Ferdinand Schorner

Ferdinand Schörner was a German military commander who held the rank of Generalfeldmarschall in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded several army groups and was the last Commander-in-chief of the German Army. He was a dedicated Nazi and became well known for his ruthlessness and brutality towards his own troops and civilians. He was nicknamed "Bloody Ferdinand" and "Monster in uniform" by his enemies and subordinates. Schörner began his military career in 1911 as a cadet in the Bavarian Army. He fought in World War I and received the Pour le Mérite, the highest German military decoration at the time, for his actions at the Battle of Caporetto in 1917. He remained in the army after the war and joined the right-wing paramilitary Freikorps. He was an early supporter of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party and participated in the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. During World War II, Schörner served in various fronts and theaters, including Poland, Greece, Crete, Romania, and the Eastern Front. He was known for his aggressive and fanatical leadership style, which often led to high casualties among his men. He also ordered harsh punishments for deserters, defectors, and disobedient soldiers, such as hanging them from trees or lamp posts. He showed no mercy to civilians either, especially in the occupied Soviet territories, where he authorized mass executions, deportations, and plundering. Schörner was one of Hitler's favorite generals and received several promotions and decorations, including the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He was also one of the few generals who remained loyal to Hitler until the end of the war, even after most of his colleagues had surrendered or conspired against him. He was appointed as the last Commander-in-chief of the Army by Hitler's will on 30 April 1945, shortly before Hitler committed suicide. Schörner continued to fight against the advancing Soviet forces until 8 May 1945, when he ordered his troops to cease fire and tried to escape to Austria. However, he was captured by American troops on 18 May 1945 and handed over to the Soviet authorities. He was tried for war crimes and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was released in 1955 and returned to West Germany, where he faced another trial for his involvement in the Nazi regime. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four and a half years in prison, but he was released after serving only six months due to his poor health. Schörner lived in obscurity until his death in 1973 from heart failure. He was buried in Munich with full military honors. He never expressed any remorse or regret for his actions during the war and remained a staunch Nazi until his last breath.