Generals and Admirals of the Third Reich

For the Country or Fuehrer, Volume 1: A–G

By James Jack Webb, Review by Amol Saghar

Article published on: July 1, 2025 in the Army History Summer 2025 Issue

Read Time: < 5 mins

Casemate Publishers, 2024
Pp. xv, 368. $ 49.95

Generals and Admirals of the Third Reich by James Jack Webb, the first of a three-volume set, makes for a compelling read. It is primarily a dictionary containing the biographical information of around 5,000 high-ranking officers of the Third Reich. This focus on the biographies of high-ranking officers is significant as it provides a comprehensive understanding of the individuals who played key roles in the Third Reich's military operations and decision-making processes. Arranged alphabetically, the officers appearing in the compilation belonged to various branches of service, including the Heer (army); Luftwaffe (air force); Kriegsmarine (navy); and the Waffen-SS (the armed branch of the Nazi Party’s paramilitary organization), which was commanded by Heinrich Himmler.

Webb provides a concise overview of each officer’s service between 1914 and 1945. The details mentioned in each entry include the names of units, positions, and commands held, specific dates of promotion to senior ranks, and medals earned. Significantly, the cause of death—natural or unnatural—of every officer is mentioned. The records also highlight personal details such as the officers’ civilian occupations. The majority of the officers appearing in the present collection were veterans of the Great War (1914–1918). However, following Germany’s humiliating defeat in 1918, only a few veteran officers were retained in the otherwise 100,000-strong Reichswehr (German armed forces). Those who were not drafted into this prestigious organization tried to imitate the structure and discipline of the armed forces within the ranks of local and state police and several paramilitary organizations which were present in Germany during and after the Weimar Republic. Webb argues that a new generation of generals emerged with the creation of the new Wehrmacht (German military) in 1935. It was these officers who, in due course of time, played a critical role in planning, organizing, supervising, and leading military campaigns across not just Europe, but also Africa and the Eastern Front. Additionally, these military personnel were the brain behind the brawn of many of the aerial missions of the Nazis, supporting ground operations as well as bombing campaigns. They also commanded Kriegsmarine operations against the Allies.

A short but crisp introduction precedes the section regarding the biographical information of Nazi officers. The utter misery that plagued German society following the First World War is well-discussed in this section. The author stresses the fact that almost all areas of society were affected by the all-around despair that gripped the country. The armed forces were no exception. Although a few of the veterans remained in active military service, a large number of soldiers and officers were not allowed to remain in the peacetime Reichswehr. The displaced veterans were forced to wander the streets in search of jobs. Their future, at this point, was very bleak. Webb demonstrates that, to remain relevant, the unemployed veterans took up arms to defend the German nation against the threat of Communism. The army they formed came to be known as the Freikorps (Free Corps). Following this brief overview, the discussion shifts seamlessly to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Significantly, as the current section shows, jobless military personnel were among the earliest supporters of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Webb highlights the critical role the Great Depression of 1929 played in attracting military veterans to the Nazi ideology. At a time when unemployment was at its peak, the army was perceived as a viable and respectful option for employment. Joining the armed forces was more about “supplying their basic needs than wearing a uniform and believing in Nazi ideology” (x). It was only after Hitler became the Reich chancellor in 1933 that these war veterans began believing in the Nazi ideology and taking Hitler and his followers seriously. Besides providing a brief overview of the developments in Germany in the immediate days before Hitler took power, the author delineates the initial days of the Reichswehr. Webb highlights the important roles played by individuals like General Werner von Blomberg and General Walther von Reichenau in the formation of the Nazi armed forces. General Blomberg was appointed the minister of defense, and General Reichenau became the chief of staff. In 1934, these two were responsible for overhauling the military. Their significant changes were dishonorably discharging Jews from the armed forces, inserting the Nazi swastikas and eagle on military uniforms, and making it compulsory for all military personnel to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler

This section also provides fascinating insights into the power struggle between the senior officers of the Reichswehr, which marked the early years of the Third Reich. Significantly, the tug-of-war involved not just military personnel but also the Führer himself. In this context, Webb discusses the acrimonious relationship between Hitler and his officers, Generals Blomberg, Werner Freiherr von Fritsch, and Ludwig Beck. Given their terrible memories of the Great War, these officers did not support Hitler’s aggressive political campaigns. In order to keep the reins of political power in his hands, Hitler replaced them with more ardent supporters. Hermann Goering and Heinrich Himmler aided Hitler in forcing Generals Blomberg and Fritsch to resign from the Reichswehr in January 1938. Webb explains that this was not the only instance of Hitler becoming actively involved in a factional fight. Earlier, he had forced his senior Sturmabteilung officer, Ernst Roehm, to commit suicide, because he perceived Roehm as a threat to his domination. Without the support of the army, Hitler would have found it extremely difficult to achieve his goals.

Deftly written, James Webb’s Generals and Admirals of the Third Reich is an important academic intervention. James Webb’s monograph is an accessible go-to reference work for all researchers and historians working on the varied aspects of the Second World War.