Albert Schnez
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Albert Schnez | |
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![]() Albert Schnez in 1967 | |
Born | Abtsgmünd, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire | 30 August 1911
Died | 26 April 2007 Bonn, Germany | (aged 95)
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Years of service | 1930–1945 1957–1971 |
Rank | ![]() |
Unit | 25th Panzergrenadier Division |
Commands |
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Awards | German Cross in Gold (1944) Federal Cross of Merit (1971) |
Albert Schnez (30 August 1911 – 26 April 2007) was an officer in three successive German armies: the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, and finally the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the modern Federal Republic of Germany. He was involved in the debate on the internal leadership of the newly formed Bundeswehr and was close to the German defense minister, Franz Josef Strauss. Schnez served from 1968 to 1971 with the rank of lieutenant-general (Generalleutnant) as the Inspector of the Army.
From 1949, Schnez, together with other veterans of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, built a clandestine shadow army, the "Schnez-Truppe", that intended to fight against the Soviet Union in the event of an invasion, or German communists during a civil war.[1] By 1951, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer had learned of the existence of this secret army and its head Schnez, but evidently declined to act against them.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Klaus Wiegrefe (14 May 2014). "Files Uncovered: Nazi Veterans Created Illegal Army". Der Spiegel.
- 1911 births
- 2007 deaths
- People from Ostalbkreis
- People from the Kingdom of Württemberg
- Reichswehr personnel
- German Army officers of World War II
- Bundeswehr generals
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Lieutenant generals of the German Army
- Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Military personnel from Baden-Württemberg
- German military personnel stubs
- Schnez-Truppe personnel