Hempel, Erich, born 06-01-1894 in Königsberg, Prussia, joined the Army, age 20, on 10-08-1914, as a war volunteer in the 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment. He was in the fields of the first war with the Artillery Munitions Column. He ended the war with the 3rd Field Company of the 9th Pioneer Battalion. Hempel remained in the new Reichswehr and with the outbreak of World War II, he meanwhile an Oberst, was in the infamous Führer Reserve (see Adolf Hitler) (did you know), 
to 08-09-1939. He was transferred into the Central Department of the Army General Staff, until 25-01-1940. Appointed as commander of the 660th Pioneer Battalion to 10-02-1941 and commander of the motorized 513th Regiment Staff, to 01-10-1942. Hempel then landed again in the Reserve 
for a long time and was assigned, first on 01-01-1944, as the Army Pioneer Leader of the 3rd Panzer Army, under General der Panzertruppe, Hasso von Manteuffel
to 08-09-1939. He was transferred into the Central Department of the Army General Staff, until 25-01-1940. Appointed as commander of the 660th Pioneer Battalion to 10-02-1941 and commander of the motorized 513th Regiment Staff, to 01-10-1942. Hempel then landed again in the Reserve for a long time and was assigned, first on 01-01-1944, as the Army Pioneer Leader of the 3rd Panzer Army, under General der Panzertruppe, Hasso von Manteuffel
. The 3rd Panzer Group was formed on 16-11-1940. It was a constituent part of Army Group Centre and participated in Operation Barbarossa and fought in the Battle of Moscow in late 1941 and early 1942. Later it served in Operation Typhoon, where it was placed under operational control of the Ninth Army under command of General Adolf Strauß 
. 
Panzergruppe 3 was retitled the 3rd Panzer Army on 01-01-1942. The commander in chief on the formation of the Army Group Centre (22 June 1941) was Fedor von Bock. 
Hempel became General of Pioneers of Army Group E until 10-04-1944 and General of Pioneers with Commander in Chief West, until April 1945, as he landed in American captivity.
Death and burial ground of Hempel, Erich.
Released in 1947 he retired in St. Augustin, where he at the old age of 87, on 20-05-1981. Hempel is buried on the cemetery “An der Eichen” in St. Augustin.
