Maximilian von Herff
This biography needs additional citations for verification. (November 2013) |
Maximilian von Herff | |
---|---|
Army, Waffen-SS | |
Rank | Obergruppenführer |
Unit | Schutzstaffel |
Commands held | SS Personnel Main Office |
Battles/wars | World War I German Revolution of 1918–19 World War II
|
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Maximilian Karl Otto von Herff (17 April 1893 – 6 September 1945) was a German senior
Early life
Maximilian von Herff was born in Hanover on 17 April 1893, the son of a general practitioner. The Protestant von Herff family originated from Herve in Belgium and moved to the Palatinate in 1577 to escape religious persecution. His ancestor Christian Herff had been inducted into the noble class in 1814.[1]
After school, Maximilian von Herff joined the army and became Leutnant (second lieutenant) in an infantry regiment of the Prussian Army); he served with the unit throughout World War I. He stayed in the Reichswehr after the war, and in 1926 served as Oberleutnant (lieutenant) in the 18. Reiter-Regiment in Stuttgart. In Wehrmacht on 3 January 1939, Herff reached the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant-colonel).
World War II
During
At the suggestion of Heinrich Himmler, he transferred to the Waffen-SS. On 1 April 1942 Herff joined the Nazi Party (member no. 8 858 661) and the SS (member no. 405 894). From 1 October 1942 to 8 May 1945, he was chief of the SS Personnel Main Office. Herff dealt with internal and financial SS matters.
In his later diary entries, Herff claimed to have had knowledge of the Final Solution but not have played any role in administrative or actual involvement in exterminations or deportations. However, on 14–15 May 1943, Herff was in Warsaw during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and supervised its suppression under orders from Himmler. His adjutant, Karl Kaleske wrote of the deportations carried out following the uprising to Auschwitz concentration camp and other camps where "special action" was required. Jürgen Stroop's report on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising contains a photograph of Herff and Stroop taken during the May 1943 visit and confirms Herff's visit to the ghetto 14 May 1943.[4]
On 20 April 1944, Herff was promoted to SS-Obergruppenführer (SS general).[5][6]
Capture and death
Herff was taken prisoner by British forces in 1945, and held at Grizedale Hall POW camp. He suffered a stroke and died at nearby Conishead Priory Military Hospital. He was later reburied at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
His sister Carin von Herff moved to London during his imprisonment where she lived for four years before returning to Germany with her French
His cousin was
Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 June 1941 as Oberst and as commander of Kampfgruppe "von Herff" (Schützen-Regiment 115).[3]
References
- ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Bd. 52, 210/212. C.A.Starke Verlag.
- ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- ^ Stroop Daily report 14 May 1943; accessed 18 August 2018
- ^ Dienstalterliste der Waffen-SS, SS-Obergruppenführer bis SS-Hauptsturmführer, Stand vom 1. Juli 1944, berichtigt 31.08.1944, 29.12.1944, 31.01.1945.
- ISBN 3-921-655-41-2.
- ^ "The USA and us"-"The sins of the forefathers" J. Andreani,
- ISBN 978-1-59797-021-1.
- ^ Heer, Hannes (1995). "Der Minsker Prozess". Hannesheer.de.