Wolfgang Muff

Who was Wolfgang Muff?

Wolfgang Muff was a general in the Wehrmacht during the time of Nazi Germany.

Born in Ulm to General Karl Ludwig Muff, Wolfgang Muff joined the German Army as an officer cadet in 1899, receiving his commission as lieutenant in 1900. Rising through the ranks and decorated several times during World War I he was in charge of the Reichswehr's 13th Infantry Regiment stationed at Ludwigsburg from 1 March 1930 until 20 September 1931 having attained the rank of colonel.

By early 1938 Muff was a lieutenant general serving as the military attaché in Vienna of Franz von Papen while he was German ambassador to Austria. According to Papen, documents approved by Rudolf Hess indicate that Adolf Hitler considered having Papen or Muff murdered in early 1938; Hitler would then blame the deaths on Austrians to provide an excuse for Germany to intervene in Austrian affairs. On 11 March 1938, Muff brought a German ultimatum threatening an invasion to Wilhelm Miklas, but the Austrian president refused to yield. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, however, forged a telegram requesting German intervention in Austria which led to the Anschluss of Austria into Nazi Germany the following day.