Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg

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Gustav Dietrich Adolf Heistermann von Ziehlberg
Born10 December 1898
Died2 February 1945(1945-02-02) (aged 46)
Berlin, Nazi Germany
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branchArmy
Years of service1914–45
RankGeneralleutnant
Commands held65th Infantry Division
28th Jäger Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg (10 December 1898 – 2 February 1945) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Convicted in connection with the 20 July plot, he was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad. This resulted in a magnificent irony of history.[1] In fact, while commanding the 65th Infantry Division in Italy in September 1943, von Ziehlberg ordered the unlawful killing of Capt Patrick Dudgeon, Sgt William Foster, Cpl James Shortall and Gnr Bernard Brunt (2 SAS REGT). Had it not been for his inadvertent connection with the 20 July Plot, he would have had to confront a war crimes charge and a British firing squad at the end of the war.

firing grounds and memorial in Berlin.

On 20 July 1944, Ziehlberg was ordered to arrest his Ia staff officer Major for his involvement in the 20 July plot. Kuhn together with his friend Lieutenant Albrecht von Hagen had arranged for the explosive delivered by Helmuth Stieff to Claus von Stauffenberg. On 21 July he had accompanied General Henning von Tresckow to the front near Królowy Most, where Tresckow committed suicide. Confronted with the warrant, Kuhn denied any entanglement. Instead of arresting him, Heisterman told Kuhn to transfer his official duties and to proceed to Berlin in order to clear things up. Kuhn used that opportunity to flee towards the forces of the Soviet 2nd Belorussian Front. He was taken prisoner and interrogated by the SMERSH counter-intelligence agency.

Heisterman was charged with negligent disobedience and in September 1944 was sentenced to nine months in prison by the Reichskriegsgericht, however he was pardoned for his previous service. He returned to his division, but was again summoned to Berlin on 30 October. Hitler, suspecting him of collaboration with Generaloberst Ludwig Beck, revoked his sentence and Heisterman was again arrested and had to face another trial. On 21 November he was sentenced to death by the Reichskriegsgericht, dishonourably discharged and stripped of all honors, ranks and titles. The judges openly stated that they had to follow the Führer's instructions.

Heisterman was executed on 2 February 1945 by a Wehrmacht firing squad at a proving ground near Olympic Stadium in the Charlottenburg (present-day Westend) district of Berlin.

Awards[]

Notes[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ SAS in Tuscany 1943-1945, Brian Lett, 2011, p.63
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 185.

Bibliography[]

  • (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.
  • Lett, Brian (2011). SAS in Tuscany 1943 - 1945. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. pp. Chapters 5–8. ISBN 978-1-84884-446-9.

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant 		Commander of 65. Infanterie-Division
31 May 1943 – 1 December 1943 		Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Hellmuth Pfeifer
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Hans Speth 		Commander of 28. Jäger-Division
28 April 1944 – 19 November 1944 		Succeeded by
Generalmajor Ernst König
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