Most of what has been written hitherto about what now became
the Blomberg-Fritsch affair has been based on the narratives left
by embittered adjutants like Friedrich Hossbach, Fritz Wiede-
mann, and Gerhard Engel. The availability of more reliable ma-
terials, like Milch’s private diaries, Blomberg’s own manuscripts,
the verbatim Gestapo grilling of General von Fritsch, and the
secret letters and manuscripts that he wrote in and
(now in private hands in Moscow) enables us to dispense with
these narratives.
Both Blomberg and Fritsch were relics of an older genera-
tion, representative of the generals who had never really swal-
lowed the National Socialist revolution of . The career gen-
erals under their command refused to accept that an air force
created and directed by two former lieutenants, Göring and
Milch, could be of any real value. Fritsch in particular resented
the recent interpolation of a Wehrmacht high command under
Blomberg as supreme commander. When he returned from his
Egyptian vacation he had taken only a young adjutant, Cap-
tain Joachim von Both, as companion on January , Fritsch
had done nothing to discourage mounting criticism of Blom-
berg by the army generals. Looking bronzed and fit, Fritsch was
among the guests at the luncheon in honor of Göring’s birthday
on the twelfth, and he too must have wondered why Göring left
early.
Any doubts that Göring may have entertained about
Blomberg’s chosen bride were dispelled as he attended the wed-
ding, held behind closed doors of the great hall of the War
Ministry that afternoon. As the girl came mincing in, heavily
veiled, Göring and Hitler exchanged mute glances. She was slim
and blonde, and her genre was quite unmistakable. Blindly con-
tent, Blomberg left to honeymoon in Capri. General von
Fritsch’s papers record a two-hour meeting with Hitler three