Walter Model
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:52 am
An excerpt from MS B-701 with a description of Model's personality by Oberst Reichhelm:
'Model was taciturn and not harmonious,a personality at odds with itself. His sense of duty and his temper fought his heart which was soft by nature. Outwardly,his hard will was almost always victorious over his heart-internally,in spite of the raw shell he remained the officer with heart and reason; the heart prevailing in all decisive issues. It was not given to many to recognize the merry and carefree human, because even to those that were close to him he expessed himself seldomly or not at all. His often hearty laugh must have convinced even many outsiders and made this 'curt general' particularly sympathetic. Model did not have many friends as he lacked the leisure for this. He was also very attached to the circle of officers he had created around him and again and again drew to him.
He had an admirable way of adressing his soldiers-even though his intonation was brash-he gained their trust quickly by the manner of his personal questions which brought out with a clairvoyant look the particularities of the activities of each individual, recognized their needs and not last of all ,always knew a way out.
Towards his officers he had a compelling way to seize each by his responsabilities in such a way that nobody could do anything else than do more than his duty.
His appearance in a circle of people ,be it officers or men or other occasions, never gave rise to solemnity. He was immdediately right in the middle, oversaw everything with one look and captivated those present with his gift to adress people,quicky grasping the situation.'
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'Model was taciturn and not harmonious,a personality at odds with itself. His sense of duty and his temper fought his heart which was soft by nature. Outwardly,his hard will was almost always victorious over his heart-internally,in spite of the raw shell he remained the officer with heart and reason; the heart prevailing in all decisive issues. It was not given to many to recognize the merry and carefree human, because even to those that were close to him he expessed himself seldomly or not at all. His often hearty laugh must have convinced even many outsiders and made this 'curt general' particularly sympathetic. Model did not have many friends as he lacked the leisure for this. He was also very attached to the circle of officers he had created around him and again and again drew to him.
He had an admirable way of adressing his soldiers-even though his intonation was brash-he gained their trust quickly by the manner of his personal questions which brought out with a clairvoyant look the particularities of the activities of each individual, recognized their needs and not last of all ,always knew a way out.
Towards his officers he had a compelling way to seize each by his responsabilities in such a way that nobody could do anything else than do more than his duty.
His appearance in a circle of people ,be it officers or men or other occasions, never gave rise to solemnity. He was immdediately right in the middle, oversaw everything with one look and captivated those present with his gift to adress people,quicky grasping the situation.'
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