Hans Gollnick

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Hans Gollnick
Born (1892-05-22)22 May 1892
Gut Gursen in West Prussia
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Hamburg
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1913–45
Rank General der Infanterie
Commands held 36. Infanterie-Division
36. Panzer Grenadier Division
Battles/wars World War I

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hans Gollnick (22 May 1892 – 15 February 1970) was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). 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

Gollnick was born at Gut Gursen in West Prussia as the son of Paul Gollnick, lord of the manor of Gursen, and Elisabeth Peglow descendant from the Ducal house of Pomerania.

Gollnick entered military service on 22 March 1912, and served in World War I as a Leutnant. At the beginning of World War II, Gollnick was commander of Infanterie-Regiment 76 in the Skirmish of Krojanty. During the war, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1942, and promoted to General on 1 October 1943. In January 1945 he escaped to Denmark, and was a British POW from January 1946 for a month until 5 February.

Gollnick died in Hamburg.

Awards

Hans Gollnick was recommended for the Swords to the Knight's Cross for his defensive efforts in East Prussia in April 1945. However, the request was not processed before the war ended.[5]

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
26 February 1945 Im Samland haben Verbände des Heeres, unter Führung des Generals der Infanterie Gollnick, mit wirkungsvoller Unterstützung durch die Luftwaffe und Einheiten der Kriegsmarine, in sechstägiger Angriffsschlacht starke Teile von 2 Sowjetarmeen geschlagen, den Gegner im entschlossenen und schwungvollen Angriff nach Nordosten zurückgeworfen und damit die unterbrochene See-, Straßen- und Bahnverbindung zur Festung Königsberg wieder hergestellt.[6] In Samland units of the Army, under the command of General of Infantry Gollnick, with effective support from the Air Force and units of the Navy, in a six-day offensive battle have defeated two strong Soviet armies and repulsed the enemy in decisive and sweeping attack to the northeast, and thus restored the broken maritime, road and rail link to the fortress Königsberg.

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Thomas 1997, p. 207.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 341.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 199.
  4. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 71, 478.
  5. Berger 1999, p. 392.
  6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 462.

Bibliography

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  • Prerdovich (1978). Generalität des deutschen Heeres.
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External links

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Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Otto-Ernst Ottenbacher
Commander of 36. Infanterie-Division
15 October 1941 – 1 August 1943
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Rudolf Stegmann
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Gerhard Matzky
Commander of XXVIII. Armeekorps
20 May 1944 – 25 April 1945
Succeeded by
none