Ernst Gonell

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ernst Gonell (born November 24, 1902 in Königsberg , † February 23, 1945 in Posen ) was a German major general in the Wehrmacht in World War II .

Life

Gonell joined Infantry Regiment 39 of the Reichswehr as a hunter on May 2, 1919 and was transferred to Infantry Regiment 2 on November 11, 1920 . He attended the infantry school in Ohrdruf and in August 1923 became an officer candidate . In October 1934 he went to the War Academy for two years . Taken into the Wehrmacht, he was company commander in the 87 Infantry Regiment for two years from 1936. After teaching at the Dresden War School in 1938/39 , Gonell became a major (1939) and lieutenant colonel (1940) battalion commander in the 234 infantry regiment (1939), im 433 Infantry Regiment (1940) and 17th Infantry Regiment (1941). In autumn 1941 he was entrusted with the command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, and on January 12, 1942, he became the commander (since April 1, 1942 as a colonel ) of the 12th Grenadier Replacement Battalion. After five months in the Führer Reserve , he was with the staff in April 1943 of the General of the Infantry in the Army High Command .

On June 10, 1943 he became commander of the Fahnenjunkerschule V in Poznan. Promoted to major general on January 30, 1945, he was in command of the Poznan Fortress for a few days in February 1945 . When the last defenders of the fortress surrendered to the Red Army , the staunch National Socialist put an end to his 42-year life.

Gonell was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on February 22, 1945 .

literature

  • Dermot Bradley (ed.), Karl-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp: The Generals of the Army 1921–1945. The military careers of the generals, as well as the doctors, veterinarians, intendants, judges and ministerial officials with the rank of general. Volume 4: Fleck – Gyldenfeldt. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1996, ISBN 3-7648-2488-3 , pp. 359-360.
  • Christopher Duffy : Red Storm on the Reich. The Soviet March on Germany, 1945. Routledge, London 1991, ISBN 0-415-03589-9 , p. 249.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wolf Keilig : The German Army, 1939–1945: structure; Use, staffing. Volume 3, Podzun, 1956, p. 105. ( limited preview on Google Book Search ).
personal data
SURNAME Gonell, Ernst
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German major general in World War II
DATE OF BIRTH November 24, 1902
PLACE OF BIRTH Koenigsberg
DATE OF DEATH February 23, 1945
Place of death Poses