Ferdinand Schörner
Ferdinand Schörner (born 12 June 1892) is a German field marshal in the Heer and member of the militarist faction of the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
Biography
Pre-WWII years
Schörner joined the army during WWI and served on the Italian front. He stayed in the army during the Weimar years and participated in the defeat of the Beer Hall Putsch.
World War II
During the Second World War Schörner specialized in leading mountain forces. He participated in the invasions of Poland, Greece, and the USSR, where he fought in the Arctic sector of the front near Murmansk. Schörner became known for his brutality and utter devotion to Adolf Hitler, as well as his use of human wave tactics.
Disgrace and return
Following the war, Schörner became involved with Göring's militarist faction of the NSDAP. Possibly due to his loyalty, Schörner was put in charge of the Wehrmacht forces during the West Russian War. Schörner failed to notice the SS plans to backstab the Wehrmacht, and the Army only survived due to the timely intervention of General Hans Speidel. This started Schörner's rivalry with him. Following the war, Schörner began conspiring to take over the Wehrmacht and trigger wars with Germany's neighbors in order to stimulate the failing economy. Once again he was foiled by Speidel, causing Schörner to lose favor within the military. Although he has lost some of his influence and respect, Schörner still remains one of the most powerful men in the Wehrmacht, and will surely play a key role if any conflict were to break out, foreign or domestic.
In-game
If Albert Speer wins the civil war, Schörner will still be alive and continue to spread anti-Speerite sentiment through the officer corps.
If Martin Bormann wins the civil war, Schörner will still be alive and lead the militarist faction in the Kartenhaus. He will be assassinated when Bormann purges the militarists.
Unlike in the other three contenders, should Reinhard Heydrich be victorious in the civil war, he will not serve as an obstacle to Heydrich. After Heydrich's victory, Schörner will find himself outmaneuvered by Otto Ernst Remer, who will take control of the militarists and side with Heinrich Himmler. Despite him being Schörner's enemy, Hans Spiedel will recommend that Heydrich aid Schörner. Unlike Remer, Schörner has no wish to get Germany involved in nuclear war and if the player has Heydrich's support in retaking command of the militarists, Schörner will kill Remer and join Heydrich.
Notes
- Ferdinand Schörner is also known as the "Ungehuer," which means "Monster" in German.
- Bormann's method of assassination is poisoning by polonium, a radioactive material most notably used in the real world to assassinate former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
- While playing as Speer's Germany, following the defeat of Militarbezirk Russland, an event will describe Schörner taking a cyanide pill while being transported, the partisans then drag him out of the car and lynch him.