Ever since the Knights of the Teutonic Order stormed ironshod over northeastern Europe, German military commanders have made their marks as rigid disciplinarians who brooked no nonsense from anyone, civilians in particular. In Bonn last week, ambitious young Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss made headline news by turning the tables.
Strauss had proposed a Defense Ministry lieutenant colonel for promotion. Brigadier General Burkhart Müller-Hillebrand, a 52-year-old member of the clannish former German General Staff, working in the personnel section, objected so strongly in writing to the colonel's lack of combat distinction in World...
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