Ernst Maisel

Ernst Maisel
Born 16 September 1896
Landau
Died 16 December 1978 (1978-12-17) (aged 82)
Schönau am Königsee
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1915–1945
Rank Generalleutnant
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Lieutenant General Ernst Maisel (16 September 1896 - 16 December 1978) was a German army officer who served in the Wehrmacht during World War II.

On 6 April 1942 as an Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 42 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. As a Generalmajor 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 honor that investigated army officers suspected of involvement in the July 20 plot. In this capacity on 14 October 1944 he arrived with General Wilhelm Burgdorf at the home of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel. Burgdorf had been instructed by Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel to offer Rommel a choice - 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 Rommel's family received a telephone call fifteen minutes later saying that he had died.

In the last days of the Third Reich Maisel was appointed commander the 68th Infantry Division with the rank of Generalleutnant. He was taken into captivity by the Americans on 7 May 1945, was released in March 1947 and died aged 82 in 1978.

Awards

References

Citations
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.