Ulrich de Maizière

Ulrich de Maizière
de Maizière in 1969
Born (1912-02-24)24 February 1912
Stade, Province of Hanover, German Empire;[1]
Died 26 August 2006(2006-08-26) (aged 94)
Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Allegiance  Weimar Republic (1930–1933)
 Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
 West Germany (1955–1972)
Years of service 1930–45
1955–72
Rank General

Karl Ernst Ulrich de Maizière (German pronunciation: [də mɛˈzi̯ɛːɐ̯]; 24 February 1912 – 26 August 2006) was a German general. His father was Walter de Maizière, jurist by profession. His mother's name was Elsbeth (née Dückers). He grew up in Hannover and received the Higher School Certificate in 1930 and then joined the Reichswehr in Stettin. From 1931 to 1933 he was at infantry school in Dresden. He raised from Lieutenant (1933) to Oberleutnant (1935) to Captain (1939). He took part in the Invasion of Poland and Eastern Front. (1942 major, 1943 Lieutenant Colonel). He served as an aide to general Adolf Heusinger during World War II. From 1945 to 1947 he was prisoner of war. 1955 he joined the Bundeswehr and worked in the federal ministry of defence. (Colonel) 1.4.1962 he became commander of the military academy of the German Armed forces. (1.8.1962 major general). 1.10. 1964 Inspector of the Army (lieutenant general) and 25.8. 1966 the fourth Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (General officer), succeeding Heusinger, holding the position from 1966 to 1972. In 1967 de Maizière formally congratulated Field Marshal Erich von Manstein at his 80th birthday.[2] He retired 31.3.1972 succeeded by Armin Zimmermann. During his retirement he wrote the books: "Führen im Frieden - 20 Jahre Dienst für bundeswehr und Staat." (1974) and "In der Pflicht - Lebensbericht eines deutschen Soldaten im 20. Jahrhundert." (1989). His brother Clemens de Maizière decided to stay in the Soviet-occupied part of Germany and became one of the founding members of the CDU (Ost), his nephew Lothar de Maizière was the last Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), while his son Thomas de Maizière served as Federal Minister of the Interior.

He belonged to a noble family of French Huguenot origin, originally from Maizières-lès-Metz.

References

  1. ↑ John Zimmermann: Ulrich de Maizière – General der Bonner Republik, 1912–2006, München 2012, S. 11 f.
  2. ↑ Guido Knopp, "Hitler's Warriors" (Swedish "Hitlers Krigare", ISBN 91-89442-17-2), p.188
Military offices
Preceded by
General Heinz Trettner		 Chief of Staff of the Federal Armed Forces
25 August 1966 – 31 March 1972		 Succeeded by
Admiral Armin Zimmermann
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Alfred Zerbel		 Inspector of the Army
1 October 1964 – 24 August 1966		 Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Josef Moll
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