Maisel, Ernst, born 16-09-1896 in Landau, Germany. On 04-01-1915 he became a volunteer in the Royal Bavarian 12th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR 12) of the Bavarian Army and was in the fields of the first war. Hauptmann Maisel married his fiancée Liselotte Barth on 15-08-1935. At the rank of Oberstleutnant while serving with the 42nd Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in 1916 (Battle of the Somme) and on 08-10-1916 was promoted in den Regimentsstab des FAR 12. Op 16-04-1918 he was wounded again (Flanders). He ended the first war and joined the Freikorps „von Epp“ on 07-04-1919. On 06-04-1942 as an Oberst in 42th Infantry Regiment he was awarded with the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
. As a Generalmajor from 01-06-1943, he was Chief of the Office Group for Officers’ Education and Welfare of the Army Personnel Office. One of his responsibilities in this appointment was to be court protocol officer of the Army court of honor that investigated army officers suspected of involvement in the July 20 plot. On 17-07-1944, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
was being driven to the front lines in France to try to get back his troops support. His car was bombed between Livarot and Vimoutiers by Allied air planes. Rommel was seriously injured.
He was moved to a Luftwaffe hospital, where he gained consciousness on July 24th.












Death and burial ground of Maisel, Ernst.



In questions after the war about Rommel’s suicide, Maisel’s name was first mentioned in the German public in other circles, as was reported in late February 1948 in the press, that the Bavarian Ministry of Justice material against Maisel. because he was accused of being involved in the poisoning of field marshal Rommel. In the summer of 1949, there was a first case against Maisel in front of the courtroom in Rosenheim, before which he declared at the last meeting with Generalfelkdmarshal Erwin Rommel, in the presence of General Burgdorf, did not know anything about the poison and the intent to kill; however, the proceedings ended with M. being classified in the group after a week’s trial on 04-07-1949


Manfred Tappe
A comprehensive and well written report. I enjoyed reading it. I think all the facts are correct. I too lived thru this nightmare being born 1938 in Dortmund. My father served under this criminal government in the Wehrmacht.
I have visited Field Marshal Rommels grave in Herrlingen and the site nearby where he in desperation took the poison to save his family. Recently I returned from the “Wolfsschanze” and the events of this 12 year Regime led by criminals of the lowest order had a visible impact upon me. I cannot say that I’m ashamed as what took place so long ago as I was to young, but I’m ashamed of those who actively furthered this nightmare.
If I had a notion to place an eternal curse upon those who actively participated in the murder/eradication of Jews (I also recently visited Auschwitz/Birkenau) I would do so and would hope that these monsters would burn forever in Hell!!
To gain an understanding of what happened here in the 1940’s defies all human reason.