Military Wiki
Maximilian Wengler
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1985-036-06, Maximilian Wengler
Born (1890-01-14)14 January 1890
Died 25 April 1945(1945-04-25) (aged 55)
Place of birth Roßwein
Place of death near Pillau-Neutief
Allegiance German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany 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[]

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
  1. Berger 2000, p. 374.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Berger 2000, p. 373.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Thomas 1998, p. 435.
  4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 442.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.
  6. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 247.
  7. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, p. 188.
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[]

Military offices
Preceded by
General der Artillerie Wilhelm Berlin
Commander of 227. Infanterie-Division
7 June 1943 – 27 March 1945
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Heun
Commander of 83. Infanterie-Division
27 March 1945 – 25 April 1945
Succeeded by
Oberst Hellmuth Raaatz



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