Max-Josef Pemsel
Encyclopedia
Max-Josef Pemsel was a Generalleutnant in the German army during Second World War. After the war he became one of the very few Nazi senior officers to serve in the West German Army.
, Bavaria
, Pemsel entered the German army during the First World War in April 1916 as a volunteer. He was assigned to the 11th Reserve Infantry Regiment of the Bavarian army
, with which he saw action at the Western front. On 30 April 1918 Pemsel was promoted to lieutenant. After the Armistice, Pemsel remained in the shrunken German Reichswehr
. In 1935 Pemsel became a staff officer in the 1st Mountain Division.
During the Second World War he fought in various theaters. In 1941 during the Invasion of Yugoslavia
he was the chief of staff of the XVIII Gebirgskorps
. By 1944 he had been promoted to lieutenant-general and made chief of staff of the 7th Army, during which coordinated the first German response to Operation Overlord
. In August 1944 Pemsel was transferred to Finland and given command of the 6th Mountain Division, a command he held until 19 April 1945. On 9 December 1944 Pemsel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. In April 1945 Pemsel was transferred to Italy, where he became chief of staff of the Ligurien Armee. He surrendered on 26 April 1945 and remained a prisoner of war until April 1948.
On 26 April 1956 Pemsel entered the Bundeswehr
in the rank of a major-general and was given command of Wehrbereich VI (Munich
). On 1 April 1957 he was promoted to commanding general of the II. Corps, stationed in Ulm
. On 30 January 1958 he was promoted to lieutenant-general. Pemsel retired on 30 September 1961 and died on 30 June 1985 in Munich.
Biography
Born on 15 January 1897 in RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
, Pemsel entered the German army during the First World War in April 1916 as a volunteer. He was assigned to the 11th Reserve Infantry Regiment of the Bavarian army
Bavarian army
The Bavarian Army was the army of the Electorate and then Kingdom of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereignty of Bavaria into that of the German State in 1919...
, with which he saw action at the Western front. On 30 April 1918 Pemsel was promoted to lieutenant. After the Armistice, Pemsel remained in the shrunken German Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
. In 1935 Pemsel became a staff officer in the 1st Mountain Division.
During the Second World War he fought in various theaters. In 1941 during the Invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
he was the chief of staff of the XVIII Gebirgskorps
XVIII Corps (Germany)
-History:XVIII. ArmeekorpsThe XVIII. Armeekorps was formed in Salzburg, Austria, on 1 April 1938, following the Anschluss of Austria into the German Reich. During the life of the XVIII. Armeekorps, they took part in the Polish campaign, Fall Weiss, and performed occupation duties in France. On the...
. By 1944 he had been promoted to lieutenant-general and made chief of staff of the 7th Army, during which coordinated the first German response to Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. In August 1944 Pemsel was transferred to Finland and given command of the 6th Mountain Division, a command he held until 19 April 1945. On 9 December 1944 Pemsel 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...
. In April 1945 Pemsel was transferred to Italy, where he became chief of staff of the Ligurien Armee. He surrendered on 26 April 1945 and remained a prisoner of war until April 1948.
On 26 April 1956 Pemsel entered the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
in the rank of a major-general and was given command of Wehrbereich VI (Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
). On 1 April 1957 he was promoted to commanding general of the II. Corps, stationed in Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
. On 30 January 1958 he was promoted to lieutenant-general. Pemsel retired on 30 September 1961 and died on 30 June 1985 in Munich.