Kurt Mälzer
Encyclopedia
Kurt Mälzer was a General
of the German Luftwaffe
during World War II
. In 1944, Mälzer was appointed the military commander of the city of Rome
, under the overall command of Field Marshal
Albert Kesselring
. Under his authority, Mälzer commanded not only the garrison Wehrmacht
troops in Rome itself, but also indirectly the SS security forces assigned to maintain order in the city (although these troops were nominally under the authority of the SS and Police Leader
of the region, Wilhelm Harster
).
General Mälzer is perhaps best known as the highest ranking individual in Rome directly associated with the Ardeatine massacre
. Mälzer, under orders from Adolf Hitler
, ordered the massacre which was then planned and carried out by the SS, under Herbert Kappler
.
After the war, Mälzer was put on trial by the Allies and sentenced to death. His death sentence was later commuted to a prison term.
Kurt Mälzer is a main character in the film Massacre in Rome
, and is portrayed by actor Leo McKern
.
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
of the German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
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...
. In 1944, Mälzer was appointed the military commander of the city of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, under the overall command of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
. Under his authority, Mälzer commanded not only the garrison Wehrmacht
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:...
troops in Rome itself, but also indirectly the SS security forces assigned to maintain order in the city (although these troops were nominally under the authority of the SS and Police Leader
SS and Police Leader
SS and Police Leader was a title for senior Nazi officials that commanded large units of the SS, of Gestapo and of the regular German police during and prior to World War II.Three levels of subordination were established for bearers of this title:...
of the region, Wilhelm Harster
Wilhelm Harster
Wilhelm Harster was an SS and Police Leader. He was twice convicted of war crimes, by the Dutch and later by West Germany...
).
General Mälzer is perhaps best known as the highest ranking individual in Rome directly associated with the Ardeatine massacre
Ardeatine massacre
The Fosse Ardeatine massacre was a mass execution carried out in Rome on 24 March 1944 by German occupation troops during the Second World War as a reprisal for a partisan attack conducted on the previous day in central Rome....
. Mälzer, under orders from Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, ordered the massacre which was then planned and carried out by the SS, under Herbert Kappler
Herbert Kappler
Herbert Kappler , was the head of German police and security services in Rome during World War II...
.
After the war, Mälzer was put on trial by the Allies and sentenced to death. His death sentence was later commuted to a prison term.
Kurt Mälzer is a main character in the film Massacre in Rome
Massacre in Rome
Massacre in Rome is a 1973 film directed by George Pan Cosmatos about the Ardeatine massacre which occurred at the Ardeatine caves in Rome, 24 March 1944, committed by the Germans as a reprisal for a partisan attack.-Summary:...
, and is portrayed by actor Leo McKern
Leo McKern
Reginald "Leo" McKern, AO was an Australian-born British actor who appeared in numerous British and Australian television programmes and movies, and more than 200 stage roles.-Early life:...
.