Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach – 12. Infanterie-Division (Battle for Stalingrad!) (Collaborated with Soviets, “Anti-Nazi Force” Plan) (Eichenlaub)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach. General der Artillerie Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach (22.08.1888 in Hamburg † 28.04.1976 in Bremen) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on August 15, 1940 and the Eichenlaub on December 31, 1941 as Generalmajor und Kommandeur of the 12. Infanterie-Division. Postcardsize.

Walther von Seydlitz commanded the LI. Armeekorps during the Battle of Stalingrad. At the end of the battle, he gave his officers freedom of action and was relieved of command. A few days later, Seydlitz fled the German lines under fire from his own side with a group of other officers. Seydlitz was a leader in the forming, under Soviet supervision, of an anti-Nazi organisation, the League of German Officers, and was made a member of the National Committee for a Free Germany. He was condemned by many of his fellow generals for his collaboration with the Soviet Union. He was sentenced to death in absentia by Hitler’s government. Seydlitz’s idea of creating an anti-Nazi force of some 40,000 German prisoners-of-war to be airlifted into Germany was never seriously considered.