Waffen-SS General Wilhelm Bittrich (Maximilian Schell) is one of the few high-ranking SS officers generally considered to have not been personally involved with any war crimes. After the war, he was tried in France for the execution of 17 members of the Resistance. The trial brought to light that in fact Bittrich had known nothing of the atrocity, had not given the orders, and had attempted to have those responsible court-martialed. Bittrich was nevertheless convicted and sentenced to 5 years as the responsible commanding officer. He was released for time served during his long pretrial detention. In later life, Bittrich became active in groups that indulged in revisionist history to resurrect the shattered reputation of the SS.

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