Max Liedtke, an officer in the Wehrmacht, intervened in July 1942 to block the deportation of Jewish residents from the ghetto in Przemyśl. By ordering his troops to threaten the SS with fire, he prevented the transfer of individuals to the Belzec extermination camp and secured the safety of nearly one hundred people within his military barracks.
Early life and journalism
Born in 1894 in Pasłęk, then known as Preussisch Holland, Liedtke was the son of a Lutheran vicar. He completed his Abitur in Gumbinnen before enrolling at the University of Königsberg to pursue theology. His studies were interrupted by military service during the First World War. Following the conflict, he transitioned into the newspaper industry, eventually serving as chief editor for a local publication in Greifswald.
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In 1939, Liedtke was conscripted into the Wehrmacht and saw deployments in Poland, Belgium, and Greece. By July 1942, he held the position of military commander in Przemyśl. During this time, the SS and the Frontier Police Authority organized a mass deportation effort as part of Operation Reinhard. Liedtke and his adjutant, Albert Battel, obstructed these actions by blocking the bridge over the River San. This standoff forced the withdrawal of SS units, allowing Wehrmacht troops to move approximately 80 to 100 Jewish individuals and their families into military protection.
Later service and imprisonment
The intervention in Przemyśl led to his removal from the command on 30 September 1942. He was subsequently reassigned to the 1st Panzer Army and fought in the Caucasus. Toward the end of the conflict in 1945, he was evacuated to Bornholm. Soviet forces occupied the island, captured Liedtke, and transferred him to the Soviet Union. He was convicted of alleged war crimes and died while in custody in Yekaterinburg in 1955.
Posthumous recognition
Decades after his death, Liedtke's actions in Poland were formally acknowledged by international authorities. On 24 June 1993, Yad Vashem awarded him the title of Righteous Among the Nations. This recognition serves to document his role as a resistance figure who utilized his military position to provide sanctuary to those targeted by the state.
Fast facts
- Born: 1894, Pasłęk
- Died: 1955, Yekaterinburg
- Religion: Evangelicalism
- Education: University of Königsberg
- Military service: Wehrmacht
- Recognition: Righteous Among the Nations (1993)
Questions readers ask
Why was Max Liedtke dismissed from his military command in 1942?
He was removed from his post in Przemyśl shortly after his troops blocked the SS from deporting Jewish residents to the Belzec extermination camp.
What happened to Liedtke after the war ended?
He was captured by Soviet forces on Bornholm, moved to the Soviet Union, and held in custody until his death in 1955.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1993
- Worked as journalist, resistance fighter and military personnel
- Educated at University of Königsberg
