Sir Brian Robertson, later enobled as Baron Robertson of Oakridge, was probably the most influential British soldier and administrator in Germany during the occupation. He was Deputy Military Governor from 1945 to 1947 and promoted to Commander-in-Chief and Military Governor from 1947-49. After the formation of an independent West German Government, he was the first UK High Commissioner in Germany, from 1949-50.
His career is comparable in some ways to that of Lucius D. Clay, who was initially Deputy Military Governor, then Military Governor, of the US Zone. Clay is now much better known, in part because of his role during the Berlin air lift and also because his book, Decision in Germany, first published in 1950, is still essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the period.
Unlike Clay, Robertson never published his memoirs, and, as far as I know, never wrote about his time in Germany. (Apart from a talk he gave at Chatham House in 1965, published in International Affairs, Vol. 41, No. 3)
Very little seems to have been written about him by historians, although there is an interesting oral history interview on the web, conducted in 1970 for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. The interview is worth reading in full, but I'll quote one passage here, where Robertson compared himself to General Clay:
"General Clay was a very powerful character.... I am not such a strong character, perhaps, but maybe I have a way of getting my own way. However it may be, it is certain that policy in Germany, in fact, emanated very largely from General Clay and myself." (Oral History Interview with General Lord Robertson of Oakridge, 11th August 1970 by Theodore A. Wilson (Harry S. Truman Library & Museum)
I worked at derby loco works when sir brian robertson came to visit I made a pair of pliers and a hack saw to present to him and got a signed photo from him this was in 1953
Terence Bennett
Posted by: terence bennett | 07 February 2010 at 10:43 AM
There is a book on Brian Robertson, based on archives and interviews
http://www.amazon.com/Most-Diplomatic-General-Robertson-Biographies/dp/1857531809
The author also gave all the materials he used to the Liddel Hart Center for Military archives in King's College London.
Posted by: Max | 03 January 2011 at 01:41 PM