Günther Klammt

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Günther Klammt (born May 9, 1898 in Löwenberg , Province of Silesia , † May 16, 1971 in Lübeck ) was a German officer , most recently major general and last commander of the 260th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht in World War II . He signed as one of 50 in Soviet captivity located generals calling the National Committee for a Free Germany .

Life

Klammt entered during the First World War on October 16, 1914 as an ensign in the grenadier regiment "Graf Kleist von Nollendorf" (1st West Prussian) No. 6 of the Prussian Army . Promoted to lieutenant on May 1, 1915 , he served as platoon commander , company commander and battalion adjutant. During the war, Klammt was awarded the Iron Cross II and I Class and the Wound Badge in black.

After the end of the war he resigned from military service on February 20, 1920, but was hired on November 29, 1924 with the 6th Infantry Regiment in the Reichswehr . Here Klammt was promoted to first lieutenant on February 1, 1926 and used as such in the 12th (MG) company. Appointed captain on October 1, 1932 , he took over a company with the same regiment, which he led until October 1, 1934. This was followed by a transfer to Infantry Regiment 47, where he also led a company from October 1, 1934 to March 1, 1938.

The promotion to major on January 1, 1938 brought shortly thereafter - on March 1, 1938 - another transfer as adjutant in the 34th Infantry Division in Koblenz . Promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 1, 1940 , it was here that the war began. He stayed with this major association until April 1, 1941.

After a few days with the Führerreserve at the Army High Command (April 1–21, 1941), he became head of a transport department in the Army High Command. On April 1, 1942 he was given the rank of colonel . This was followed by his first assignment as a commander in the 77th Infantry Regiment ( 26th Infantry Division ), which he led until November 1, 1943. During this time he was awarded the Honorary Sheet Clasp of the Army on June 7, 1943 and the German Cross in Gold on October 7, 1943.

Colonel Klammt then spent about three months with the command reserve of Army Group Center . On January 19, 1944, he was assigned to lead the 6th Infantry Division in the Shlobin - Bobruisk area . However, he only retained this command for a short time: on May 10, 1944, he took over command of the 260th Infantry Division , having been appointed major general at the beginning of the month .

During Operation Bagration - the major Soviet offensive against Army Group Center - he was captured on July 9, 1944 in the seventh pocket of Minsk.

Out of captivity, as one of 50 captured generals as part of the Federation of German Officers in the National Committee for Free Germany, he made an appeal to their comrades who were still in the Wehrmacht . This appeal was written by Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus and signed by them as the “Appeal of the 50 Generals to the People and the Wehrmacht”.

The content stated that “... the last battles and the defeat of Army Group Center, which ultimately determined the war decision, made them believe that another fight was hopeless and therefore prompted the call to hear the truth about the days on the Eastern Front To tell the causes of these defeats and the way out, the decisive separation from Hitler and his circle, the refusal to carry out orders from Hitler and his agents, and the immediate cessation of the struggle and senseless bloodshed. Don't wait for Hitler to ruin you! Stand against Hitler is stand up for Germany! ... "

Released from Soviet captivity on October 6, 1955, Günther Klammt died on May 16, 1971 in Lübeck.

Literature / sources

  • Werner Haupt : The 260th Infantry Division, 1939-1944 Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Bad Nauheim / Dorheim 1970
  • Path and sacrifice of the 260th Infantry Division, 1939-1944, Eine Bild-Chronik , Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1982, ISBN 3-7909-0183-0 , new edition in Nebel-Verlag for Edition Dörfler, ISBN 3-89555 -211-9
  • Wolf Keilig: The German Army 1939-1945. Structure, deployment, staffing. 3 volumes (loose-leaf work). published by Podzun-Verlag, Bad Nauheim 1956 ff.
  • Soviet propaganda film from 1944 Guided Transport of POW Germans through Moscow Günther Klammt appears from 02:23 minute with the name of the command.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ranking list of the German Reichsheeres , Ed .: Reichswehrministerium , Mittler & Sohn Verlag , Berlin 1926, p. 181
  2. ↑ Text online at pkgodzik.de (PDF; 53 kB)
personal data
SURNAME Klammt, Günther
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German officer, most recently major general in World War II
DATE OF BIRTH May 9, 1898
PLACE OF BIRTH Löwenberg , Province of Silesia
DATE OF DEATH May 16, 1971
Place of death Lübeck