Today we will see in the smallest details how the last day was of what many refer to as the victim of the Third Reich.

The German field marshal Irwin Raml was the most popular and respected general of Germany during World War II known as the people’s marshal for not being part of the upper or noble class.

Unlike most German military officers, Raml was extremely close to Hitler, being appointed by the Furer to lead his personal security abroad.

In a way, he contributed to the planning and execution of the invasion of France.

Disobeying, however, orders to fight to the death, even if it resulted in the loss of all his troops.

This disobedience could have cost him his career.

Moreover, he refused to obey orders to kill captured commandos behind enemy lines.

Despite his disobedience, Raml was a brilliant strategist on the battlefield, winning battle after battle on behalf of the Furer.

Winston Churchill, speaking to Parliament, described Raml as a bold and skillful opponent, recognizing him as a great general even amid the chaos of war.

Raml became a legendary public figure in Nazi propaganda but also among the allies and in post-war culture with many authors judging him a brilliant and apolitical military commander.

However, his mostly positive image and organizational capabilities have been questioned by experts who consider there to be a Raml myth.

Get ready because in this video we will witness a dialogue full of emotion revealing exactly what happened on that day.

Just so we can quickly understand who he was during World War II, he stood out in command of the seventh panzer division of the German army during the invasion of France in 1940.

His leadership of German and Italian forces during the North African campaign cemented his reputation as one of the greatest commanders and strategists with tanks during the conflict.

It was while commanding the Africa Corps that he received the nickname Dear Venfuks, the desert fox.

Raml was respected even by his adversaries.

The British recognized him for his chivalry and the fighting in Africa was often referred to as a war without hate.

After being defeated in the second battle of Elamagne, he was transferred to face the Allies during the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

Raml supported Hitler’s rise to power.

Although his reluctance regarding anti-semitism and Nazi ideology and his level of knowledge about the Holocaust remain controversial among scholars.

Before we effectively enter this topic, let’s emphasize a few names that will be very present on this day.

Lucia Raml is his wife.

Manfred Raml is his son.

Wilhelm Kitle was a field marshal of the German army and military adviser to Adolf Hitler.

In fact, he was the one who signed Germany’s unconditional surrender in Berlin on May 8th, 1945.

Burgdorf and Mel are the two German generals who will be in his house in his final moments.

Herman Aldinger, captain who assists Raml on this day.

Let’s go.

In the hope of keeping his family safe from Allied bombings, Raml chose Herlingan as a refuge for his wife Lucy and his beloved only son, Manfred Raml.

Herlingan became Raml’s base of operations during his final year of life.

On the fateful day when Raml fell, sensing an imminent threat from Adolf Hitler’s regime, but wishing to avoid capture by the Allies, Raml took refuge in Herilingan and refused to leave the area.

During the summer and early autumn of 1944, Gestapo agents and SS civil officers discreetly watched him.

His personal guard was withdrawn by higher orders, leaving him alone with his faithful dachshund and his pistol for self-defense.

For months, Raml had been claiming to know that his enemies in the high command were conspiring against him in Hitler’s ear, but only began to suspect more serious accusations when his chief of staff, General Spidle, was detained by the Gestapo on September 7th, 1944.

Spel became a victim of the internal purge triggered within the Vermacht after the failed July 20th plot, Operation Valkyrie.

On October 7th, 1944, the Supreme Commander of the Ober commando de Vermacht, Field Marshal Wilhelm Kitle, called Raml and ordered him to leave for Berlin on the 10th for a supposed interview about his future.

Raml refused, claiming lack of medical permission, and shortly after hung up the phone.

After the conversation, he informed his assistant, Captain Aldinger, that he did not believe he would be allowed to arrive alive in Berlin if he undertook such a trip.

On October 13th, Raml received a call from the headquarters of War District 5 in Stuttgart, informing him that generals Burgdorf and Msel would arrive in Herilingan at noon the following day.

Aldinger suggested that the two generals were probably coming to talk about the invasion or a new job, but Raml remained unusually silent for the rest of the day.

We finally arrive at October 14th, the last day.

On this day, Raml’s only son, Manfred, was allowed to return home to visit his father, who was still recovering.

After breakfast, father and son took a walk together in the garden.

The two did not foresee what was about to happen that day.

At noon, the two generals will come to the house to discuss my future employment, Raml told his son.

So today, I will know their arrangements for me, and they may send me to work at the Eastern Command post.

Before the clock struck noon, Raml changed his clothes, put on his favorite uniform, the leather jacket of the African Legion, and waited in the room on the first floor.

Around noon, a dark green car with a Berlin license plate stopped in front of the gate.

Besides Raml, the only men in the family were Captain Aldinger, who was also seriously injured during the inspection with Raml and Raml’s 15-year-old son, Manfred.

What they perhaps did not know is that at that moment, the Gestapo was surrounding Raml’s residence.

To prevent Raml from escaping, the road between Munich and Stoutgart was also blocked.

Two generals, army personnel director Burgdorf and Chief of the Guard Misel, got out of the car, entered the house, and brought Raml’s invitation to death.

They politely asked Raml, hoping to speak with him alone.

Manfred couldn’t help but sigh with relief and think, “It seems they are not going to arrest my father, so he left the room with Captain Aldinger.

” He politely said to the respected field marshal, “The head of state allows you to choose.

If you know nothing about the accusations of murder, you must explain it to the head of state.

If that is not the case, arrest and interrogation will be inevitable.

Soon, Raml regained his composure from the initial shock.

He knew that the so-called choice was only a facade.

He had to die.

There was no choice.

Burgdorf said, “The head of state promised that if you commit suicide, your treason will be kept strictly confidential.

A state funeral will be held for you and it will be ensured that no extraordinary measures will be taken against your relatives.

Lucia will receive the full field marshall’s pension and eventually a monument will be built for you.

This is a recognition of your past contributions to the empire.

Raml knew that today was inevitable and that he should die by the hands of his loyal head of state.

Raml then went upstairs and entered his wife’s room.

After a few minutes of silence, he said the following.

I’ve come to say goodbye.

In 15 minutes, I will be dead.

They suspect that I participated in the attempt to assassinate Hitler.

I answered no, but it was useless.

It’s the method they always use.

The Fura gives me the option between poison or being judged by the people’s court.

Defend yourself.

I choose the court, his wife energetically replied.

It’s useless.

I wouldn’t make it to Berlin.

They would kill me on the way.

Suddenly, he notices the presence of his son who was secretly listening to the conversation.

Upon seeing him, he calls him with a tense voice and takes him to his room to inform him of the situation.

I just told your mother that I must die within 15 minutes.

It’s hard to end like this, but the house is surrounded and Hitler accuses me of high treason.

Given the services rendered in Africa, I have the option of committing suicide with a poison that the generals carry with them and which will take effect in 2 seconds.

Do you believe that? Interrupts Manfred.

Yes, I believe.

They are interested in keeping this matter as quiet as possible.

And they also charged me with obtaining your promise of strict silence.

If you utter a single word about what happened here, they will not feel bound by the agreement.

Couldn’t we defend ourselves? Manfred.

It would be useless.

It’s better for only one to die than for all of us to end up involved in a useless shootout.

Besides, we don’t have enough ammunition to confront them.

After a brief farewell, Raml asks Manfred to call Aldinger.

Upon hearing Manfred call him, Aldinger quickly climbs the stairs.

As he enters the house, he hears Mrs.

Raml sobbing in her room.

When he finally learns what is happening, he is shocked.

However, he is not willing to accept it.

You should at least escape.

Damn it, Raml.

Tell me why we can’t run away and find a way to hide for a while.

Haven’t we been in worse situations before and survived to tell the story? This is different, my friend, replies the marshall.

All the streets are blocked by SS men.

Cars and the Gestapo are everywhere.

Apparently, we can’t count on the troops either since they’ve taken the telephone.

I can’t even call my headquarters.

But what if we shoot Burgdorf and Masel? At least we could.

No, they have their orders.

I have to think about Manfred and my wife.

If I choose the first option, they will not suffer any harm, and they will still receive a pension.

As for me, I will have a state funeral.

I will be buried here in Herlingan.

Then the two left the house together.

Burgdorf and Messer were standing at the gate waiting for them.

When Marshall Raml approached the two, they immediately raised their right arms, saluted, and respectfully greeted, “Field Marshall!” while making way.

A group of villagers also stood by the roadside.

The car was ready.

The driver opened the door for Raml.

Raml placed the marshall’s baton symbolizing his last honor under his left arm, shook hands with his son and Aldinger, and then entered the car.

In the blink of an eye, the car disappeared behind a curve.

After the car traveled 500 m, it stopped in a clearing next to a small forest.

Burgdorf asked Messer and the driver to get out of the car and move away, returning in 5 minutes.

Later, the driver recalled, “About 10 minutes later, we returned to the car.

I saw Raml sitting in the backseat of the car.

He was clearly dying.

He collapsed unconscious and was gasping.

There was still potassium cyanide in his mouth.

” 20 minutes later, the phone rang.

Aldinger received the report of Raml’s death.

Manfred later learned that their house was surrounded by the Gestapo and everything was under their supervision.

If Raml resisted, the Gestapo had orders to storm the room and shoot Field Marshall Raml.

25 minutes later, the phone rang.

Aldinger answered.

The field marshall had supposedly suffered a hemorrhage.

Then Aldinger slowly climbed the stairs towards Raml’s widow.

There was no need to speak.

Three German giants spoke about the event.

Hitler said the following.

Accept my sincere sorrow for the sensitive loss that the death of your dear husband represents for you.

The name of Marshall Raml will forever be associated with the heroic campaigns of North Africa.

Propaganda Minister Joseph Gerbles wrote a letter that said, “On the occasion of the painful loss experienced in the person of your husband, my wife and I convey the testimony of our unchanging consideration.

With Marshall Raml, the German army loses one of its most illustrious leaders, whose name will forever be associated with the heroic struggle waged for 2 years by the Africa Corps, received the testimony of our most sincere condolences.

And finally, Herman Guring said, “I was deeply moved to learn that your husband, Marshall Raml, died as a hero as a result of his wounds.

Although we all hoped that he would continue belonging to the German people for a long time, I express my deep sorrow on my own behalf and on behalf of the German Luftvafa.

His funeral was held on October 18th, 1944 with the highest military honors of the Third Reich and officially his cause of death was announced as the result of injuries he had received months earlier.

His remains after being cremated were buried in Herilingan, Germany in the cemetery near his home.

His family was not persecuted after his death.

One of his sons reached the position of mayor Burgermeister of the city of Schutgart.

Countless legends arose around the myth of Raml, but his military skill and conduct on the battlefield were never questioned.

Narratives such as the expression to do a raml adopted by the soldiers of the British 8th army to describe the flawless execution of a task highlight his cunning and improvisational ability which earned him the nickname desert fox.

Captain Herman Aldinger, the military aid who assisted Raml and put on his coat for the last time, survived the war and died in 1993 in Munich at the age of 86.

His wife passed away on December 26th, 1971 at the age of 77 and was buried next to the remains of her husband.

Irwin Raml served under three German governments, never joining the Nazi party and died at the age of 52.

Thank you very much for your audience.

May God bless you all a big hug and see you soon.