Historic personalities in Strategic Mind: Blitzkrieg
“There were daily quarrels all summer. The point upon which we had our final disagreement was the decision of an offensive on the Caucasus and Stalingrad - a mistake, and Hitler didn't want to see it. I told him the Russians would put in another million men in 1942 and get another million in 1943. Hitler told me that I was an idiot - that the Russians were practically dead already. When I told Hitler about Russian armament potentials, especially for tank materials, Hitler flew into a rage of fury and threatened me with his fists.” (c) Franz Halder, April 12, 1946, from "The Nuremberg Interviews" by Leon Goldensohn
Franz Halder was appointed Chief of the Army General Staff on 1 September 1938, precisely a year before the start of WW2. Halder was reluctant to wage aggressive war on multiple fronts, but he chose to follow orders and keep his oath of loyalty. Despite following Hitler’s orders, he often criticized Fuhrer’s ideas and often tried to argue with him about war plans - a thing almost nonexistent closer to the end of the war.
“The Führer confirms my impressions of yesterday. He would like an understanding with Great Britain. He knows that war with the British will be hard and bloody, and knows also that people everywhere today are averse to bloodshed.” (c) Franz Halder, May 30, 1940 diary entry
Even after the occupation of France, many German generals harbored hopes for peace negotiations soon to follow, and the cessation of all hostilities, especially against the British Empire. That would have probably been the most prudent course of action at that moment. It seems Halder was sharing this point of view.
“The Russian colossus...has been underestimated by us...whenever a dozen divisions are destroyed the Russians replace them with another dozen.” (c) Franz Halder, August 1941
After the German Blitzkrieg has finally bogged down in Russia, and upon several attempts to renew the offensive in 1942, which had very limited success, in September 1942 Hitler removed Halder from command and retired him to the Führer Reserve.
“Whenever I go and see the Führer, I've got a loaded pistol in my pocket.” (c) Franz Halder, explaining his fear of Hitler
“On 23 July 1944, after the failed 20 July assassination attempt on Hitler's life by German Army officers, the Gestapo arrested Halder. He was imprisoned at both the Flossenbürg and Dachau concentration camps. On 5 May 1945, Halder was arrested by the advancing American troops and was interned awaiting trial or release. He was relieved not to be part of the Nuremberg Trials; instead, he was tried in a German court on charges of aiding the Nazi regime. Halder denied any knowledge of the regime's atrocities and claimed to be outside the decision-making process; he was found not guilty.”
“During the trial, the prosecuting attorney gained access to Halder's personal diary which detailed his formulation of the Barbarossa Decree and Commissar Order so he was subsequently sent for retrial. Halder was working for the American Historical Division providing information on the Soviet Union, and the Americans refused to allow the retrial. It was dropped in September 1950.”
“Rear Admiral Walter Ansel who had worked with Halder while researching Operation Sealion, the planned Invasion of England, recommended he become an associate of the United States Naval Institute. In 1961 Halder was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for this work. This award was bestowed by Major General Edgar C. Doleman on behalf of President John F. Kennedy. Halder thus became the only German to be decorated by both Adolf Hitler and an American president. (He had received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from Hitler in 1939.)”
Stay tuned for more information about new content and game development progress.
Please add the new upcoming title - Strategic Mind: Blitzkrieg to your wishlist!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200330/Strategic_Mind_Blitzkrieg/
With best regards
Starni Games development team
You will acquire more details by clicking the unit's image at its information panel.