Karl Ernst Ulrich de Maizière (; 24 February 1912 – 26 August 2006) was a German

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

. He served in the army of three German states: the '' Reichswehr'' of the

Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic, officially known as the German Reich, was the German Reich, German state from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional republic for the first time in history; hence it is also referred to, and unofficially proclai ...

, the ''Wehrmacht'' of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

, and the

German Army The German Army (, 'army') is the land component of the armed forces of Federal Republic of Germany, Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German together with the German Navy, ''Marine'' (G ...

West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...

, with a total of 32 years in uniform, the last five as Inspector General of the ''Bundeswehr''. He retired in 1972 at the age of sixty and lived in retirement until his death in August 2006.

Early life and early military career

Maizière was born in Stade on 24 February 1912 to Walter de Maizière, who was a jurist by profession, and Elsbeth (''née'' Dückers). His family was of Huguenot origin, having fled from France in the 1700s. He grew up in

Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...

and received his high school certificate in 1930 before joining the '' Reichswehr'' in Stettin. From 1931 to 1933 he was at an infantry school in

Dresden Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...

was promoted several times in the next few years, eventually becoming a captain in 1939.

Second World War and later military career

Maizière took part in the

Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ...

and Eastern Front, as an aide to General Adolf Heusinger. In this time he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Upon the surrender of Germany, he went into British captivity and lived as a civilian from his release to 1955, when he joined the

of the new ''Bundeswehr'' and worked in the Federal Ministry of Defence (Colonel). 1 April 1962 he became commander of the military academy of the German Armed forces (major general). 1 October 1964 Inspector of the Army (lieutenant general) and 25 August 1966 the fourth Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (General officer), succeeding Heusinger, holding the position from 1966 to 1972. In 1967 Maizière formally congratulated Field Marshal Erich von Manstein at his 80th birthday.Guido Knopp, "Hitler's Warriors" (Swedish "Hitlers Krigare", ), p.188 He retired 31 March 1972 succeeded by Armin Zimmermann. During his retirement he wrote the books: ''Führen im Frieden - 20 Jahre Dienst für Bundeswehr und Staat'' ("Leading in Freedom: 20 Years Served for Federal Defence and State")(1974) and ''In der Pflicht - Lebensbericht eines deutschen Soldaten im 20. Jahrhundert'' ("In Duty - Life Report of a German Soldier in the 20th Century")(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 A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

of the

German Democratic Republic East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

(East Germany), while his son Thomas de Maizière served as Federal Minister of Defence as well as Federal Minister of the Interior. He belonged to a noble family of French Huguenot origin, originally from Maizières-lès-Metz.

Dates of rank

* ''Leutnant'' (Lieutenant)- 1 August 1933 * ''Oberleutnant'' (Senior lieutenant)- 1 October 1935 * ''Hauptmann'' (Captain)- 1 April 1939 * ''Major'' (Major)- 1 April 1942 * ''Oberstleutnant'' (Lieutenant colonel)- 1 June 1943 * ''Oberst'' (Colonel)- 1955 * ''Generalmajor'' (Major general)- 1 April 1962 * ''Generalleutnant'' (Lieutenant general)- 1 October 1964 * ''General'' (General)- 25 August 1966

References

External links

*
Biography on BMVg website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maiziere, Ulrich 1912 births 2006 deaths Bundeswehr generals German Army officers of World War II Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Ulrich Military personnel from the Province of Hanover Inspectors General of the Bundeswehr Generals of the German Army Commandants of the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College People from Stade Military personnel from Lower Saxony