| Maximilian Wengler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 January 1890 |
| Died | 25 April 1945 (aged 55) |
| Place of birth | Roßwein |
| Place of death | near Pillau-Neutief |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1935-1945 |
| Rank | Generalmajor of the Reserves |
| Commands held | 227. Infanterie-Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Maximilian Wengler (14 January 1890 – 25 April 1945) was a German Insurance broker, serving as a general during World War II and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Wengler took command of the 83. Infanterie-Division on 27 March 1945 in the area of Gotenhafen. The division, after escaping the encirclement of the city, fought its way to Oxhöfter Kämpe and Pillau-Neutief. Here Wengler and numerous men of his staff were killed by an aerial bomb on 25 April 1945. His wife had also been killed in the aerial bombardment of Dresden in early 1945.[1]
Awards[]
- Wound Badge in Silver[2]
- Infantry Assault Badge in Silver[2]
- Close Combat Clasp in Bronze[2]
- Military Order of St. Henry (Knights Cross, 15 October 1914)
- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 6 October 1942 as Oberstleutnant of the Reserves and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 366[4]
- 404th Oak Leaves on 22 February 1944 as Oberst of the Reserves and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 366[5]
- 123rd Swords on 21 January 1945 as Generalmajor of the Reserves and commander of the 227. Infanterie-Division[6]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 3 August 1944
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 3 August 1944 (Addendum) | In den schweren Kämpfen bei Liepna haben sich die rheinisch-westfälische 227. Infanterie-Division unter Oberst Wengler und eine Kampfgruppe unter Major Busch besonders hervorgetan.[7] | The Rhenish-Westphalian 227th Infantry Division under Colonel Wengler and a battle group under Major Busch have particularly distinguished themselves in the heavy fighting at Liepna. |
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Berger, Florian (1999) (in German). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War]. Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1998) (in German). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z]. Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Maximilian Wengler and the edit history here.