Georg von Majewski
Georg von Majewski (30 November 1888 – 6 May 1945) was a German general during World War II who served in both world wars and attained the rank of Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General). He is most known for his role as the final German commander of Plzeň during the closing days of the war.
Biography
Early life and World War I
Majewski was born in Scharnau (modern-day Sarnowo, Poland), then part of Prussia, on 30 November 1888.[1] He joined the Prussian Army as a Fahnenjunker in January 1908 and was assigned to Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 23 in Graudenz. He was commissioned as a Leutnant in 1910.[1]
He trained at the Military-Technical Academy in Berlin-Charlottenburg and served as battalion adjutant at the outbreak of World War I. Majewski fought on the Eastern Front and later transferred to the Ottoman Army, where he participated in campaigns in Kurdistan and Palestine. Promoted to Hauptmann in 1917, he fell ill in 1918 and returned to Germany.[2] He received an honorary discharge in 1919 with the character rank of Major.
Interwar period
Majewski joined the Berlin Security Police (Sicherheitspolizei) following his military discharge and was promoted to police major in 1921.[2] He chaired the police sports committee and was later appointed commander of the Police Sports School in Spandau in 1933 after completing training in Brandenburg.[3]
World War II
With German rearmament, Majewski returned to the army in 1935 as an Oberstleutnant and took command of Pionier-Bataillon 6 in Minden. He was later appointed chief engineering officer for VIII Army Corps and served on the staff of Army Group A during the Battle of France.[1] He was promoted to Generalmajor in 1940.
During Operation Barbarossa, Majewski was involved in the southern campaign but was recalled due to illness. He later served at the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) overseeing timber supply logistics. He was promoted to Generalleutnant in 1942.[2]
In 1944, he briefly served as garrison commander of Mons, Belgium. He was then transferred to the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
Commander in Plzeň
In November 1944, Majewski became the military commander of Plzeň. On 5 May 1945, during the Prague uprising, Czech partisans attacked German positions. Majewski refused to surrender to civilians and declared he would yield only to U.S. forces.[4]
On 6 May 1945, elements of the 16th Armored Division (United States) arrived in the city. Majewski surrendered at 16:30 to Lieutenant Colonel Percy H. Perkins Jr.[4] He then committed suicide in his headquarters in the presence of his staff and wife, Elisabeth.[4]
Promotions
- Fahnenjunker – 28 January 1908
- Leutnant – 16 June 1910
- Oberleutnant – 25 February 1915
- Hauptmann – 18 October 1917
- Honorary Major – 1919
- Polizei-Hauptmann – 1919
- Polizei-Major – 1921
- Polizei-Oberstleutnant – 1 April 1933
- Oberstleutnant – 1 October 1935
- Oberst – 1 April 1936
- Generalmajor – 1 April 1940
- Generalleutnant – 1 December 1942[1]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class[1]
- Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords[1]
- Ottoman Gallipoli Star (Iron Crescent)[2]
- Ottoman Imtiyaz Medal with Swords[2]
- Ottoman Liyakat Medal with Swords[2]
- War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd Class with Swords[1]
- Anschluss Medal[1]
- Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918[1]
- Wehrmacht Long Service Awards (4, 12, 18, and 25 Years)[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 "Generalleutnant Georg von Majewski". Axis Biographical Research. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lämmer, Hans (1993). General Georg von Majewski: Der letzte deutsche Stadtkommandant von Pilsen. Böhlau Verlag. ISBN 978-3412091305 Check
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- ↑ Schulz, Gerhard (2001). Die Polizei im Dritten Reich. Nomos. ISBN 978-3789042937 Check
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Holý, Jiří (2005). Plzeň 1945. Plzeň Historical Society. ISBN 978-8086350802 Check
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Sources
- Lämmer, Hans (1993). General Georg von Majewski: Der letzte deutsche Stadtkommandant von Pilsen. Böhlau Verlag. ISBN 978-3412091305 Check
|isbn=value: checksum (help). Search this book on - Schulz, Gerhard (2001). Die Polizei im Dritten Reich. Nomos. ISBN 978-3789042937 Check
|isbn=value: checksum (help). Search this book on - Holý, Jiří (2005). Plzeň 1945. Plzeň Historical Society. ISBN 978-8086350802 Check
|isbn=value: checksum (help). Search this book on - "Generalleutnant Georg von Majewski". Axis Biographical Research. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
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- German military personnel of World War I
- German Army personnel of World War II
- German police officers
- German generals of World War II
- Lieutenant generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht)
- Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class
- Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 2nd class
- Recipients of the Military Merit Order (Bavaria)
- Recipients of the Imtiyaz Medal
- Recipients of the Liyakat Medal
- Recipients of the Gallipoli Star (Ottoman Empire)
- Recipients of the War Merit Cross (Germany), 1st class
- Recipients of the War Merit Cross (Germany), 2nd class
- Recipients of the Anschluss Medal
- Recipients of the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award recipients
- German military personnel who committed suicide
- People from Masovian Voivodeship (1526–1795)
- People from the Province of Prussia
- 1888 births
- 1945 deaths
- 1945 suicides
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