in the Reichs Chancellery. I thought he would commit suicide. At first he (Krebs) criticized me because unofficial capitulation started yesterday. The order regarding capitulation has been issued today." ^[4]

As the Soviets advanced on the Führerbunker, Krebs was last seen by others, including Junge, in the bunker when they left to attempt to escape. Junge relates how she approached Krebs to say goodbye and how he straightened up and smoothed his uniform before greeting her for the last time. He and at least two other senior officers, including General Wilhelm Burgdorf, stayed behind with the stated intention of committing suicide. Their bodies were found when Soviet personnel entered the bunker.

[edit] References

• Junge, Gertraud (2003-01). Until the Final Hour. London: George Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 0-297-84720-1. 

• Hirschbiegel, Oliver (Director). Downfall [DVD]. Germany, Russia: Sony Pictures.

• Dollinger, Hans (1967). The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. New York: Crown Publisher, Inc.. Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047. 

[edit] See also

• German Army
• Battle for Berlin - 1945
• Führerbunker
• Last will and testament of Adolf Hitler
• Helmuth Weidling, Commander of the Berlin Defense Area
• Theodor Busse, Commander of the German 9th Army
• Walther Wenck, Commander of the German 12th Army
• Gotthard Heinrici, Commander of Army Group Vistula

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ Dollinger, Hans. The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, Page 239
2. ^ Dollinger, Hans. The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, Page 239
3. ^ Dollinger, Hans. The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, Page 239
4. ^ Dollinger, Hans. The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047, Page 239

[edit] External links

• University of Szeged Library - photo of Krebs