Generalleutnant Ernst Maisel (16 September 1896 – 16 December 1978) was a general 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 ...

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

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 ...

, known for his complicity in the forced sucide of Erwin Rommel.

Background

As a

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

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 honour A court of honor may be: * A Court of Honor, an official event constituted to determine various questions of social protocol, breaches of etiquette * A manorial court, the medieval court of honor * The Court of Honor, the 1949 Soviet film known * ...

that investigated army officers suspected of involvement in the

20 July plot The 20 July plot, sometimes referred to as Operation Valkyrie, was a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, the chancellor and leader of Nazi Germany, and overthrow the Nazi regime on 20 July 1944. The plotters were part of the German r ...

. In this capacity on 14 October 1944 he arrived with General

Wilhelm Burgdorf Wilhelm Emanuel Burgdorf (15 February 1895 – 2 May 1945) was a German general who rose to prominence during the final years of World War II. Burgdorf served as a commander of 529th Infantry Regiment from May 1940 to April 1942 (part of the 299 ...

at the home of Field Marshal

Erwin Rommel Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel (; 15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944), popularly known as The Desert Fox (, ), was a German '' Generalfeldmarschall'' (field marshal) during World War II. He served in the ''Wehrmacht'' (armed forces) of ...

. Burgdorf had been instructed by Field Marshal

Wilhelm Keitel Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel (; 22 September 188216 October 1946) was a German field marshal who held office as chief of the (OKW), the high command of Nazi Germany's armed forces, during World War II. He signed a number of criminal ...

to offer Rommel three choices: report to Hitler to exculpate himself; admit guilt, 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 committed suicide shortly thereafter. In the last days of the war, Maisel was appointed commander the 68th Infantry Division with the rank of

Generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...

. 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 Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

on 6 April 1942 as ''

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German language, German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the Army, ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, a ...

'' and commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 42Fellgiebel 2000, p. 301.

References

Bibliography

* 1896 births 1978 deaths People from Landau Lieutenant generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) German Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States People from the Palatinate (region) Military personnel from Rhineland-Palatinate German Army personnel of World War II {{Germany-mil-bio-stub