Alfred Zerbel (8 September 1904 – 15 December 1987) was a German general who served as a

staff officer A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, enlisted, and civilian staff who serve the commander of a division or other large milita ...

in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and as the second

Inspector of the Army The Inspector of the Army ( or ''InspH'') is the title held by the commander and highest ranking officer of the German Army (unless the Inspector General is an army officer) of the modern-day German Armed Forces or ''Bundeswehr''. The Inspector i ...

in the

German Army The German Army (, 'army') is the land component of the armed forces of Federal Republic of Germany, Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German together with the German Navy, ''Marine'' (G ...

of the

Bundeswehr The (, ''Federal Defence'') are the armed forces of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany. The is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part consists of the four armed forces: Germ ...

Biography

Zerbel first entered the military as an infantry officer candidate in the

Reichswehr ''Reichswehr'' (; ) was the official name of the German armed forces during the Weimar Republic and the first two years of Nazi Germany. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the Imperial German Army () was dissolved in order to be reshaped ...

in 1924, and received his commission in 1927. In the Wehrmacht, he served in the army's general staff, the ''

Oberkommando des Heeres The (; abbreviated OKH) was the high command of the Army of Nazi Germany. It was founded in 1935 as part of Adolf Hitler's rearmament of Germany. OKH was ''de facto'' the most important unit within the German war planning until the defeat ...

'', and as first staff officer (

chief of staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...

) of the 299th Infantry Division and

Army Group Centre Army Group Centre () was the name of two distinct strategic German Army Groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created during the planning of Operation Barbarossa, Germany's invasion of the So ...

on the Eastern Front. He received the Silver German Cross in February 1945. At the end of the war, he led a ''

Kampfgruppe In military history, the German term (pl. ; abbrev. KG, or KGr in usage during World War II, literally "fighting group" or " battlegroup") can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the of Nazi Germa ...

'' of the 11th Panzer Division. After being captured by the Americans, he was a

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

until 1948. During the

denazification Denazification () was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of the Nazi ideology following the Second World War. It was carried out by removing those who had been Nazi Par ...

period, he served on the U.S. Army's Operational History (German) Section. In 1956, he joined the Bundeswehr as a

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

. He was promoted to brigadier general, and then Major General, serving as a staff officer and deputy corps commander. In 1958, he was made commander of the 2nd Panzergrenadier Division, and in April 1960 he became Inspector of the Army, the commander of the German Army, on the death of

Hans Röttiger Hans Röttiger (16 April 1896 – 15 April 1960) was a German career military officer who served in the militaries of four German states: the Imperial Army of the German Empire, the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germa ...

. He served until his retirement in September 1964.

References

External links

Biography on Deutsches Heer website
1904 births 1987 deaths People from Ostritz Military personnel of the Kingdom of Saxony Lieutenant generals of the German Army German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States Military personnel from Saxony German Army officers of World War II {{Germany-mil-stub