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Dietrich von Choltitz Quotes (1894-1966)
About Dietrich von Choltitz
Dietrich Hugo Hermann von Choltitz (9 November 1894 β 4 November 1966) was a German General who served in the Royal Saxon Army during World War I and the German Army during World War II. He is chiefly remembered for his role as the last commander of Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944, when he disobeyed Adolf Hitler's orders to level the city, but instead surrendered it to Free French forces.
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βSince Sevastopol, it has been my fate to cover the retreat of our armies and destroy the cities behind them.β
βFrench officer: Do you speak German?
Choltitz: Probably better than you.β
Choltitz: Probably better than you.β
βHe was trembling all over and the desk on which he was leaning shook. He was bathed in perspiration and became more agitated.β
βHave you read Churchill's speech? Appalling beyond all words! A Jewish brigade to go to Germany! Then the French will take the west and the Poles the east. The hate in that speech! I am completely shattered.β
βI asked the Field Marshal von Manstein if he would take part in the actions against Hitler. Manstein was sitting in a chair and reading the Bible. Quick, almost embarrassed, he put it aside and covered it with some papers.β
βI was at Stalingrad, you know... And from that time onwards I have done nothing but manoeuvre to escape encirclement by the enemy: retreat on retreat, defeat upon defeat. And here I am in marvellous Paris. What do you think is going to happen now?β
βGentlemen, you are the leaders of the best soldiers in the world. I will give you five or six of my own men; we will cover your back with sustained barrage fire to protect you while you cross the rue de Rivoli. All you need to do is force open a door to fight your way to the tapestry.β
βWe all share the guilt. We went along with everything, and we half-took the Nazis seriously instead of saying "to hell with you and your stupid nonsense". I misled my soldiers into believing this rubbish. I feel utterly ashamed of myself. Perhaps we bear even more guilt than these uneducated animals.β
βThey were just a gang of riffraff. Everybody talks all the time of the "Resistance" or the "Forces FranΓ§aises de l'intΓ©rieur" as if they were organized and disciplined troops, as if they had any real authority. But they are nothing but freeshooters firing on my men. If it continues I promise you I will take tough action. I will order that Paris be defended and will destroy the city before evacuating it.β
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What Dietrich von Choltitz Said About Others
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Dietrich von Choltitz on Erich von Manstein
βI asked the Field Marshal von Manstein if he would take part in the actions against Hitler. Manstein was sitting in a chair and reading the Bible. Quick, almost embarrassed, he put it aside and covered it with some papers.β
Quotes About Dietrich von Choltitz
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Heinz Zwiebler on Dietrich von Choltitz 2 quotes
βHis care and many endeavors for the well-being of the ordinary soldier at the front are to be emphasized as special characteristics of our regimental commander and he did not shy away from his warning voice when commanded by the commando.β
Disputed Quotes
Quotes attributed to Dietrich von Choltitz that are questionable.
βThe worst job I ever carried out - which however I carried out with great consistency - was the liquidation of the Jews. I carried out this thoroughly and entirely.β
About Dietrich von Choltitz
Dietrich Hugo Hermann von Choltitz (9 November 1894 β 4 November 1966) was a German General who served in the Royal Saxon Army during World War I and the German Army during World War II. He is chiefly remembered for his role as the last commander of Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944, when he disobeyed Adolf Hitler's orders to level the city, but instead surrendered it to Free French forces.