Maximilian von Edelsheim

Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim
Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim
Born	6 July 1897 Berlin
Died	26 April 1994 (aged 96) Konstanz
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	General der Panzertruppe
Commands held	XLVIII. Panzerkorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Konstanz Johann Georg Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim^{[Note 1]} (6 July 1897 – 26 April 1994) was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the 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.

Career

Edelsheim was born on 6 July 1897 in Berlin, the son of Franz Freiherr von Edelsheim (author of Operationen über See 1901, translated as Operations upon the Sea 1914) and his wife Theda, née von Frerichs. He died on 26 April 1994 in Konstanz.

Edelsheim was a soldier in the German Uhlans as his father had been. He fought in the First World War. Fighting on the Eastern Front he was promoted to ensign and later lieutenant.

After the War he was a member of the Freikorps. He subsequently served in the Reichswehr, and rose through the ranks.

He fought in the Second World War finally becoming a general. He was a commander in the XXXXVIII Tankcorps.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (27 November 1915)^[1]
  • 1st Class (26 October 1918)^[1]
• Knight, 2nd Class of Order of the Zähringer Lion with Swords
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 September 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (14 October 1939)^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 30 July 1941 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Radfahr-Abteilung 1^[2][3]
  • 162nd Oak Leaves on 23 December 1942 as Oberst and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26^[2][4]
  • 105th Swords on 23 October 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 24. Panzer-Division^[5]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 21 February 1944, 28 August 1944, and 17 October 1944
• Order of Michael the Brave
  • 3rd Class (30 May 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
21 February 1944	Im Südabschnitt der Ostfront haben sich die bayerische 97. Jägerdivision unter Führung des Generalmajors Rabe v. Papenheim und die ostpreußische 24. Panzerdivision unter Führung des Generalmajors und Reichsfrhr. v. Edelsheim besonders ausgezeichnet.[6]	In the southern sector of the Eastern Front have the Bavarian 97 Rifle Division under the command of Major General Rabe v. Papenheim and the East Prussian 24 Armoured Division under the leadership of Major General Reichsfreiherr v. Edelsheim particularly excelled.
28 August 1944 (Addendum)	In den seit Ende Juli andauernden Kämpfen an San und Weichsel hat sich die bereits vielfach bewährte ostpreußische 24. Panzerdivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim erneut in Angriff und Abwehr hervorragend geschlagen.[7]	In the since the end of July ongoing battle at the San and Vistula has the already multiple times successful East Prussia 24 Armored Division, led by Lieutenant General Reichsfreiherr, again shown outstanding fortitude in attack and defense.
17 October 1944 (Addendum)	An der erfolgreichen Abwehr der nunmehr seit 5 Wochen währenden feindlichen Angriffe in den Ostbeskiden haben die tapferen Verbände des 24. Panzerkorps unter Führung des Generalleutnants von Le Suire und des Generalleutnants Freiherr von Edelsheim entscheidenden Anteil.[8]	In the successful defense, which has lasted 5 weeks now, of hostile attacks in the Bieszczady, the brave units of the 24 Panzer Corps under the command of Lieutenant-General von Le Suire and Lieutenant-General Freiherr von Edelsheim have played a decisive role.

Notes

1. Regarding personal names: Reichsfreiherr was a title before 1919, but now is regarded as part of the surname. It is translated as Baron of the Empire. Before the August 1919 abolition of nobility as a legal class, titles preceded the full name when given (Graf Helmuth James von Moltke). Since 1919, these titles, along with any nobiliary prefix (von, zu, etc.), can be used, but are regarded as a dependent part of the surname, and thus come after any given names (Helmuth James Graf von Moltke). Titles and all dependent parts of surnames are ignored in alphabetical sorting. The feminine forms are Reichsfreifrau and Reichsfreiin. Titles using the prefix Reichs- were those created before the fall of the Holy Roman Empire.

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 142.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 169.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 64.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 45.
6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 40.
7. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 223.
8. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 295.

Bibliography

• Alman, Karl (2008). Panzer vor - Die dramtische Geschichte der deutschen Panzerwaffe und ihre tapferen Soldaten. Würzburg, Germany: Flechsig Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88189-638-2.
• Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2003). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe I Abraham – Huppertz [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color I Abraham – Huppertz] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-20-1.
• 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 [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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• 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] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• Maximilian von Edelsheim @ lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de