Generalmajor Henning von Tresckow's family
Generalmajor Henning von Tresckow's family
Tresckow was responsible for initiating a number of attempts on Hitler's life in 1943 and committed suicide after the failure of the 20 July bomb plot 1944. He was initially buried on the family estate but when his involvement in the plot was uncovered his remains were removed from the family estate and were cremated at Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
Does anyone possess any information about his family and what happened to them? Were they imprisoned and the estate conviscated? He had two young sons at this time...are they still known to be alive? Thanks.
Does anyone possess any information about his family and what happened to them? Were they imprisoned and the estate conviscated? He had two young sons at this time...are they still known to be alive? Thanks.
Tresckow was married to Erika von Falkenhayn(1905-1974),the only daughter and youngest child of Erich von Falkenhayn.This is Erika with her father in Turkey in 1917.She was around 12 at the time.
My understanding is that Erika von Tresckow was arrested in August 1944 and the family estate Schloss Lindstedt confiscated.Her two daughters were also detained with her.The two sons remained in military service.I think they were cadets at a military school.After the war Erika worked as a house lady at a boarding school.
I have only seen a reference to Una von Aretin(1931-),their daughter,in recent accounts of the family.This might suggest she is the only one of the family still around at present.
My understanding is that Erika von Tresckow was arrested in August 1944 and the family estate Schloss Lindstedt confiscated.Her two daughters were also detained with her.The two sons remained in military service.I think they were cadets at a military school.After the war Erika worked as a house lady at a boarding school.
I have only seen a reference to Una von Aretin(1931-),their daughter,in recent accounts of the family.This might suggest she is the only one of the family still around at present.
The General with his sons Mark and Rüdiger:
http://www.gdw-berlin.de/db_images/gross/7331.jpg
Rüdiger(born 1927) is listed as a student at the Schüler der Ritterakademie zu Brandenburg in 1945.
http://www.gdw-berlin.de/db_images/gross/7331.jpg
Rüdiger(born 1927) is listed as a student at the Schüler der Ritterakademie zu Brandenburg in 1945.
Erika and Henning von Tresckow had four children: Mark, born 1927, Rüdiger, bon 1928, Uta, born 1931 and Adelheid, born 1939.
Besides, General von Tresckow had been given the advice to put any love letters he could obtain into his desk at home because the Gestapo would notoriously be interested in a person´s private life. A friend of the family was with the Gestapo men while they were searching the Burggrafenplatz apartment. As it had been intended they found the letters and kept asking: Who is Anne? Who is Mary? Tresckow had been well prepared for the failure of the coup attempt!
Erika von Tresckow and her two daughters were arrested on August 15 while spending their summer vacation at the Tresckow family estate in Wartenberg/Neumark (now Chelm Dolny, Poland). The daughters were detained in a children´s home in Bad Sachsa, Germany, together with several other children of the July 20 plotters. Erika von Tresckow was released from Lehrter Straße prison in Berlin on September 30, 1944.
Sources: "Henning von Tresckow - Ein Preuße gegen Hitler", by Bodo Scheurig, Frankfurt/Main, Berlin, 1987; "Henning von Tresckow - Ich bin der ich war", published by Sigrid Grabner and Hendrik Röder, Berlin, 2005; "Mit dem Mut des Herzens - Die Frauen des 20. Juli", by Dorothee von Meding, Berlin, 1992.
Best regards,
Silke
Schloss Lindstedt was the estate of the Falkenhayn family. I´m not sure if it was confiscated. The castle was actually occupied by Erika von Tresckow´s mother while the Tresckows had an apartment in Potsdam on Burggrafenplatz.Peter H wrote:My understanding is that Erika von Tresckow was arrested in August 1944 and the family estate Schloss Lindstedt confiscated.Her two daughters were also detained with her.
Besides, General von Tresckow had been given the advice to put any love letters he could obtain into his desk at home because the Gestapo would notoriously be interested in a person´s private life. A friend of the family was with the Gestapo men while they were searching the Burggrafenplatz apartment. As it had been intended they found the letters and kept asking: Who is Anne? Who is Mary? Tresckow had been well prepared for the failure of the coup attempt!
Erika von Tresckow and her two daughters were arrested on August 15 while spending their summer vacation at the Tresckow family estate in Wartenberg/Neumark (now Chelm Dolny, Poland). The daughters were detained in a children´s home in Bad Sachsa, Germany, together with several other children of the July 20 plotters. Erika von Tresckow was released from Lehrter Straße prison in Berlin on September 30, 1944.
Mark von Tresckow served as a cannonier in the Artillerie Regiment 23 and disappeared without trace after January 22, 1945. Rüdiger, a naval cadet, survived the war but I don´t know if he is still alive.Peter H wrote:The two sons remained in military service.I think they were cadets at a military school.
Sources: "Henning von Tresckow - Ein Preuße gegen Hitler", by Bodo Scheurig, Frankfurt/Main, Berlin, 1987; "Henning von Tresckow - Ich bin der ich war", published by Sigrid Grabner and Hendrik Röder, Berlin, 2005; "Mit dem Mut des Herzens - Die Frauen des 20. Juli", by Dorothee von Meding, Berlin, 1992.
Uta von Aretin is living in Munich.Peter H wrote:I have only seen a reference to Una von Aretin(1931-),their daughter,in recent accounts of the family.
Best regards,
Silke
Dorothee v. Meding's book (English Translation) goes on to say that Mark v. Tresckow was assigned to a suicide unit and was not heard from again. Not sure what specific type of posting that would be for a 17-year old in an artillery regiment. The implication was that he was assigned to this unit either as punishment to his father's activity or through his own wishes.
Colin
Colin
Colin, in my German copy of Dorothee v. Meding´s book it is not explicitly stated that it was a suicide unit Mark v. Tresckow was assigned to. In German it says "Himmelfahrtskommando" meaning something like "never-coming-back-unit" but not necessarily a unit for someone who wishes to die or for the purpose of punishment. Maybe the English copy of the book provides an inaccurate translation at this particular point? In my opinion, the expression "suicide unit" focuses too closely on the probability of dying.
Silke
Silke
Thanks Silke. The perils of translation!
I agree with you. Assignment to a suicide unit (if such things existed) by the regime would seem incompatible with treatment of other family members of conspirators. BTW - I think v. Meding's book is a terrific portrait of overlooked survivors who were intricately involved in the conspiracy.
Colin
I agree with you. Assignment to a suicide unit (if such things existed) by the regime would seem incompatible with treatment of other family members of conspirators. BTW - I think v. Meding's book is a terrific portrait of overlooked survivors who were intricately involved in the conspiracy.
Colin
I agree with you, Colin, and I find the book worth reading for yet another reason: It gives the reader an illuminating insight into the conspirator´s familiy´s every day life shortly before and after the July 20 plot. Margarethe von Hardenberg, Erika von Tresckow´s best friend, for example, describes what kind of advice she received from General von Tresckow concerning the disguise of her own activities should the coup attempt fail and she´d be interrogated by the Gestapo. From the interview with Margarethe von Hardenberg I got the impression that Tresckow was a particularly careful and thoughtful person.valkyrie wrote:BTW - I think v. Meding's book is a terrific portrait of overlooked survivors who were intricately involved in the conspiracy.
Silke
Last edited by Silke on 07 Sep 2007, 16:07, edited 1 time in total.
You´re very welcome.
In Bodo Scheurig´s book "Henning von Tresckow - Ein Preuße gegen Hitler" a Fritz von Falkenhayn is mentioned as General von Tresckow´s brother-in-law. I´m not familiar with the children of Erich von Falkenhayn but it seems that Fritz von Falkenhayn was Erika´s elder brother. At least, in the 1930s he was living in the UK but I don´t know of his whereabouts during the war. It rather seems that he had nothing to do with the July plot.
Do you know of any sons of Erich von Falkenhayn besides Richard?
Actually, Henning von Tresckow´s brother Gerd knew of the planned coup attempt. Although not being under immediate suspicion after the July coup had failed, he confessed to his unit commander and was therefore being arrested on July 27. He committed suicuide on Septermber 6, 1944. Here you can find a short bio of Gerd von Tresckow: http://www.gdw-berlin.de/bio/ausgabe_mit-e.php?id=204
Silke
In Bodo Scheurig´s book "Henning von Tresckow - Ein Preuße gegen Hitler" a Fritz von Falkenhayn is mentioned as General von Tresckow´s brother-in-law. I´m not familiar with the children of Erich von Falkenhayn but it seems that Fritz von Falkenhayn was Erika´s elder brother. At least, in the 1930s he was living in the UK but I don´t know of his whereabouts during the war. It rather seems that he had nothing to do with the July plot.
Do you know of any sons of Erich von Falkenhayn besides Richard?
Actually, Henning von Tresckow´s brother Gerd knew of the planned coup attempt. Although not being under immediate suspicion after the July coup had failed, he confessed to his unit commander and was therefore being arrested on July 27. He committed suicuide on Septermber 6, 1944. Here you can find a short bio of Gerd von Tresckow: http://www.gdw-berlin.de/bio/ausgabe_mit-e.php?id=204
Silke
General Falkenhayn had at least 2 sons,Robert and Fritz,that I know about.
Robert's ex-wife was executed on spy charges in 1934:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=125007
I find it difficult to reconcile that Falkenhayn's offspring lost two of their partners to politicial intrigue/treason etc in Nazi Germany but that's the way it panned out.
Robert's ex-wife was executed on spy charges in 1934:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=125007
I find it difficult to reconcile that Falkenhayn's offspring lost two of their partners to politicial intrigue/treason etc in Nazi Germany but that's the way it panned out.