Wolfgang Thonke
Wolfgang Thonke (born December 28, 1938 in Schneidemühl ; † January 22, 2019 in Strausberg ) was a German journalist and military scientist and major general of the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic . He was the last deputy of the Chief of the Air Force / Air Defense (LSK / LV) for Air Force Training (G3) .
Life
Wolfgang Thonke was born into a working-class family in Schneidemühl, Pomerania Province . In January 1945 the family fled from Pomerania and found a new home in armor in Eichsfeld (Thuringia). In 1950 the company moved to Heilbad Heiligenstadt . There he attended high school, today's grammar school "Johann Georg Lingemann", and passed his Abitur in 1957 with the grade "Very good".
Military career
After graduating from high school, Thonke applied as a professional soldier in the armed organs of the GDR. On August 5, 1957, he was called up to the National People's Army and shortly afterwards the command for officer training at the aviation school of the NVA air forces, location Kamenz, later the officers' college of the air forces / air defense for military aviators Otto Lilienthal . 1957 cadets Thonke candidate and in 1959 member of the SED .
Training and first uses
After completing officer training in December 1959 and being appointed officer of the NVA, Unterleutnant Thonke received his first assignment as a flight instructor in what was then Fighter Pilot Training Wing 15 (JAG-15). From 1961 to 1964 was followed by port usage as head of air tactics / air shooting also in JAG-15 at the airfield Rothenburg / Görlitz .
Service as teaching and staff officer
His ability in previous activities as an experienced pilot and tactician to train prospective military pilots ( flight students ) on the ground and in the air was the recommendation for Lieutenant Thonke as head of aerial shooting and tactics and, from 1965, as head of combat training at the now established officers' college of the air forces / Franz Mehring air defense in Kamenz until 1968. This was followed by a position as deputy commander of the LSK / LV officers' school for aviation training until 1970 .
Since he showed excellent performance here too, he was delegated from 1970 to 1973 to study at the Friedrich Engels Military Academy in Dresden. Here he graduated from the Air Force / Air Defense section as a Dipl.rer.mil. with distinction and a special diploma from the Minister of National Defense .
After completing his studies, Lieutenant Colonel Thonke was deployed from 1973 to 1975 as commander of JG-1 in Cottbus.
Promotions
- 5 Aug 1957 officer student
- Dec. 1, 1959 Second Lieutenant ( Appointment )
- Nov. 1, 1960 Lieutenant
- Oct. 7, 1962 First Lieutenant
- October 7, 1965 Captain
- March 1, 1969 Major
- March 1, 1973 Lieutenant Colonel
- March 1, 1978 Colonel
- Oct 7, 1987 Major General (appointment)
| Predecessor: Major Siegfried Mittelbach (1968–1973) |
current line-up OSL Wolfgang Thonke (1973–1974) |
Successor: OSL Eberhard Köllner (1974–1976) |
Subsequently, he was from 1975 to 1977 for general staff training at the General Staff Academy of the USSR "Kliment Voroshilov" delegates in Moscow. After successfully completing his studies, W. Thonke was appointed head of the flight inspection department in the LSK / LV command. This was followed by a position as head of training JFK / LV also in the LSK / LV command until 1981 . Then he advanced to the position of chief of the fighter pilot's forces in the LSK / LV command. He was a pilot / fighter pilot in performance class I with more than 1,500 flight hours.
Service as a general
In 1986, Colonel Thonke was given the task of forming the Air Force / Air Defense Officers ' College for military pilots (from 1989 Air Force / Air Defense Officers' College (LSK / LV) for military pilots "Otto Lilienthal") in Bautzen and became its first commander.
On the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the GDR, he was appointed major general on September 24, 1987 . In 1989 he received his doctorate from the military academy "Friedrich Engels" to become Dr.rer.mil.
His last general assignment in 1990 was W. Thonke as the deputy head of LSK / LV for training the air force in the LSK / LV command in Strausberg.
| Predecessor: Colonel Dieter Kleemann (Nov. 1, 1988 - Jan. 31, 1990) |
Current line-up GenMaj Wolfgang Thonke (Feb. 1, 1990 - Oct. 2, 1990) |
Successor: none |
Discharge
When the NVA was dissolved, Major General Thonke was dismissed with effect from October 2, 1990.
Orders, decorations and awards
- Patriotic Order of Merit in bronze
- Battle medals "For services to the people and fatherland" in silver and bronze
- Honored military aviator of the German Democratic Republic (1982)
- Medal of Merit of the National People's Army in gold, silver and bronze
- Medal of the Brotherhood of Arms in silver
- Medal "Strengthening the Brotherhood of Arms"
- Medal for faithful service in the NVA
Private
Wolfgang Thonke has worked as a freelance journalist since 1990 and was a member of the Strausberg Fliegerstammtisch. On March 1, 2019, he found his final resting place in the family grave in the cemetery of the parish of St. Marien zu Strausberg. Thonke left behind his wife Karin and three children.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Obituary notice . Märkische Oderzeitung , January 29, 2019.
- ↑ The generals and admirals of the NVA. Military history of the GDR A biographical handbook, p. 190. Ed. Military History Research Office by Rüdiger Wenzke Klaus Froh
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Thonke, Wolfgang |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German journalist, military scientist and NVA officer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 28, 1938 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Schneidemühl |
| DATE OF DEATH | 22nd January 2019 |
| Place of death | Strausberg |