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N0KFQ > TODAY 19.12.12 18:35l 41 Lines 1782 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Today in History - Dec 19
Path: IZ3LSV<F1OYP<N9PMO<ZL2BAU<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 121219/1630Z 33169@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.53
...
Dec 19, 1941:
Hitler takes command of the German army
On this day, in a major shake-up of the military high command,
Adolf Hitler assumes the position of commander in chief of the
German army.
The German offensive against Moscow was proving to be a disaster.
A perimeter had been established by the Soviets 200 miles from
the city_and the Germans couldn't break through. The harsh winter
weather_with temperatures often dropping to 31 degrees below
zero_had virtually frozen German tanks in their tracks. Soviet
General Georgi Zhukov had unleashed a ferocious counteroffensive
of infantry, tanks, and planes that had forced the flailing
Germans into retreat. In short, the Germans were being beaten for
the first time in the war, and the toll to their collective
psyche was great. "The myth of the invincibility of the German
army was broken," German General Franz Halder would write later.
But Hitler refused to accept this notion. He began removing
officers from their command. General Fedor von Bock, who had been
suffering severe stomach pains and who on December 1 had
complained to Halder that he was no longer able to "operate" with
his debilitated troops, was replaced by General Hans von Kluge,
whose own 4th Army had been pushed into permanent retreat from
Moscow. General Karl von Runstedt was relieved of the southern
armies because he had retreated from Rostov. Hitler clearly did
not believe in giving back captured territory, so in the biggest
shake-up of all, he declared himself commander in chief of the
army. He would train it "in a National Socialist way"_that is, by
personal fiat. He would compose the strategies and the officers
would dance to his tune.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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