If we leave aside our position, most of the German officers during World War II are very commendable, adhering to the traditional Prussian military style, solemn, noble, strong and unyielding.
Of these officers, perhaps the most representative was von Schocken, also known as the "last nobleman" of the German army.
Shoken was born into a traditional aristocratic officer family, perhaps the influence of family culture, or the innate charm, in short, in his body, the temperament of the aristocratic general is fully revealed. Even when he was idle at home, he had to wear a military uniform and keep it meticulously tidy.
However, do not think that "nobility" is what is staged on TV, do not eat human fireworks, only know to enjoy life, in fact, the "nobility" in Europe is more of a responsibility, to have responsibility, dare to be the first in the world.
There is no doubt that Shao Ken is such a person.
Although an officer, Shaoken was often in the front in battle, so he was often wounded, seven times in World War I and six times in World War II, and even Manstein praised him as "one of the most trusted generals in the Wehrmacht".
What is more commendable, however, is his sympathetic and courageous leadership style, which has earned him great prestige, especially his Fourth Panzer Division, and even regards Shoken as a soul figure. On the Soviet-German battlefield, when Hitler repeatedly insulted him for disobeying orders, he only responded lightly: "Stubborn and stubborn, it will only harm our soldiers." ”
By August 1945, the European theater was coming to an end. At this time, Shoken, who had been struggling to support the Baltic coast for more than a month, took the remnants of army group East, successfully covered the escape of more than 300,000 refugees to the Allied occupation zone, and successfully escorted more than 65,000 wounded to retreat. However, more than 60,000 people are still trapped here, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, waiting for the Verdict of the Soviets.
On 5 August, German Admiral Dönitz sent a plane to let Shoken escape, but Shoken did not hesitate to refuse this act of goodwill. In his motto, it was " Wherever the warriors are, I am there", especially in such times of crisis, he would never leave the warriors to flee on their own.
Soon, the officers and men trapped here realized that there would be no more ships to rescue them, so they began to be restless and difficult to suppress. At this time, Shoken drove to the whole staff for the last time in his life:
"We have to be calm, there will be no more boats coming, and no more hope for miracles." Now, when we have to step into a Soviet prisoner-of-war camp, we must maintain our dignity and must realize that we are performing our duties until the last moment! ”
The warriors, seeing that their commanders were always with them, were infected by his composure, so that everyone no longer panicked and dispersed peacefully.
When surrendering to belopolodov, commander of the Soviet 43rd Army, Shoken repeatedly negotiated with him on the condition that German prisoners of war be allowed to enter the camp with luggage carts. Seeking the last bit of welfare for his subordinates was perhaps the only thing he could do.
Later, because the Soviets did not find Hitler's skull after the capture of Berlin, they began to torture and interrogate those who had worked in the bunker, including Shoken.
As a result of his numerous wounds during the war and his inability to be in prison, Shoken's health deteriorated under the darkness of his imprisonment. Even so, the Soviets never pried open his mouth, and what they received was always dismissive contempt.
Without conclusive evidence to convict Shao, the Soviet side could only sentence him to 25 years of hard labor on the comical charge of "conniving with troops to eat on the spot". Seriously, such allegations are too far-fetched.
In 1955, after West Germany formally established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, Shoken, who had spent 10 years in prison in Siberia, finally saw the light of day and returned to his homeland to meet his family. Of the 11 German generals who entered the Soviet prisoner-of-war camp at the same time as him, 8 had died of illness and two were dying.
On September 27, 1980, at the age of 88, Shoken passed away and went to another world with his aristocratic temperament that will never fade.