Wilhelm Keitel

Wilhelm Keitel was a high-ranking German field marshal during World War II. He served as the chief of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, known as the OKW. The OKW was the high command that controlled Germany's armed forces. This included the army, the navy, and the air force. Because of his position, Keitel held a rank similar to a government minister. He played a central role in how the German military functioned during the war. His decisions and orders had a massive impact on the course of history.

Keitel's career began long before the Second World War. He was born in 1882 in the village of Helmscherode. He originally wanted to be a farmer on his family's estate. However, his father did not want to retire, so Keitel joined the Prussian Army in 1901. He served as an officer cadet and later worked in a field artillery regiment. During World War I, he fought on the Western Front in Flanders. He was severely wounded during this conflict. After the war, he worked in several military offices within the Reichswehr. He also served in the Ministry of the Reichswehr in Berlin.

His rise to the highest levels of command happened through specific political shifts. In 1935, he was appointed chief of the Armed Forces Office. This office oversaw all branches of the German military. In 1938, a major change occurred in the German government. War Minister Werner von Blomberg resigned from his position. Adolf Hitler then took direct command of the Wehrmacht. Hitler replaced the old war ministry with the OKW. On February 4, 1938, Keitel became the chief of staff for this new high command. This promotion gave him immense responsibility over Germany's entire military strategy.

Despite his high rank, Keitel was often viewed poorly by his fellow officers. Many military leaders criticized his personality and his extreme loyalty to Hitler. He was frequently called a "yes-man" because he rarely disagreed with the Nazi leader. Some colleagues even gave him nicknames like "Lakeitel," which was a pun on his name and the word "lackey." Others called him "Nickgeselle," named after a nodding toy donkey. Even Hitler reportedly spoke about him with disrespect. Hitler once suggested that Keitel was only promoted because he was as "loyal as a dog."

During World War II, Keitel was deeply involved in the planning of military operations. He was part of the discussions regarding Operation Barbarossa, which was the invasion of the Soviet Union. During these meetings, he sometimes dismissed warnings about resource shortages. For example, he dismissed reports regarding problems with fuel and rubber supplies. In 1940, following the defeat of France, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal. He also helped manage the war economy through a group called the Committee of Three. This committee included Keitel, Hans Lammers, and Martin Bormann.

Keitel's actions during the war led to many serious legal and moral issues. He signed several criminal orders that went beyond the established codes of military conduct. These orders allowed for the execution of civilians and non-combatants. He had full knowledge of the criminal nature of the invasion of Poland. He also did not contest the actions of the Einsatzgruppen, which were groups involved in mass murders. Even when local commanders protested these atrocities, Keitel continued to ignore them. His leadership was directly linked to numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.

At the end of the war, Keitel helped oversee the final surrender of Germany. On May 8, 1945, he signed the German Instrument of Surrender in Karlshorst. Shortly after, he was arrested by United States forces. He was held at a location called Camp Ashcan. After the war, he stood trial at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. He was indicted on four major counts. These included crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and criminal conspiracy. The tribunal found him guilty on all counts. In 1946, he was sentenced to death and executed by hanging.