Did Wilhelm Keitel ever try to stop most extreme orders of Hitler, or did he agree with them?


 Wilhelm Keitel was not a German general who dared to stand in the face of Hitler. The German army was the realm of yes men in which he was virtually the king. The other generals did not even respect him, they scorned him behind his back with this title Lakeitel, a taunt at his name, on the German word, Lackey, servant, which does all he is asked to do blindly.

Keitel was not a mere follower. His stand was not about standing by and watching Hitler make such disastrous propositions, he was the one who actually wrote his name physically on the official papers that enabled such crimes to occur. He was also a participant who approved some of the most brutal orders in the war. He ordered even uniformed Allied commandos, in an effort to surrender, to be shot in the spot, and permitted the use of the disappearance to deal with political opponents at night, and signed documents to execute Soviet officers, one on the spot.


Others argue that he attempted to resign but the historical events demonstrate that he only did so when Hitler shouted or insulted him in a meeting. On being briefed with a word of encouragement by Hitler, Keitel went back to his desk and continued to keep the machine of war running. The career of Keitel shows how a faithful soldier may turn into a monster and be too frail to say no.

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