To deal with the situation that had arisen after the Soviet attack of January 1945, Hitler had formed a new Army Group (OS), that of the Vistula. The new OS was established, by order of Hitler and despite the fierce dispute with Guderian, under the orders of Heinrich Himmler.
Finally, after a hard fight by Guderian, Hitler was finally persuaded to relieve Himmler of command of the Vistula Army, replacing him with a general who, despite his achievements in the field of honor, did not command Hitler's esteem, mainly because of his strong religious feeling. The new commander was Gottartn Heinrich .
The "little" colonel
Heinrich, when summoned to Hitler's famous bunker for a meeting on April 6, 1945, detailed all the problems. He also proposed the abandonment of Frankfurt on the Oder River which Hitler had described as a "fortress".
The guard was headed by an experienced colonel, Ernst Bieler. The 42-year-old colonel was a short man, with a slight bald head and wearing glasses. In no way did he look like the "Northern, Martian, superhuman" model... And yet.
Born in Ulm in 1903, Bieler had joined the army in 1923. He remained in the historic 13th Infantry Regiment until 1939. In 1940 he took part in the campaign against France and then in the operations against the USSR. He participated in the battles of Uman, Kiev, Sevastopol and Leningrad.
In 1944 he attended the War College and was then promoted to colonel and assumed command of the 385th Infantry Regiment. In early 1945 he was assigned command of the "fortress" of Frankfurt on the Oder River.
Upon hearing Heinrich's proposal, Hitler seemed to consider it. But then, in a fit of rage, I refused to leave Frankfurt. When Heinrich insisted Hitler asked him if Bieler was a Gneisenau (meaning if he was like the hero Prussian general who defended the town of Kohlberg from the French in 1806-07). Finally he asked to meet Bieler.
General intervention
As expected Hitler did not like Bühler, judging only superficially and ordered his replacement. But he calculated without Heinrichi who did not belong to the category of generals who "raised" a lot...
When Heinrich found out about Bieler's replacement, he telephoned the Chief of Staff of the Army High Command and Hitler's henchman General Krebs... The latter did not have time to utter a word. Heinrich didn't even give him a chance… “Krebs, Colonel Bieler is here in my office. I want you to listen to me carefully," he shouted.
"Bieler will take over the administration in Frankfurt again. I've said it to Burgdorf (another of Hitler's stooge generals), now I'm saying it to you. I refuse to accept another officer in his place' , he said emphasizing the words one by one.
"Do you understand what I'm telling you?", he shouted and without waiting for an answer he continued:"And something else. Where is Bieler's Iron Cross? He has been waiting months to be awarded. Now she must receive him. Do you understand?'', he screamed at the blushing Krebs.
“And listen to me Krebs. If Bieler does not receive the Iron Cross, if Bieler does not take over in Frankfurt again, I will also resign. Do you understand that? I expect you to let me know about it today," he shouted and hung up on Krebs.
On the afternoon of April 7th a signal was received to the effect that:"Bihler is restored to command at Frankfurt and the Iron Cross is sent to him." It is worth noting that Bieler and his men held Frankfurt despite furious Soviet attacks for seven days. Bieler was promoted to major general on the last day of the war. He died peacefully at home in 1997.
General Heinrich (left).
The Oder front on April 16, 1945.