Maximilian Felzmann

Maximilian Felzmann
Born	22 April 1894 Zwittau
Died	8 June 1962(1962-06-08) (aged 68) Zürich, Switzerland
Allegiance	Austria-Hungary (to 1918) First Austrian Republic (to 1938) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Austrian Army Wehrmacht
Years of service	1913–1938 1938–1945
Rank	Major (Austria) General der Artillerie (Germany)
Commands held	251. Infanterie-Division XXXXVI. Panzerkorps XXVII. Armeekorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battles of Rzhev Operation Mars Battle of Kursk Operation Bagration Warsaw Uprising Gumbinnen Operation East Prussian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Maximilian Felzmann (22 April 1894 – 8 June 1962) was a General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Maximilian Felzmann was captured by American troops in May 1945 and held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Cross of Honor
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (27 July 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal (18 July 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (29 January 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 28 November 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 251. Infanterie-Division
  • 643rd Oak Leaves on 3 November 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of Korpsabteilung E
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (29 October 1943)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
29 October 1943	Die im Mittelabschnitt kämpfende hessisch-thüringische 251. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Felzmann hielt in einem der Schwerpunkte der Abwehrschlacht den immer wiederholten Angriffen vielfach überlegener Sowjetkräfte unerschütterlich stand.	The in the middle section fighting Hesse-Thuringia 251st Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Felzmann withstood in one of the focal points of the defensive battle the ever-repeated attacks of often superior Soviet forces unshakably.

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.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2299-6.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Karl Burdach	Commander of 251. Infanterie-Division 10 March 1943 - 10 October 1944	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Werner Heucke
Preceded by General der Panzertruppen Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz	Commander of XXXXVI. Panzerkorps 29 August 1944 - 20 September 1944	Succeeded by General der Panzertruppen Walter Fries
Preceded by General der Infanterie Helmuth Prieß	Commander of XXVII. Armeekorps 26 October 1944 - 14 April 1945	Succeeded by General der Infanterie Walter Hörnlein