Hans Krebs

German general

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Germany rank#248

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Fame56.2
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Germany rank#248
Journalists rank#241
Wikipedia25.1K

Lived 1898–1945, aged 47Germany

Germany JournalistsJournalist

Wikipedia
37 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in Germany
#248
Journalists
Era
1898–1945
Aged 47
Awards
2
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He spent a few weeks as the Wehrmacht's final Chief of Staff, then walked out of the Führerbunker to negotiate surrender with Soviet forces. When the Red Army refused his terms, he returned underground and shot himself.

Biography

About

Hans Krebs was a career officer who moved through the Imperial German Army, the interwar Reichswehr, and into Hitler's Wehrmacht. On 1 April 1945, with the Third Reich collapsing, he was named Chief of Staff of the German Army High Command. The appointment came a month before the end. After Hitler's suicide on 30 April, Krebs attempted to broker a conditional surrender with Soviet commanders in Berlin. The Soviets demanded unconditional terms. Negotiations collapsed. In the early hours of 2 May 1945, Krebs returned to the bunker and took his own life.

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