Ernst Maisel

Who was Ernst Maisel?

Generalleutnant Ernst Maisel was a German army officer who served in the Deutsches Heer in World War I and 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.