Günther Pape | |
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Born | July 14, 1907 |
Died | 21 January 1986 (aged 78) |
Place of birth | Düsseldorf |
Place of death | Düsseldorf |
Allegiance |
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Service/branch | Heer |
Years of service | 1927–1945, 1956–1966 |
Rank | Generalmajor |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves |
Günther Pape (14 July 1907 – 21 January 1986) was a German Generalmajor serving during World War II and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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

Oak Leaves ceremony on 15 September 1943 at the Führerhauptquartier "Wolfschanze", from left to right: Adolf Hitler, Paul Schultz (hidden), Oberst Dr. med. dent. Walter Lange, Major Theodor Tolsdorff, Oberst Günther Pape, Major Dr. Franz Bäke
The Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany underwent a series of internal discussion and controversies which led to the "Generalkrise" (Crisis of the Generals) in August 1966. Among other issues, the discussion was centred about the inner leadership of the Bundeswehr and the hierarchy of command between the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Bundeswehr. The Inspector of the Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Werner Panitzki and Minister of Defence Kai-Uwe von Hassel resigned on 12 August 1966. Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Generalleutnant Heinrich Trettner resigned the next day followed shortly by Generalmajor Günther Pape, who resigned out of loyalty to his commanding officers.[1]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold (23 January 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (5 December 1944)
mentioned in the addendum of the Wehrmachtbericht on 20 December 1944.
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
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20 December 1944 (addendum) | Im Raum von Budapest haben sich in den harten Abwehrkämpfen die Panzergrenadierdivision 'Feldherrnhalle' unter Führung des Generalmajors Pape und die 13. Panzerdivision unter Führung des Generalmajors Schmidhuber, deren Offiziere, Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften zum größten Teil der SA entstammen, durch hervorragende Tapferkeit und Angriffsschwung ausgezeichnet.[4] | The Panzergrenadierdivision 'Feldherrnhalle' under the leadership of Generalmajor Pape and the 13. Panzerdivision under the leadership of Generalmajor Schmidhuber, whose officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers are largely comprised from the SA, distinguished themselves by showing exceptional bravery and attacking spirit, in the vicinity of Budapest. |
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Abenheim, Donald (1989). Bundeswehr und Tradition: die Suche nach dem gültigen Erbe des deutschen Soldaten — Band 27 von Beiträge zur Militär- und Kriegsgeschichte — Band 27 von Beiträge zur Militärgeschichte. Verlag Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag. ISBN 3-486-55371-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1998) (in German). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z]. Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Günther Pape. - "Günther Pape". Lexikon der Wehrmacht. http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/P/Pape-Guenther.htm. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
Military offices Preceded by
Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl von SteinkellerCommander of Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle
8 July 1944 – November 1944Succeeded by
General der Panzertruppen Ulrich KleemannPreceded by
Generalmajor Heinrich Baron von BehrCommander of 5. Panzer-Division (Bundeswehr)
1 April 1960 – 30 June 1962Succeeded by
Generalmajor Albert Schnez
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