| Rudolf Meister | |
|---|---|
 Rudolf Meister | |
| Born | 1 August 1897 Cologne, German Empire |
| Died | 11 September 1958(1958-09-11) (aged 61) Hanover, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire  Weimar Republic  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1914–28 1931–45 |
| Rank | General der Flieger |
| Commands | 4th Air Corps |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rudolf Meister (1 August 1897 – 11 September 1958) was a German general (General der Flieger) in the Luftwaffe during World War II who commanded the 4th Air Corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Meister surrendered to the American troops in May 1945 and was interned until 1948.
In 1950, Meister was one of the authors of the Himmerod memorandum which addressed the issue of rearmament (Wiederbewaffnung) of the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II.
Awards and decorations
- German Cross in Gold on 30 October 1941 as Oberst im Generalstab (in the General Staff) of VIII. Fliegerkorps
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of IV. Fliegerkorps
References
Citations
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 302.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 536.
Bibliography
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byGeneral der Flieger Kurt Pflugbeil | Commander of IV. Fliegerkorps 4 September 1943 – 16 September 1944 |
Succeeded byReformed into Deutschen Luftwaffe in Dänemark |
| Preceded byPreviously IV. Fliegerkorps | Commander of Deutschen Luftwaffe in Dänemark 1 October 1944 – 22 December 1944 |
Succeeded byGeneralleutnant Alexander Holle |
| Preceded byBruno Loerzer | Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Office 22 December 1944 – 8 May 1945 |
Succeeded byNone |
| Authors of the Himmerod memorandum | |
|---|---|
| Air Force | |
| Army | |
| Navy | |
- 1897 births
- 1958 deaths
- Military personnel from Cologne
- Luftwaffe World War II generals
- German Army personnel of World War I
- Military personnel from the Rhine Province
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States
- Prussian Army personnel
- Reichswehr personnel
- Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class
- Himmerod meeting participants