Sidney Excell
Encyclopedia
Major Sidney Excell was a Major in the British Second Army during World War II
. He is remembered for the 1945 arrest of Nazi SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler
in Bremervörde
, Germany
. He is survived by two sons, four grandsons and three granddaughters all of whom still carry his surname
.
On May 22, 1945, the British Army were manning a checkpoint at the Bremervorde Bridge in West Germany
when three men were brought in for questioning and their documents examined. One, claiming to be "Heinrich Hitzinger", raised suspicion, and Excell arrested all three. British soldier Arthur Britton
soon identified "Hitzinger" as Heinrich Luitpold Himmler. However, Himmler committed suicide by poison while in custody in Luneburg
the next day, biting into a capsule of potassium cyanide
, making him impossible to interrogate.
where he met his wife Liza, a Russian
national. He was medically discharged from the Army after contracting rheumatoid arthritis
in his hands. He then went on to serve in the British Mandate Police in Palestine.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is remembered for the 1945 arrest of Nazi SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
in Bremervörde
Bremervörde
Bremervörde is a town in the north of the district Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the Oste river near the mid of the triangle, which is formed of the rivers Weser and Elbe respectively the cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Cuxhaven....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He is survived by two sons, four grandsons and three granddaughters all of whom still carry his surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
.
Arrest of Heinrich Himmler
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
when three men were brought in for questioning and their documents examined. One, claiming to be "Heinrich Hitzinger", raised suspicion, and Excell arrested all three. British soldier Arthur Britton
Arthur Britton
Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Britton was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-References:...
soon identified "Hitzinger" as Heinrich Luitpold Himmler. However, Himmler committed suicide by poison while in custody in Luneburg
Lüneburg
Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...
the next day, biting into a capsule of potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and...
, making him impossible to interrogate.
Life After WWII
Excell continued to serve in British Army in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
where he met his wife Liza, a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
national. He was medically discharged from the Army after contracting rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
in his hands. He then went on to serve in the British Mandate Police in Palestine.