A Sudden Promotion Amidst Political Upheaval

The year 1938 began with unexpected news that would forever change my military career. On the night of February 2, I learned of my promotion to lieutenant general, little knowing this would mark the start of one of the most turbulent years in German military history. The following days would reveal a seismic shift in the nation’s military leadership that would have profound consequences for Germany’s future.

Two days after my promotion, while riding a Berlin streetcar to attend a conference chaired by Hitler, an acquaintance urgently summoned me off the vehicle with startling news: I had been appointed commander of the 16th Army Corps. This unexpected development paled in comparison to the shocking headlines in that morning’s paper – a sweeping purge of senior army officers including Field Marshal von Blomberg, Colonel General von Fritsch, and my close friend General Lutz.

The Shocking Purge of February 4

All corps commanders were summoned to the Reich Chancellery where Hitler, standing before us in a semicircle, announced the dismissal of War Minister von Blomberg due to marital improprieties and the removal of Army Commander-in-Chief von Fritsch for alleged criminal violations. The atmosphere was one of stunned silence. These men had been our respected superiors, models of military professionalism, and Hitler’s harsh condemnation struck at the heart of our military ethos.

The Blomberg affair was relatively straightforward – his marriage to a woman with a questionable past made his position untenable. But the case against von Fritsch was far more troubling, requiring court-martial proceedings presided over by Göring. When von Fritsch was ultimately acquitted, it became clear the allegations had been baseless slander. Months later, we gathered again to hear the verdict read by General Heitz, during which Hitler offered a brief apology while promising such incidents wouldn’t recur.

The Military Reorganization and Its Consequences

February 4, 1938 marked a dark day for the German army, second only to the Night of the Long Knives in 1934. Hitler assumed direct command of the armed forces as Supreme Commander, with General Wilhelm Keitel serving as chief of the newly created Armed Forces High Command (OKW) in a largely administrative role.

The dismissal of von Fritsch created a leadership vacuum that would never truly be filled. Though eventually reinstated, he was relegated to command of the 12th Artillery Regiment in Schwerin – a humiliating demotion for such a distinguished officer. The man who had fabricated evidence against him was executed, but the true architects of this conspiracy escaped punishment.

The Anschluss: Germany Absorbs Austria

By March, my attention turned to operational matters as Hitler prepared to annex Austria. On March 10, Chief of Staff General Beck informed me in strict confidence of plans to incorporate Austria into the Reich. I was initially reluctant to reassume command of my former unit, the 2nd Panzer Division, not wishing to undermine its current commander General Veiel. However, circumstances demanded experienced leadership of motorized forces.

The operation unfolded with remarkable speed. On March 11, my headquarters reached Passau, where we received orders to cross the border at 8:00 AM the following day. Logistics proved challenging – the 2nd Panzer Division arrived without Austrian maps and critically low on fuel. We eventually secured supplies through local authorities and Austrian gas stations along our route.

To emphasize the peaceful nature of our mission, I ordered tanks painted green and festooned with flags – a suggestion Hitler enthusiastically approved. When we crossed into Austria on March 12, the reception was overwhelmingly positive. Cheering crowds lined the roads, throwing flowers onto our vehicles and offering food to soldiers. In Linz, where Hitler joined us, the emotional scenes of reunification moved even the Führer to tears during his balcony speech at the town hall.

Lessons from the Austrian Operation

The rapid advance to Vienna, covering nearly 700 kilometers in 48 hours, provided valuable experience for our fledgling panzer forces. While mechanical breakdowns occurred (affecting up to 30% of tanks), the operation demonstrated the strategic mobility of armored divisions. Key lessons included:

1. The critical importance of fuel supply lines
2. The need for better maintenance procedures
3. The viability of moving multiple motorized divisions along a single route
4. The psychological impact of mechanized forces when properly employed

Contrary to later accounts by Winston Churchill, the operation proceeded with remarkable efficiency given its improvised nature. There were no significant traffic jams, and all units reached their objectives on schedule despite challenging weather and road conditions.

The Sudetenland Crisis and Munich Agreement

By autumn, tensions shifted to Czechoslovakia’s German-speaking Sudetenland region. The 16th Corps, now comprising the 1st Panzer Division and two motorized infantry divisions, prepared for possible military action. However, the Munich Agreement of September 29-30 averted war, allowing peaceful occupation beginning October 1 – coincidentally my silver wedding anniversary, which I spent alone at my headquarters while my wife remained in Berlin and our sons guarded the frontier.

The phased occupation proceeded smoothly from October 3-5, with Hitler accompanying my units on the first two days. The reception from ethnic Germans was even more emotional than in Austria, with many kneeling in prayerful gratitude as our troops arrived. The Czech fortifications we inspected proved less formidable than expected, though their bloodless capture spared countless lives on both sides.

Reflections on a Year of Transformation

As 1938 drew to a close, many military professionals hoped for a period of consolidation. The annexations of Austria and the Sudetenland had brought millions of ethnic Germans into the Reich, along with significant economic and administrative challenges requiring peaceful resolution. Hitler’s diplomatic successes had temporarily restored confidence after the February crisis, though underlying tensions with Britain were becoming increasingly apparent.

My personal journey through this tumultuous year – from corps commander to leader of Germany’s nascent armored forces – mirrored the nation’s rapid transformation. While proud of our military achievements, I shared the widespread hope among officers that Germany could secure its objectives without further conflict. The lessons of 1938, both in political maneuvering and military operations, would profoundly influence the coming years, though not always in ways we anticipated or desired.

The events of this single year had redrawn the map of Central Europe, tested the limits of international diplomacy, and set in motion forces that would ultimately lead to catastrophe. Looking back, 1938 stands as both a triumph of German statecraft and a missed opportunity to avert the coming storm.