__NOTOC__ Moritz von Drebber (12 February 1892 – 30 May 1968) was a general in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

who commanded the 297th Infantry Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Drebber surrendered the division on 25 January 1943 during the Battle of Stalingrad. He then sent a letter to

Friedrich Paulus Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus (23 September 1890 – 1 February 1957) was a German field marshal during World War II who is best known for commanding the 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942 to February 1943). The battle ende ...

stating "he and his soldiers were well received by the Red army." Drebber also asked Paulus to "give up the useless resistance and to surrender with the whole army." He joined the

National Committee for a Free Germany The National Committee for a Free Germany (german: Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland, or NKFD) was a German anti-Nazi organization that operated in the Soviet Union during World War II.The Russians in Germany: A History of the Soviet Zone of Occ ...

while in captivity. He was released in 1949.

Awards and decorations

* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 June 1942 as ''

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedish ...

'' and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 523Fellgiebel 2000, p. 139.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Drebber, Moritz Von 1892 births 1968 deaths People from Oldenburg (city) People from Oldenburg (state) Major generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) German Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union German commanders at the Battle of Stalingrad National Committee for a Free Germany members Military personnel from Oldenburg (city)