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Maximilian von Edelsheim (6 July 1897 – 26 April 1994) 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 ...
of
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 ...
. He was a recipient of the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
He negotiated the surrender of German forces to the Americans at the bridge at
Tangermünde
Tangermünde (; ) is a historic town on the Elbe River in the district of Stendal (district), Stendal, in the northeastern part of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The town has land area of around 89.87 sq.km (34.70 sq.mi) and a population of 10,283 people ...
on the
Elbe River on or about May 2, 1945. The German 12th Army, under General
Walther Wenck had previously done a 180 degree turn away from the Western Allies, resulting from an order to relieve Berlin from the Soviet attack. Disobeying the order, Wenck fought due East, into the Spree Forest region, toward the town of Halbe and linked up with the remnants of the German 9th Army. They then reversed and went west, back to the Elbe. There, Edelsheim crossed the Elbe on a
schwimmwagen and negotiated the surrender of all German forces on the West side of the Elbe to the Americans. He was taken prisoner by the Americans and released in 1947.
Awards
*
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...
(1914) 2nd Class (27 November 1915) & 1st Class (26 October 1918)
[Thomas 1997, p. 142.]
* Knight, 2nd Class of
Order of the Zähringer Lion with Swords 2nd Class (19 September 1939) & 1st Class (14 October 1939)
*
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross on 30 July 1941 as ''
Oberstleutnant
() (English: Lieutenant Colonel) is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, ...
'' and commander of Radfahr-Abteilung 1
[Scherzer 2007, p. 287.]
** Oak Leaves on 23 December 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 Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26
** Swords on 23 October 1944 as ''
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 ...
'' and commander of 24. Panzer-Division
[Fellgiebel 2000, p. 45.]
References
Citations
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelsheim, Maximilian Reichsfreiherr Von
1897 births
1994 deaths
Military personnel from Berlin
Military personnel from the Province of Brandenburg
German Army personnel of World War I
German barons
Generals of Panzer Troops
Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class
Prussian Army personnel
Reichswehr personnel
20th-century Freikorps personnel
German Army generals of World War II
German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States