About Prussia, Empire, National Socialism up to the US-friend and bridge-supporters in casting
CASTING / MEDIUM HESSE (rge/ger/rg), August 2014, This summer will mark the seventieth year of the Allied landings in Normandy. There Beginn that Operation "Overlord" am 6. June 1944 heralded the end of Nazi rule a. Until the 8. May 1945 with the surrender of the German Empire was fought but still almost a year dogged in Europe and died a million times. The garrison commander of Cherbourg, Lieutenant General Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben, ended already at 26. June 1944 with the surrender of proclaimed by Hitler "fortress" against the "Führer Order" the fighting around the French city on the Channel. 800 Soldiers were in a hopeless situation with him from his underground command bunker in St. Sauveur in captivity. The following day, there were then more 10.000 Wehrmacht soldiers after the surrender was known. It was the end of organized hostilities in Cherbourg. Many soldiers from both sides survived by war. After his time as a prisoner of war in England came from Schlieben 1950 to Giessen, where he established the so-called "lab-Service-Units" (internationale Wach- and service units) for the U.S. Army on. His wife Eleanor of Schlieben was in the early years of the 50-year active member of the German-American Club "The Bridge" in the university town of Giessen.
An extraordinary life story, the two world wars and of sufficient faith in the supposedly right thing, led over doubts in their own activity to new insights and life decisions. The two granddaughters Elisabeth von Maltzahn and Ellen Schwarzburg-von Wedel wanted to know more about the history of her grandfather, after his imprisonment in 1947 of 1950 until his death on 18. June 1964 lived in Giessen.
The two women were on 26. June 2014 invited with their families to a ceremony to commemorate the events in and around Cherbourg as representatives of their grandfather in the Castle of Servigny. Ellen Black Castle Wedel recalled in her speech to veterans and representatives of the nations involved in the long road of enemies to friends.
There, at a historic place was Lieutenant General of Schlieben before then 70 Years, the U.S. General Joseph Lawton "Lightnin’ Joe "Collins over and sealed the surrender of Cherbourg. The German professional soldier had completed a model for its time career until then. As his father moved there Karl-Wilhelm to the soldiers. In the Prussian army under the Empire, he joined at the beginning of 1. World War on 11. August 1914 a. Up to the ordnance officer at the General Command, he managed and survived the war. In the Reichswehr of the Weimar period he continued career and was established in October 1929 promoted to captain. Under the Nazis, he served as adjutant at various rod regiments in use. From 1942 he was employed on the Eastern Front, only at 4. Rifle Brigade, Then, in the 208. Infantry Division and was from April to December 1943 as commander of the 18. Panzer-Division in use. He then became the Atlantic Wall to 709. Abkommandiert Infantry Division in Normandy. After the Allied landings named him Adolf Hitler to the commander of the fortress of Cherbourg. Only three days later he was found with his soldiers. The complete superiority of the Allies then also underlined as a "top secret thing" designated management report of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel from 15.7.1944. "The situation at the front in Normandy is difficult from day to day … . Our own losses are … so high. "Alone of the 97.000 used German soldiers died daily to 3.000 Men. "The unequal struggle draws to a close." As the assessment of drum due to the superiority of the Allies and their own losses within a few weeks after landing. For his conduct in Cherbourg Lieutenant General Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben of Hitler was covered with accusations and criticism.
In the subsequent British prisoner of war in Trent Park stalked by Schlieben further doubt on his participation for the Nazi regime. Thus in the surveillance records of the British CSDIC in response to the attempt to assassinate Hitler on 20. July 1944 Quotations as to read from it "… This millennial kingdom is even now hopefully be over soon. ". And in dealing with Hitler he wished: "I would hand him over to the Russians, in some Siberian mine, Case settled. "And about Dachau and other concentration camps he gave in May 1945 to: "Everybody knew, happen that terrible things there - not what, but that terrible things happen because, knew each of us, even then 1935 " (Vgl. Sönke Neitzel book of "Heard" - German generals in British war captivity 1942-1945, Porpyläen 2005).
With all these documents, deal not only historians but to this day his descendants. He after the war by the Americans the opportunity was given for his repatriation for it to work, is the other side of the coin, which made him the erstwhile adversary to friend. And also his wife Eleonore from 1950 the German-American Club "The Bridge" in casting was connected with him at his side, forms from this other side, which was dedicated from then on international understanding and connecting mutual aid.
In her speech, the granddaughter said on Memorial Day in Cherbourg: „… To 70 Years, we are at the place, where our grandfather gave up a fight, which it never should be. … Your invitation we understand as a gesture of reconciliation. "She recalled the helpfulness and solidarity without being patronizing after the war by the Allies. By "The Bridge" (German-American Club Gießen-Wetzlar) developed close and friendly relations, there were really "building bridges", so Schwarzburg-von Wedel. "In the name of our grandfather, I ask for forgiveness from all my heart!"She said, referring to the atrocities in Nazi concentration camps in front of the veterans and international visitors in France. That her grandfather a guide command, has refused on the task in Cherbourg and prevent shootings in Russia, for them in her memory as exemplary granddaughter.
That their lives in Pohlheim sister Elizabeth had asked for the parent table of the "bridge" at the Hotel Köhler in casting these days her lecture under the title "From foe to friend", was another component of this historical elaboration of a generation, the only after these events in 2. World War I was growing up and the reminder is obliged. "How glad and happy our grandfather would have been, if he had known, that his descendants this place (Cherbourg) have visited and that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren have understood with the grandchildren and great grandchildren of General Collins amicable. "
