Generalmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

Discussions on the personalities of the Wehrmacht and of the organizations not covered in the other sections. Hosted by askropp and Frech.
Post Reply
User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

Generalmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#1

Post by genstab » 07 Jul 2004, 14:42

I found another curious thing in a General's biography from Bradley's Volume V and need to ask if anyone can enlighten me as to the circumstances. Kurt Haßel seems to have been promoted to Generalmajor in March 1964 retroactive to December 1944 though he was released from the Army after returning from Soviet captivity in 1947.

Never having studied German, I miss a lot, even with dictionaries. It is clear to me that Haßel was Chief of a Signals Group in OKH and thus was a senior officer of Gen. Erich Fellgiebel's, the Chief of Army Signals and one of the major plotters. The entry for 31.7.44 says "im Zusammenhang mit dem Attentat vom 20.07.44 verhaftet" which I take to mean that he was imprisoned for being involved with the plot.

The entry concerning his 1964 promotion says "03.02.64 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 1.12.44 aufgrund des Gesetzes zur Wiedergutmachung nazionalsozialistischen Unrechts". Does anyone know if this was a legal process, a decree of the Bundestag or the result of a lawsuit- did the man prove he was to be promoted to Generalmajor in 1944 but unjustly accused of complicity in the plot? Having not come across anything similar, this is very interesting to me. Those were unique times in Germany- and the world- times that in many ways I hope we never see again. If anyone knows what happened here I'd be grateful for the explanation.

Best regards,
Genstab

Alecci
Member
Posts: 286
Joined: 05 Oct 2003, 03:24
Location: Sweden

#2

Post by Alecci » 10 Jul 2004, 03:38

I myself am quite interested in any facts about Kurt Haßel. My sole contribution to this thread is to affirm that the then Colonel (GS) Hassel was a member of the conspiracy. While being a relatively minor character in the conspiracy, his task on 20 July 1944 was that of some importance, as he was assigned to direct and lead the signals specialists that would help the conspirators gain control of communications, mainly the public ones (radio etc). As far as I know, his appointment at the time was that of Chief of Staff to the Chief of Wehrmacht Communications, General Erich Fellgiebel. As Fellgiebel would and did remain inside Wolfsschanze after the supposed assassination of Hitler, he would not have been able to participate in the uprising. Thus Haßel was charged with the responsibility of being the plotters' 'Chief of Communications'.

To be honest, I didn't even know he survived the war. Many thanks for the enlightenment.


Alecci
Member
Posts: 286
Joined: 05 Oct 2003, 03:24
Location: Sweden

Generalmajor [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#3

Post by Alecci » 10 Jul 2004, 03:46

The sentence '03.02.64 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 1.12.44 aufgrund des Gesetzes zur Wiedergutmachung nazionalsozialistischen Unrechts' seems to me that it should mean 'Major-General on 03.02.64 with RDA since 01.12.44 based on the act/law/principle of revocation of national-socialist injustices'.

I don't speak German, but since Swedish is somewhat like the German language I'm able to make a guess. Perhaps someone else could make a better translation for you.

User avatar
genstab
Member
Posts: 2116
Joined: 15 Jul 2003, 23:50
Location: The Big City on Lake Erie

#4

Post by genstab » 10 Jul 2004, 04:38

Thanks for the input, Alecci. Much appreciate it. First I'd ever heard of a postwar law restoring anyone's professional position that was disrupted by the Nazis. Maybe someone else will further enlighten us.

Best regards,
Genstab

User avatar
Stauffenberg II
Member
Posts: 3293
Joined: 03 Jan 2003, 18:43
Location: Austria

#5

Post by Stauffenberg II » 21 Apr 2007, 21:36

Hi!

Here is what I would like to add regarding Oberst Kurt Haßel:

1. He was not a General Staff officer. My source therefore is the last ranklist (Stellenbesetzung 1938). Although all general staff officers in the OKH are duly listed Haßel is not listed in the General staff list.

2. I don´t think that he was promoted to Gen. Maj. As far as I know he was arrested on the 29th of July or sth. like that (also see bio of successor Gen. Maj. Wilhelm Arnold). In my opinion the date 01.12.1944, when he was actually under arrest, could have been the date he would have been actually due for promotion if nothing happened before. I think his last position was Oberst: 01.02.1943 (79)

3. Haßel was actually Chef Amtsgruppe Nachrichten (Office Group Signal Troops) in the Allgemeines Heeresamt (General Army Office). This position was created in late 1943 from the prior department, the weapons department for transmission troops. He was succeeded by Wilhelm Arnold.

Fellgiebel was Chef des Heeresnachrichtenwesens beim Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres, the highest position of the transmission troops in the field army. His chief of Staff was Kurt Hahn, a further member of the plot. Hahn was succeeded by Leo Hepp.

Rußwurm (Josef) was Inspekteur der Nachrichtentruppe beim BdE & Chef Heeresrüstung, the highest position of the transmission troops in the reserve army.

Thiele was Chef Amtsgruppe Wehrmachtnachrichtenverbindungen (WNV) in the OKW. Fellgiebel was his superior too as Inspekteur der Wehrmachtnachrichtenverbindungen (WNV).Thiele was succeeded by Wilhelm Gimmler.

Fellgiebel as Chef des Heeresnachrichtenwesens beim OBdH and Insp. der Wehrmachtnachrichtenverbindungen was succeeded by Albert Praun.

Jürgen

User avatar
askropp
Forum Staff
Posts: 7482
Joined: 08 May 2008, 00:42

Re: eneralmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#6

Post by askropp » 08 Sep 2014, 21:46

A similar case was Ludwig Dierske who was promoted to Generalmajor der Polizei a. D. after the war on the same basis.
Last edited by Dieter Zinke on 09 Sep 2014, 15:50, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Supplements in red according Schulz / Zinke: "Die Generale der Waffen-SS und der Polizei", volume 5, pages 564 - 572
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.

User avatar
askropp
Forum Staff
Posts: 7482
Joined: 08 May 2008, 00:42

Re: Generalmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#7

Post by askropp » 29 Oct 2014, 21:32

Another case in the Heer seems to have been Rudolf Burger (1891-1976).
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.

User avatar
askropp
Forum Staff
Posts: 7482
Joined: 08 May 2008, 00:42

Re: Generalmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#8

Post by askropp » 05 Nov 2014, 20:19

Another two cases: Ernst Hackemann (1899-1980) and Karl Helwig (1890-1970).
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.

User avatar
askropp
Forum Staff
Posts: 7482
Joined: 08 May 2008, 00:42

Re: Generalmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#9

Post by askropp » 23 Nov 2014, 20:37

And: Generalarzt a.D. Dr. Johannes Dobbek (1890-1965).
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.

User avatar
JakeV
Member
Posts: 1554
Joined: 06 Apr 2010, 14:14
Location: Greece

Re: Generalmajor Kurt Haßel [post-war-"Wiedergutmachung"]

#10

Post by JakeV » 07 Dec 2014, 20:20

A possible candidate for this category is Helmuth Schwierz (* 13.06.1893 in Sagan; † 25.11.1986 in Siegen).

Jake

Aisingioro
Member
Posts: 754
Joined: 16 Aug 2010, 06:49

post-war-"Wiedergutmachungs"-Generale

#11

Post by Aisingioro » 22 Aug 2016, 17:09

askropp wrote:Another case in the Heer seems to have been Rudolf Burger (1891-1976).
Rudolf Burger (1891-1976)
00.00.1954 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 00.00.194_

Ernst Hackemann (1899-1980)
00.00.1954 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 01.04.1945

Kurt Haßel (1898-1977)
03.02.1964 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 01.12.1944

Karl Helwig (1890-1970)
00.00.1953 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 01.03.1943

Konrad Freiherr von Malsen-Ponickau (1899-1964)
00.00.195_ Generalmajor mit RDA vom 00.00.194_

Helmuth Schwierz (1893-1986)
01.04.1951 Generalmajor mit RDA vom 01.10.1944

Source: Reinhard Montag "Lexikon der deutschen Generale"


Aisin

Post Reply

Return to “The Dieter Zinke Axis Biographical Research Section”