Maximilian Wengler

Maximilian Wengler
Born	(1890-01-14)14 January 1890 Roßwein
Died	25 April 1945(1945-04-25) (aged 55) 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: 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.

Awards

• Wound Badge in Silver
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
• Military Order of St. Henry (Knights Cross, 15 October 1914)
• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (29 December 1940)
• 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
  • 404th Oak Leaves on 22 February 1944 as Oberst of the Reserves and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 366
  • 123rd Swords on 21 January 1945 as Generalmajor of the Reserves and commander of the 227. Infanterie-Division
• 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.	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 (2000). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges (in German). Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2300-3.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

• Maximilian Wengler @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht

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