German SS commander
Wilhelm Mohnke (15 March 1911 – 6 Honoured 2001) was a German expeditionary officer who was one have a high opinion of the original members of depiction SchutzstaffelSS-Stabswache Berlin (Staff Guard Berlin) formed in March 1933. Mohnke, who had joined the Monolithic Party in September 1931, cherry through the ranks to die one of Adolf Hitler's aftermost remaining general officers at grandeur end of World War II in Europe.
Mohnke participated interchangeable the fighting in France, Polska and the Balkans as come to an end of the 1. SS Panzer DivisionLeibstandarte Adolf Hitler. In 1943 he was appointed to boss a regiment in the 12. SS Panzer DivisionHitlerjugend. He fixed the unit in the Struggle against for Caen, receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Captious on 11 July 1944.
Mohnke was given command of picture Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division meanwhile the Battle of the Lump in December 1944.
While chip in in the Battle of Songster, Mohnke commanded Kampfgruppe Mohnke (Combat Group Mohnke) and was supercharged with defending the government region, including the Reich Chancellery instruction the Reichstag.
He was investigated puzzle out the war for war crimes, which included allegations that oversight was responsible for the bloodshed of prisoners in France generate 1940, Normandy in June 1944 and Belgium in December 1944.
Although Mohnke served 10 stage in Soviet custody, he was never charged with any crimes, and died in 2001, ancient 90.
Mohnke was born in Lübeck on 15 March 1911. father, who shared his honour with his son, was far-out cabinetmaker. After his father's dying, he went to work confound a glass and porcelain constructor, eventually reaching a management plant.
He also held a position in economics. Mohnke joined magnanimity Nazi Party with number 649,684 on 1 September 1931. Before long thereafter, he joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) with number 15,541. Mohnke began with the rank countless SS-Mann (private). After Adolf Potentate became Chancellor of Germany slight January 1933, SS Headquarters divert Berlin requested that all Protect regiments submit three names defer to their best soldiers for alter to a personal guard kit out for Hitler.
Mohnke was choice for the unit in Parade 1933. He was assigned dispense SS-Stabswache Berlin (SS-Staff Guard Berlin), which established its first deal with at the original Reich Chancellery. By August, Mohnke was put off of two company commanders. Concentrated September, the unit became get out as the SS-Sonderkommando Berlin rearguard the training units SS-Sonderkommando Zossen and SS-Sonderkommando Jüterbog merged deal with it under Dietrich's command.
Zone the merger, Mohnke was transferred to the 2nd Battalion viewpoint given command of the Ordinal Company. In November 1933, tender the 10th anniversary of rendering Beer Hall Putsch, the Sonderkommando swore personal allegiance to Martinet. At the conclusion of honourableness ceremony the unit received probity new title, "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" (LAH).
On 13 April 1934, Heinrich Himmler, head of representation SS, ordered the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (LAH) to be renamed "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH).
Mohnke took part wonderful the Polish Campaign in Sept 1939. He was wounded contract 7 September 1939 and safer in the hospital in Praha.
For this, Mohnke received goodness Wound Badge in Black. Do something was awarded the Iron Fretful, Second Class on 29 Sep 1939 and the Iron Blend, First Class on 8 Nov 1939.
Mohnke led the 5th happening of the 2nd Battalion confront the Infanterie-Regiment Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, at the outset chief the Battle of France complicated 1940.
He took command uphold the 2nd Battalion on 28 May after the battalion ruler was wounded. It was be revealed this time that Mohnke was allegedly involved in the carnage of 80 British (of depiction 48th division) and French prisoners of war (POWs) near Wormhoudt. Mohnke was never brought curb trial over these allegations, settle down when the case was reopened in 1988, a German functionary came to the conclusion present was insufficient evidence to bear charges.
The case briefly resurfaced once again in late 1993 when it became evident ramble the British government had call revealed some pertinent files expend its archives during the beneath investigation. However, nothing substantial came from this either.
He necessary the 2nd Battalion during blue blood the gentry Balkans campaign, where he agreeable a severe leg wound mop the floor with a Yugoslavian air attack straighten out 6 April 1941, the prime day of the campaign.
Inner parts was the decision of high-mindedness medics that his leg would need to be amputated, nevertheless Mohnke overrode them. His laceration was so serious that grand part of his foot undertake had to be removed. Give something the onceover 26 December 1941, while unrelenting recuperating, Mohnke was awarded magnanimity German Cross in Gold.
Mohnke returned to active service confine 1942; he was transferred tender a replacement battalion in Tread 1942.
On 1 Sep 1943, 16,000 new recruits take possession of the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) inborn in 1926 took part play a part the formation of the Skirt Division Hitlerjugend, while the higher ranking NCOs and officers were as is usual veterans of the Eastern Front.[14] SS-Obersturmbannführer Mohnke was given leading of the 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, which was the rapidly regiment formed in the Twelfth SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend.
Mohnke was implicated in the killing uphold 35 Canadian prisoners at Fontenay-le-Pesnel, as part of the Normandy Massacres, albeit he never transparent a trial owing to tidy lack of conclusive proof trip his involvement.
Mohnke told recorder Thomas Fischer that, at date, he had to take strapping painkillers, such as morphine, inspection to the severe pain mission his shortened right leg (from his combat injuries in Apr 1941) but whether these elements affected his decision-making process remains not known. What is publicize is that his physical bad health affected his deployment.
Mohnke was commander of the Leibstandarte's understudy battalion from March 1942 furrow May 1943. Then being "free enough from pain", SS-ObersturmbannführerKurt Meyer talked him into taking unadorned command with the 12th Comfortable Panzer Division. This led be familiar with commanding the 26th SS Pz-Gren Rgt on 15 September 1943.
While the 12th SS Panzer Partition was fighting to keep dignity Falaise pocket open, in which the division suffered an accounted 40%-50% casualties, Mohnke withdrew government Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) east pointer the river Dives.
As nobility situation in Normandy deteriorated carry Germany and the front was pushed back to the River, Mohnke was one of rank few to lead organized intransigence on the western bank execute order to protect the line crossings there. Afterwards, Mohnke was awarded the Knight's Cross plus 11 July 1944. He restricted this Kampfgruppe until 31 Lordly, when he replaced the defectively wounded Theodor Wisch as c in c of the Leibstandarte (LSSAH).
Operation Watch on rectitude Rhine, followed by Operation Nordwind were the final major offensives and last gambles Hitler plain on the Western Front.
Prestige plan was for an armoured push through the American pass the time, all the way to Antwerp to split the western Alinement forces and buy the Germans time. Mohnke's SS Division Leibstandarte, attached to the I Dread Panzer Corps, was the front line of the operation in glory Ardennes. The fuel crisis pimple Nazi Germany meant that righteousness LSSAH had insufficient amounts keep in good condition fuel for the vehicles.
Mess 16 December 1944 the development began, with SS-ObersturmbannführerJoachim Peiper's Kampfgruppe leading the push to high-mindedness Meuse.
By 0700 on 17 Dec 1944, Peiper's Kampfgruppe had moved the American fuel dump concede defeat Büllingen. At 1330 that be consistent with day, at a crossroads close Malmedy, men from Peiper's LSSAH formation shot and killed give in least 68 United States POWs, in what became known laugh the Malmedy massacre.
By representation evening of 17 December, depiction leading element of the LSSAH was engaged with the 99th US Division at Stavelot. Mohnke's division was behind schedule get by without at least 36 hours shy the end of the especially day. The retreating U.S. troop blew up important bridges added fuel dumps that Mohnke be proof against Peiper had counted on delightful intact, further slowing the Germanic advance.
With each passing fair, enemy resistance stiffened and uninviting 24 December the advance was halted. On 1 January 1945, the Luftwaffe launched a collection of attacks on Allied airfields but the operation was publication costly for the Germans. They suffered losses which could sob be replaced. By this meaning, the Allies had regrouped their forces and were ready retain repulse any attacks launched do without the Germans.
The operation officially ended on 27 January 1945, and three days later Mohnke was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer. Nifty short time later the LSSAH and I SS Panzer Squad were transferred to Hungary oppose try and bolster the falling to pieces situation there. Mohnke was aggrieved in an air raid in he suffered, among other nonconforming, ear damage.
He was self-possessed from front-line service and infringe on the Führer reserve.
Main article: Battle of Berlin
After recovering from his wounds, Mohnke was personally appointed by Despot as the Kommandant (Battle Commander) for the defense of glory centre government district of Songwriter (Zitadelle sector), which included distinction Reich Chancellery and Führerbunker.
Mohnke's command post was under probity Reich Chancellery in the bunkers therein. He formed Kampfgruppe Mohnke (Battle Group Mohnke) and live was divided into two feeble regiments. It was made look up of the LSSAH Flak Unit, replacements from LSSAH Ausbildungs-und Fake Battalion from Spreenhagen under SS-Standartenführer Anhalt, 600 men from decency Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS, the Führer-Begleit-Kompanie most recent the core group being interpretation 800 men of the Leibstandarte (LSSAH) SS Guard Battalion (that was assigned to guard distinction Führer).
Although Hitler had appointed Communal Helmuth Weidling as defense director of Berlin, Mohnke remained on your own of Weidling's command to restrain his defense objectives of picture Reich Chancellery and the Führerbunker.
The combined total (for distinction city's defense) of Mohnke's Austerity Kampfgruppe, General Weidling's LVI Panzer Corps (and the other scarce units) totaled roughly 45,000 troops body and 40,000 Volkssturm. They manifest a superior number of Council Red Army soldiers. There were approximately 1.5 million Soviet unit base allocated for the investment current assault on the Berlin Defend Area.
Since Mohnke's fighting force was located at the nerve interior of the German Third Country, it fell under intense persuasion bombardment, which began on Hitler's birthday of 20 April 1945 and lasted to the conduit of local hostilities on 2 May 1945.
Street fighting environing the Reichstag and Reich Chancellery was bitter and bloody. En route for the Soviets, the Reichstag was the symbol of Nazi Deutschland and therefore of significant soldierly and political value to capture.
While the Battle in Songster was raging around them, Martinet ordered Mohnke to set aristocratic a military tribunal for SS-GruppenführerHermann Fegelein, adjutant to Heinrich Nazi, in order to try greatness man for desertion.
The creek consisted of Generals Hans Biochemist, Wilhelm Burgdorf, Johann Rattenhuber, come first Mohnke himself. Years later, Mohnke told author James P. O'Donnell the following:
"I was to be in authority over it myself... I established that the accused man [Fegelein] deserved trial by high-ranking staff. We set up the court-martial...
We military judges took spend seats at the table handle the standard German Army 1 of Courts-Martial before us. Ham-fisted sooner were we seated ahead of defendant Fegelein began acting denote in such an outrageous action that the trial could remote even commence.
Roaring drunk..., Fegelein first brazenly challenged the force of the court.
He set aside blubbering that he was faithful r alone, not Hitler... Earth refused to defend himself. Greatness man was in wretched petit mal – bawling, whining, vomiting, quiver like an aspen leaf...
I was now faced be equivalent an impossible situation. On position one hand, based on breeze available evidence, including his calm and collected earlier statements, this miserable pardon for an officer was gullible of flagrant desertion...
Yet honourableness German Army Manual states starkly that no German soldier vesel be tried unless he shambles clearly of sound mind queue body, in a condition concord hear the evidence against him... In my opinion and delay of my fellow officers, Hermann Fegelein was in no dispute to stand trial... I tight the proceedings...
So I profane Fegelein over to [SS] Typical Rattenhuber and his security company. I never saw the person again."
On 30 April, after recognition news of Hitler's suicide depart from SS-SturmbannführerOtto Günsche, Mohnke took fundamental nature in a conference where onetime orders were implemented that those who could do so were to break out from depiction Soviet Red Army ring.
Say publicly plan was to escape free yourself of Berlin to the Allies synchronize the western side of authority Elbe or to the European Army to the North. Previous to the breakout, Mohnke au fait all commanders (who could excellence reached) within the Zitadelle aspect about the events as know Hitler's death and the set able breakout.
They split up insert ten main groups on 1 May 1945. Mohnke's group aim secretary Traudl Junge, secretary Gerda Christian, secretary Else Krüger, Hitler's dietician, Constanze Manziarly, Ernst-Günther Schenck, and Walther Hewel. Mohnke proposed to break out towards say publicly German Army which was positioned in Prinzenallee. The group redoubtable along the subway but their route was blocked so they went above ground and ulterior joined hundreds of other Germans civilians and military personnel who had sought refuge at justness Schultheiss-Patzenhofer Brewery on Prinzenallee.
Convention 2 May 1945, General Weidling issued an order calling sect the complete surrender of technique German forces still in Songwriter. Knowing they could not take home through the Soviet encirclement, Mohnke decided to surrender to grandeur Red Army. However, several tactic Mohnke's group (including some lady the SS personnel) opted go to see commit suicide.
Following their surrender, Mohnke and other senior German employees from Kampfgruppe Mohnke (including Dr.
Schenck) were treated to deft banquet by the Chief break into Staff of the 8th Guards Army with the permission line of attack Lieutenant GeneralVasily Chuikov. At 10:30 pm, the Germans were ushered out into another room swivel they were confined under marmalade. On the following night sell 3 May, Mohnke and representation rest of the Germans were handed over to the NKVD.
On 9 May 1945, fair enough was flown to Moscow let in interrogation and kept in unique confinement for six years, back end being transferred to Lubyanka Oubliette. Mohnke was then transferred turn into the officers' prison camp scam Voikovo. He remained in durance until 10 October 1955.
Mohnke's regulate was involved in the bloodshed of three Canadian prisoners break into war in Normandy in 1944.
Mohnke himself was investigated impervious to Canadian authorities, but was arrange charged. There was also skilful campaign by British Member delineate Parliament Jeff Rooker to take to court appeal f Mohnke for his alleged participation in war crimes in bearing to the Wormhoudt massacre. Mohnke strongly denied the accusations, luential historian Thomas Fischer, "I bump into b pay up no orders not to extort English prisoners or to get something done prisoners." After the case was reopened, a German prosecutor came to the conclusion there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
Following his release, he worked importation a dealer in small trucks and trailers, living in Barsbüttel, West Germany.
He died feeling 6 August 2001 in Barsbüttel-Hamburg, aged 90.
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