Hans Krebs (Wehrmacht general)
| Hans Krebs | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 4 March 1898 Helmstedt, German Empire |
| Died | 2 May 1945 (aged 47) Berlin, Nazi Germany |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1914–45 |
| Rank | General of Infantry |
| Commands held | Chief of the Army General Staff (OKH) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Hans Krebs (4 March 1898 – 2 May 1945) was a German Army general of infantry who served during World War II.
Krebs was a career soldier, serving in the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht. He served as the last Chief of Staff of the OKH during the final phase of the war (1 April to 1 May 1945). Krebs attempted to open surrender negotiations with the Red Army; he committed suicide in the Führerbunker during the early hours of 2 May 1945.
Krebs was born in Helmstedt. He volunteered for service in the Imperial German Army in 1914, becoming an officer in 1915. Krebs spoke fluent Russian. In 1931, Krebs worked in the Defence Ministry, where he maintained contacts with the Red Army in the context of joint military exercises conducted by the two countries. Krebs held strong racist and anti-Communist views, as evidenced by his description of the members of the Soviet military delegation that visited Berlin in 1932: "a sly and cunning Jew,... [and] a Jewish half-breed ... insincere, with a suspicious and treacherous nature, apparently a fanatic Communist."
In 1936, Krebs was posted to the German embassy in Moscow as acting military attaché; he held this position up to the invasion of the Soviet Union. As such, he played a role in the Wehrmacht's faulty intelligence into the capabilities of the Red Army.
During World War II, Krebs reached the position of chief of staff of various army groups. While serving on the Eastern Front, Krebs was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor when Chief of Staff of the 9th Army in February 1942. In March 1943, he was made Chief of Staff of Army Group Centre. In April 1943, he was promoted to Generalleutnant and became a General of Infantry in August 1944. Krebs served as Chief of Staff of Army Group B on the Western Front from September 1944 until February 1945 when he was appointed Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff.
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