german de Gaulle

I was reading a book which, talking about Vlasov, mentioned that some members of the wermacht's high command expected him to be a "russian de Gaulle" in term of being a respected military leader which might inspire a large number of soldiers and citizens to turn against the current goverment. One thing this got me thinking, could there have been at one point or another a "german de gaulle" that sided with the Allies ?

The person would probably have to be a high ranker currently or recently in the german army, probably with a few actions in the past (such as WW1 victories) that would show in the mind of germans he is a patriot opposed to the nazi and not just an opportunist switching side. Some charisma would probably help too.

It is doubtfull one such person would have been sought by the allies near the end of the war when victory was ensured so the first problem is that unlike russia and france, there was no german territory (either mainland or oversea) from which to draw recruits. There might be however 2 other sources: POW not all of which would have been thorougly indoctrinated like the waffen SS and some germans who had expatriated themselves before the war. Members of the judeo-german community (at least the ones not in palestine who might already be part of the british palestinian forces) might see this as a chance for some payback and germans in internment camps in various countries (after veting) could be convinced to join a "German Liberation Army" to prove their patriotism to their adopted countries.

commence discussion.... NOW !
 
Maybe Rommel or Manstein?
Dont think it woudl fit ether of their personalities.

Here's my suggestion though: Ernst Udet. He doesnt fall into alcoholism as in OTL, giving him more energy in life. He remains as disgruntled and shat upon as in OTL by Goering and the rest of the Nazis however and when the time for his OTL suicide comes around he instead decides to take his plane and fly to a neutral country then contacts/is contacted by the British who seek to employ the services of Germany's second highest scoring WW1 ace.
 
Maybe Rommel or Manstein?

Turning your guns on your fellow soldiers in a time of war was indoctrinated into German officers from virtually day 1 as the ultimate form of treason.

Rommel cerainly saw it as that. You might be able to get a couple generals in certain circumstances to turn their guns on the SS who they viewed as a political arm of the party, but killing teenage German Army conscripts would be a bridge too far.
 
Turning your guns on your fellow soldiers in a time of war was indoctrinated into German officers from virtually day 1 as the ultimate form of treason.

Rommel cerainly saw it as that. You might be able to get a couple generals in certain circumstances to turn their guns on the SS who they viewed as a political arm of the party, but killing teenage German Army conscripts would be a bridge too far.
To the Italian front then! :p

More seriously thats really the only front i can see a 'Free German Army' being deployed.
 
To the Italian front then! :p

More seriously thats really the only front i can see a 'Free German Army' being deployed.

You are not wong about that one of my grandfathers was Italian so they sent him to the Pacific so he wouldn't be forced into a divided loyalties situation.

Then again such an force assuming a much longer and nastier WW2 without nukes in sight could be sent to the Pacific. Many German troops ended up in Vietnam right after the war fighting for the French.
 
You are not wong about that one of my grandfathers was Italian so they sent him to the Pacific so he wouldn't be forced into a divided loyalties situation.

Then again such an force assuming a much longer and nastier WW2 without nukes in sight could be sent to the Pacific. Many German troops ended up in Vietnam right after the war fighting for the French.
Well when i made the post i was thinking of a few instances where German troops and generals (including Rommel himself) turned on Italian units they had been serving with a few days previous without missing a beat, after the Italian Armistice.
 
Well when i made the post i was thinking of a few instances where German troops and generals (including Rommel himself) turned on Italian units they had been serving with a few days previous without missing a beat, after the Italian Armistice.

I thought you meant something different.

As for that there was a bit of a divide on how to treat them among German generals and officers. If those trying to surrender themselves should be shot on mass or just those who turn their weapons on their former Allies should be shot. Rommel's orders made clear he took the latter view.

Mind you there would have been the same kind of divide among the German generals if an German Army Group flipped in 1943 with some trying to surrender and others trying to fight other German soldiers. So, I don't think it should be simply passed off as Germans looking down on the Italians (not that a number didn't).
 
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