Günther Pape

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Günther Pape
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-B16918, Günther Pape.jpg
Born 14 July 1907
Düsseldorf, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died 21 January 1986 (1986-01-22) (aged 78)
Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance  Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1927–45
1956–66
Rank Generalmajor
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Günther Pape (14 July 1907 – 21 January 1986) was a German Generalmajor serving during World War II and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Oak Leaves ceremony on 15 September 1943 at the Führerhauptquartier "Wolfschanze", from left to right: Adolf Hitler, Paul Schultz (hidden), Oberst Dr. med. dent. Walter Lange, Major Theodor Tolsdorff, Oberst Günther Pape, Major Dr. Franz Bäke

The Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany underwent a series of internal discussion and controversies which led to the "Generalkrise" (Crisis of the Generals) in August 1966. Among other issues, the discussion was centred about the inner leadership of the Bundeswehr and the hierarchy of command between the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Bundeswehr. The Inspector of the Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Werner Panitzki and Minister of Defence Kai-Uwe von Hassel resigned on 12 August 1966. Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Generalleutnant Heinrich Trettner resigned the next day followed shortly by Generalmajor Günther Pape, who resigned out of loyalty to his commanding officers.[1]

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
20 December 1944 (addendum) Im Raum von Budapest haben sich in den harten Abwehrkämpfen die Panzergrenadierdivision 'Feldherrnhalle' unter Führung des Generalmajors Pape und die 13. Panzerdivision unter Führung des Generalmajors Schmidhuber, deren Offiziere, Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften zum größten Teil der SA entstammen, durch hervorragende Tapferkeit und Angriffsschwung ausgezeichnet.[5] The Panzergrenadierdivision 'Feldherrnhalle' under the leadership of Generalmajor Pape and the 13. Panzerdivision under the leadership of Generalmajor Schmidhuber, whose officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers are largely comprised from the SA, distinguished themselves by showing exceptional bravery and attacking spirit, in the vicinity of Budapest.

References

Citations

  1. Abenheim 1989, p. 170.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Thomas 1998, p. 142.
  3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 343.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 583.
  5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 373.

Bibliography

  • Abenheim, Donald (1989). Bundeswehr und Tradition: die Suche nach dem gültigen Erbe des deutschen Soldaten — Band 27 von Beiträge zur Militär- und Kriegsgeschichte — Band 27 von Beiträge zur Militärgeschichte. Verlag Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag. ISBN 3-486-55371-2.
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External links

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Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle
8 July 1944 – November 1944
Succeeded by
General der Panzertruppen Ulrich Kleemann
Preceded by Commander of 5. Panzer-Division (Bundeswehr)
1 April 1960 – 30 June 1962
Succeeded by
Generalmajor Albert Schnez