eyed, and physically unattractive, he was con-
tent to concentrate upon his passion—
horses—and gained renown as a world-class
equestrian. Senger subsequently studied for
two years at the Cavalry School in Hannover,
spent four years with the cavalry inspectorate
in Berlin, and by 1938 had risen to colonel of
the Third Cavalry. This regiment was de-
scended from the proud Zieten Hussars, dis-
tinguished since the days of Frederick the
Great, and he took particular pride utilizing its
great silver kettles while on parade. Senger
had since matured into an excellent field offi-
cer and easily passed entrance exams for the
General Staff School, but he was refused be-
cause of his age. He nevertheless was de-
lighted to remain with his horses until the ad-
vent of World War II. A dedicated soldier yet a
devout Christian, Senger seemed strangely out
of place while serving the Third Reich.
In September 1939, Senger led his cavalry
regiment into Poland and saw active service.
There he was profoundly shocked by SS
atrocities against civilians and refused to par-
take in any revelry. “What can one do but stay
silent,” he confessed. “Do they know what I
am trying to say with my silence? Sometimes
it seems to me that the boys feel my deep pain
in my silence.” Senger later commanded a mo-
torized brigade during the campaign through
France in May 1940. He distinguished himself
in the charge to the channel and captured
Cherbourg just ahead of Gen. Erwin Rom-
mel. He remained behind during the occupa-
tion, ensconced in a castle at Normandy and
befriending the rural aristocracy of France.
For two years Senger also employed his lin-
guistic skills as the chief German liaison offi-
cer at Turin with the French-Italian armistice
commission (by virtue of his knowledge of
Latin, he easily mastered Italian), rising there
to major general in September 1941. One year
later Senger was reassigned to the Russian
Front commanding the crack 17th Panzer Di-
vision. In this capacity he accompanied Gen.
Hermann Hoth’s Fourth Panzer Army during
its unsuccessful attempt to relieve German
forces trapped in Stalingrad. Failure there
convinced Senger that Germany was destined
to lose the war, and—to himself—he began
questioning the rationality of his government.
Throughout the spring of 1943, Senger ren-
dered excellent service during Field Marshal
Erich Manstein’s drive through southwestern
Ukraine, which rescued the First Panzer
Army from imminent capture. That May he
was summoned to Berlin for a personal audi-
ence with Adolf Hitler, where he received a
promotion to lieutenant general. Despite this
singular honor, Senger remained unmoved.
“Of Hitler’s personal magnetism I felt not the
slightest sign,” he emoted. “I thought only
with disgust and horror of all the misfortunes
which this man had brought upon my coun-
try.” The scholarly general was subsequently
reassigned to Italy as chief liaison officer with
Italian forces in Sicily.
Senger was actively involved in the de-
fense of Sicily and helped orchestrate the suc-
cessful withdrawal of German and Italian
forces in July 1943. He then directed the re-
moval of German forces marooned on Cor-
sica and Sardinia, which was accomplished
with consummate skill. However, after the fall
of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and
Italy’s armistice with the Allies in September
1943, Hitler ordered all Italian officers in Ger-
man hands to be executed. Senger then curtly
informed his superior, Field Marshal Albert
Kesselring, that he would not obey this
order. Kesselring, in turn, did not inform
Hitler of his defiance and the matter passed
quietly. In October 1943, Senger took com-
mand of the 14th Panzer Corps in mainland
Italy. He then established his headquarters at
Roccasecca, birthplace of Saint Thomas
Aquinas in 1225, in whose writing he took sol-
ace. By this time Allied forces under Gen.
Mark W. Clark had landed at Salerno and
were slowly pushing up the peninsula. It be-
came Senger’s mission to halt their drive on
Rome at any cost.
By November 1943, Senger assumed con-
trol of German defenses at Monte Cassino in
the Apennine Mountains. This placed him
80–90 miles southeast of Rome, in rough,SENGERUNDETTERLIN, FRIDOLINVON