Wolf, Graf von Baudissin
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Wolf Stefan Traugott Graf von Baudissin (* May 8 1907 in Trier, † June 5 1993 in Hamburg) was a German general and military and peace researcher. His wife was the sculptress Dagmar Gräfin zu Dohna-Schlodien. He was one of the developers of the concepts of "Innerer Führung" and "Staatsbürger in Uniform" (citizens in uniform), the two lead concepts of the modern German Bundeswehr.
He studied law, history and economics in Berlin.
In World War II, he served as Hauptmann im Generalstab (Captain with the General Staff) at the personal request of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. He was captured by the Australians in 1941 and incarcerated in the prisoner-of-war camp Durringhile, Victoria, Australia. In absence, he was promoted to Major. While being held at Durringhile, he developed the idea of the "prisoner-of-war university" (original German: Kriegsgefangenenuniversität). There, the expert German prisoners taught their comrades in various subjects and prepared them for a life after the war. Baudissin was released in 1947.
In October 1950, Baudissin worked on the secret Himmeroder Denkschrift, a pamphlet advocating German rearmament. From 1966 to 1967, he helped to establish the Bundeswehr (in the rank of Colonel) and went on to serve with the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) as Lieutenant General.
Being pensioner since 1967, he openly supported Willy Brandt's bid for chancellorship in 1972.
From 1971 to 1984, Baudissin served as founding director for the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (German: Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik) at the University of Hamburg. In 1979, he was made professor.
From 1980 to 1986, he served as professor for social science at the University of the Bundeswehr in Hamburg.
Baudissin was a member of the peace movement group Generals for Peace (German: Generale für den Frieden).
On 1967, he was awarded the Theodor-Heuss-Preis and the Große Bundesverdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband (Great Federal Cross of Merit, with stars and sash).
On April 19 1994 (after Baudissin's death), the hall of the Bundeswehr's Zentrum für Innere Führung (Center for Civic Education) in Koblenz was renamed "Forum Wolf Graf von Baudissin".
On June 7 1994, the "General Schwartzkopff Barracks" in Hamburg-Osdorf were renamed "Lieutenant General Graf von Baudissin Barracks".