Ernst Maisel
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Ernst Maisel (16 September 1896 - 16 December 1978) was a German army officer who served in the Wehrmacht
during World War II
.
On 6 April 1942 as an Oberst
in Infanterie-Regiment 42 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. As a Generalmajor he was Chief of the Office Group for Officers’ Education and Welfare of the Army Personnel Office. One of his responsibilities in this appointment was to be court protocol officer of the Army court of honor
that investigated army officers suspected of involvement in the July 20 plot
. In this capacity on 14 October 1944 he arrived with General Wilhelm Burgdorf
at the home of Generalfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
. Burgdorf had been instructed by Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel
to offer Rommel a choice - take poison, receive a state funeral, and obtain immunity for his family - or face a treason trial. Rommel drove away with Burgdorf and Maisel and Rommel's family received a telephone call fifteen minutes later saying that he had died.
In the last days of the Third Reich Maisel was appointed commander the 68th Infantry Division with the rank of Generalleutnant. He was taken into captivity by the Americans on 7 May 1945, was released in March 1947 and died aged 82 in 1978.
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
On 6 April 1942 as an Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
in Infanterie-Regiment 42 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. As a Generalmajor he was Chief of the Office Group for Officers’ Education and Welfare of the Army Personnel Office. One of his responsibilities in this appointment was to be court protocol officer of the Army court of honor
Court of Honor
A court of honor is a semi-official or unofficial tribunal constituted to determine various questions of social protocol, breaches of etiquette, and other allegations of breaches of honor, or entitlement to various honors...
that investigated army officers suspected of involvement in the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
. In this capacity on 14 October 1944 he arrived with General Wilhelm Burgdorf
Wilhelm Burgdorf
Wilhelm Burgdorf was a German general. Born in Fürstenwalde, Burgdorf served as a commander and staff officer in the German Army during World War II.- Military career :...
at the home of Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
. Burgdorf had been instructed by Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Bodewin Gustav Keitel was a German field marshal . As head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and de facto war minister, he was one of Germany's most senior military leaders during World War II...
to offer Rommel a choice - take poison, receive a state funeral, and obtain immunity for his family - or face a treason trial. Rommel drove away with Burgdorf and Maisel and Rommel's family received a telephone call fifteen minutes later saying that he had died.
In the last days of the Third Reich Maisel was appointed commander the 68th Infantry Division with the rank of Generalleutnant. He was taken into captivity by the Americans on 7 May 1945, was released in March 1947 and died aged 82 in 1978.
Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 6 April 1942 as OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
and commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 42