In the war, Richard could shortly have made general! (6)
I believe the answer is:
wagner
But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?
(Other definitions for wagner that I've seen before include "We rang up the composer" , "Richard . . . . . . composed The Flying Dutchman" , "German opera composer" , "Noted German" , "German composer of The Ring Cycle" .)