General Staff
At the outbreak of the Second World War Quirnheim serves as a staff officer in the organisational division of the German General Staff
Role range: 1939-1945
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim Biography and Timeline
Follow Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim through 32 dated historical records for Germany.
Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
32Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1939–1944Years on this page
1939
Army Organisation
Quirnheim works on army organisation matters as Germany begins the war in Europe
Role range: 1939-1945
Wehrmacht
As a professional army officer Quirnheim serves within the Wehrmacht during the early phase of the war
Role range: 1939-1945
1940
Army Administration
His work in the organisational branch links him to the structure and mobilisation of the German Army
Role range: 1939-1945
General Staff
Quirnheim continues General Staff service as Germany expands its military operations in Europe
Role range: 1939-1945
Military Planning
Quirnheim gains experience in military planning and staff administration during the German campaigns
Role range: 1939-1945
1941
Eastern Front
Quirnheim becomes increasingly disturbed by Nazi conduct in the occupied eastern territories
Role range: 1939-1945
Occupied Territories
He supports more humane treatment of civilians in Nazi occupied Eastern Europe
Role range: 1939-1945
Resistance
Quirnheim begins to distance himself from the Nazi regime as he becomes more aware of its brutality
Role range: 1939-1945
Ukraine
His views on civilian treatment bring him into conflict with harsh occupation policies in the east
Role range: 1939-1945
1942
Eastern Front
His service on the Eastern Front strengthens his opposition to Nazi military and occupation policies
Role range: 1939-1945
German Resistance
Quirnheim becomes increasingly connected with officers opposed to Hitler and the Nazi regime
Role range: 1939-1945
Promotion
Quirnheim is promoted to lieutenant colonel during the war
Role range: 1939-1945
Twenty Fourth Army Corps
Quirnheim becomes Head of Staff of the Twenty Fourth Army Corps on the Eastern Front
Role range: 1939-1945
Wilhelm Dieckmann
Through his brother in law Wilhelm Dieckmann Quirnheim strengthens his links with the German military resistance
Role range: 1939-1945
1943
Operation Walkure
Quirnheim becomes involved in plans to use Operation Walkure against the Nazi regime
Role range: 1939-1945
Army General Office
Quirnheim succeeds Stauffenberg as Chief of Staff at the Army General Office in Berlin
Role range: 1939-1945
Claus von Stauffenberg
Quirnheim cooperates with Claus von Stauffenberg in the military resistance against Hitler
Role range: 1939-1945
Friedrich Olbricht
Quirnheim works with General Friedrich Olbricht in the planning of the anti Hitler military coup
Role range: 1939-1945
Hilde Baier
Quirnheim marries Hilde Baier while continuing his army career and resistance contacts
Role range: 1939-1945
Promotion
Quirnheim is promoted to colonel during the war
Role range: 1939-1945
Resistance Circle
By 1943 Quirnheim is drawn into the circle of officers planning action against Hitler
Role range: 1939-1945
1944
Bendlerblock
Quirnheim remains at the Bendlerblock as the conspirators attempt to use the replacement army to seize control
Role range: 1939-1945
Coup Failure
The coup collapses after news spreads that Hitler survived the assassination attempt
Role range: 1939-1945
July Plot
Quirnheim supports the conspiracy to overthrow Hitler after the bomb attack at the Wolfs Lair
Role range: 1939-1945
Operation Walkure
After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften
Role range: 1939-1945
Operation Walkure
After the bomb explodes Quirnheim urges General Olbricht to activate Operation Walkure even though Hitlers death is not confirmed
Role range: 1939-1945
Stauffenberg Plot
After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften
Role range: 1939-1945
Execution
Quirnheim is arrested with Olbricht Stauffenberg and Haeften and is executed by firing squad in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock
Role range: 1939-1945
German Resistance
Quirnheim dies as one of the army officers executed for his part in the 20 July plot against Hitler
Role range: 1939-1945
Army General Office
From his Berlin position Quirnheim is placed close to the command machinery needed for Operation Walkure
Role range: 1939-1945
Operation Walkure
Quirnheim helps prepare the use of reserve army orders for the coup against the Nazi leadership
Role range: 1939-1945
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.