 On 18 August 1944 he was appointed High President of Merseburg.In April, 1945, convinced of the futility of defending the town of Halle, overcrowded with thousands of refugees, from the advancing American troops, Eggeling tried in vain to get Adolf Hitler to rescind his unconditional order to defend to the death.Having failed in his mission, Eggeling committed suicide by gunshot at Moritzburg Castle in Halle.