General Stab

JC · Post by JC » 04 Apr 2003 14:51

I have several questions regarding General Staff officers.... Did officers elect to become staff officers or did leaders appoint them? How long did the course of study for prospective officers of the General Staff run? I presume that only officers that completed the formal course of study could be called officers of the General Staff, correct? Conversely, was completion of the course required before one could hold a staff position? Once they completed the course and became staff officers were they required to add the “i.G.” suffix to their rank?

Jeff

Stauffenberg II · Post by **Stauffenberg II** » 05 Apr 2003 07:32

Hi!

Did officers elect to become staff officers or did leaders appoint them?

Gen. Obst. Seeckt implemented a new system in 1919. All officers had to take the ability test. Before WW I only volunteers were taken. Source: Erfurth, W.: Die Geschichte des Deutschen Generalstabes, p. 124.

How long did the course of study for prospective officers of the General Staff run?

The course took 3 years. From 1935-1937 the course took only 2 years due to heavy army enlargement. Source: Erfurth, p. 125, 171, 172

I presume that only officers that completed the formal course of study could be called officers of the General Staff, correct?

Yes.

Conversely, was completion of the course required before one could hold a staff position?

Obviously not. The persons in general staff training held Ib- or Ic-positions (Chief of Supply, Chief of Intelligence) or were officers in the Army High Command Departments, holding staff positions and were later accepted in the General Staff.

Here is one of Rommel´s general staff officers in Africa, used in the Army High Command while being in General Staff training (received from Forrest Opper):

KRIEBEL, Rainer (DKiG)
Oberstleutnant
Born: 19.Jan.08
Dienstränge (Promotions):
Obstlt., 1.Jan.43 (73)
Dienststellungen (Assignments):
Kp.Fhr. 1./MG.Btl. 6, 15.Oct.35
Kriegsakad., 6.Oct.36
Gen.Stb.d.H./3.Abt. [Kdo.z.Gen.Stb.: 31.3.40], 10.Nov.38
Gen.Stb.d.H./Abt.Fremde-H.West, 26.Aug.39
i.d.Gen.Stb. versetzt, 1.Nov.39
Ic Chef Mil.Verw.Frankreich, 15.Jul.40
Ia 33. Inf.Div., 7.Oct.40
umben. 15. Pz.Div., 1.Dec.40 [Hptm. 25.1.41, T77-346, 3933- ]

Here is a person used as Ib while being in the general staff training (thanks forrest opper).

DIETL, Albert (DKiG)
Oberst
Born: 30.May.02
Dienstränge (Promotions):
Oberst, 1.Feb.43 (73)
Dienststellungen (Assignments):
Kriegsakad., 1.Oct.35
Ib 11. Div. (Kdo.z.Gen.Stb., 31.Mar.39), 1.Sep.37
Ia H.Dienststelle 15 Allenstein, 10.Nov.38
i.d.Gen.Stb. versetzt, 1.Apr.39
Ia Führgsstab Wodrig, 26.Aug.39
Qu. XXVI. A.K., 15.Oct.39

Here is a person used as Ic while being in the general staff training (thanks forrest opper).

DINGLER, Hans-Jürgen (DKiG)
Oberst
Born: 30.Mar.04
Dienstränge (Promotions):
Oberst, 1.Feb.43 (81)
Dienststellungen (Assignments):
Kriegsakad., 1.Oct.35
Ic VIII. AK. [Kdo.z.Gen.Stb.: 31.3.39], 1.Aug.37
i.d.Gen.Stb. versetzt, 1.Apr.39
Ic Stellv. VIII. AK., 26.Aug.39
Ia 86. Inf.Div., 15.Oct.39
Gen.Stb.d.H./Heerwesenabt., 6.May.40
z.Stb. 3. Inf.Div. kdt., 3.Dec.40
Ia 3. Inf.Div. (mot.), 20.Jan.41 [Major, 25.1.41, T77-346, 3933-52]

Once they completed the course and became staff officers were they required to add the “i.G.” suffix to their rank?

The suffix i. G. were only used on being in general staff positions.

sth. remarkable

1. On Oct. 1st, 1936 100 officers were accepted into the general staff training. On Oct. 1st, 1937 140 officers were accepted into the training. Before WW I 160 officers were accepted into the training. Source: Erfurth, W., p. 171

2. The general staff training were decentralised from 1920-1932 in the so called "Wehrkreisprüfungen" at 3 - 4 Wehrkreise. From 1932-1935 the general staff training was centralised in the "Offizier-Lehrgänge Berlin". In 1935 the "Kriegsakademie" (War Academy) was again opened. Source: p. 124-126, p. 171.

Cdr. War Academy: Gen. d. Inf. Curt Liebmann

3. While being under camouflage the Generalstab education was called "Führergehilfen" education. The Generalstab was prohibited until 1935, when the prohibiton was disobeyed.

4. The General Staff at the Army High Command on January 1st, 1939 had 85 General Staff Officers. Source: Erfurth, W., p. 168. The scan is from Gen. Lt. Friedrich Stahl, Heereseinteilung 1939.

Here is the organisation:

Central Dept: Personnel General Staff (Hossbach until 1938)
1st Dept: Operations
2nd Dept. Organisation
3rd Dept: Army Intelligence West (Fremde Heere West)
4th Dept: Education NCO
5th Dept.: Transportation (i. e. Railway)
6th Dept.: Supply
7th Dept.: Historical Dept.
8th Dept.: Technical Dept. (Model until 1938)
9th Dept.: Maps
10th Dept.: Fortresses
11th Dept.: Education Officers
12th Dept.: Army Intelligence East (Fremde Heere Ost)

Regards,
Stauffenberg II

JC · Post by JC » 05 Apr 2003 12:45

Stauffenberg II,

Thank you for a very thorough response! As I go through it I may have follow up questions..... I hope you don't mind.

Thanks again.

Jeff

Stauffenberg II · Post by **Stauffenberg II** » 05 Apr 2003 13:58

You are welcome, Jeff!

Stauffenberg II