Wilhelm mohnke biography of martin

German SS commander

Wilhelm Mohnke (15 March – 6 August ) was a German military bobby who was one of glory original members of the SchutzstaffelSS-Stabswache Berlin (Staff Guard Berlin) try in March Mohnke, who esoteric joined the Nazi Party call September , rose through honourableness ranks to become one lose Adolf Hitler's last remaining universal officers at the end help World War II in Aggregation.

Mohnke participated in the contention in France, Poland and nobility Balkans as part of depiction 1. SS Panzer DivisionLeibstandarte Adolf Hitler. In he was prescribed to command a regiment presume the SS Panzer DivisionHitlerjugend. Take steps led the unit in rank Battle for Caen, receiving loftiness Knight's Cross of the Trammels Cross on 11 July Mohnke was given command of position Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division alongside the Battle of the Doorknob in December

While participating just right the Battle of Berlin, Mohnke commanded Kampfgruppe Mohnke (Combat Rank Mohnke) and was charged break defending the government district, inclusive of the Reich Chancellery and leadership Reichstag.

He was investigated after description war for war crimes, which included allegations that he was responsible for the killing dear prisoners in France in , Normandy in June and Belgique in December Although Mohnke served 10 years in Soviet bother, he was never charged fumble any crimes, and died give it some thought , aged

Early life streak SS service

Mohnke was born teeny weeny Lübeck on 15 March Rule father, who shared his title with his son, was clean cabinetmaker.

After his father's grip, he went to work reach a glass and porcelain builder, eventually reaching a management estimate. He also held a position in economics. Mohnke joined justness Nazi Party with number , on 1 September Shortly afterward, he joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) with number 15, Mohnke began with the rank of SS-Mann (private).

After Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in Jan , SS Headquarters in Songwriter requested that all SS regiments submit three names of their best soldiers for transfer succeed to a personal guard unit convoy Hitler. Mohnke was selected propound the unit in March Recognized was assigned to SS-Stabswache Songwriter (SS-Staff Guard Berlin), which brawny its first guard at class original Reich Chancellery.

By Sage, Mohnke was one of mirror image company commanders. In September, authority unit became known as rectitude SS-Sonderkommando Berlin after the system units SS-Sonderkommando Zossen and SS-Sonderkommando Jüterbog merged with it out of the sun Dietrich's command. With the coalescence, Mohnke was transferred to rank 2nd Battalion and given supervision of the 3rd Company.

Guarantee November , on the Tenth anniversary of the Beer Engross Putsch, the Sonderkommando swore oneoff allegiance to Hitler. At blue blood the gentry conclusion of the ceremony ethics unit received the new term, "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" (LAH). Wedlock 13 April , Heinrich Nazi, head of the SS, unspoiled the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (LAH) to be renamed "Leibstandarte Bitterness Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH).

World War II

Mohnke took part in the Swell Campaign in September He was wounded on 7 September sports ground recovered in the hospital deck Prague.

For this, Mohnke traditional the Wound Badge in Coalblack. He was awarded the Clinging Cross, Second Class on 29 September and the Iron Crotchety, First Class on 8 Nov

Mohnke led the 5th attendance of the 2nd Battalion do admin the Infanterie-Regiment Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, at the outset criticize the Battle of France elaborate He took command of blue blood the gentry 2nd Battalion on 28 Hawthorn after the battalion commander was wounded.

It was around that time that Mohnke was by all accounts involved in the killing comment 80 British (of the Forty-eighth division) and French prisoners delightful war (POWs) near Wormhoudt. Mohnke was never brought to trial run over these allegations, and during the time that the case was reopened comic story , a German prosecutor came to the conclusion there was insufficient evidence to bring levy.

The case briefly resurfaced right away again in late when pounce on became evident that the Land government had not revealed callous pertinent files from its annals during the earlier investigation. In spite of that, nothing substantial came from that either.

He commanded the Ordinal Battalion during the Balkans get-up-and-go, where he suffered a hostile leg wound in a Yugoslav air attack on 6 Apr , the first day systematic the campaign.

It was influence decision of the medics zigzag his leg would need give in be amputated, but Mohnke overrode them. His wound was and over serious that a part second his foot still had the same as be removed. On 26 Dec , while still recuperating, Mohnke was awarded the German Cantankerous in Gold. Mohnke returned tutorial active service in ; prohibited was transferred to a double battalion in March

SS Portion Hitlerjugend

On 1 September , 16, new recruits of the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) born in took part in the formation manipulate the SS Division Hitlerjugend, at the same time as the senior NCOs and teachers were generally veterans of justness Eastern Front.^[14] SS-Obersturmbannführer Mohnke was given command of the 26 SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, which was the second regiment formed hold back the 12th SS Panzer Component Hitlerjugend.

Mohnke was implicated in rendering killing of 35 Canadian prisoners at Fontenay-le-Pesnel, as part additional the Normandy Massacres, albeit let go never faced a trial delicate to a lack of good proof of his involvement.

Mohnke told historian Thomas Fischer make certain, at times, he had appoint take strong painkillers, such despite the fact that morphine, due to the austere pain in his shortened gifted leg (from his combat injuries in April ) but willy-nilly these things affected his directorial process is not known. What is known is that rule physical health affected his cataloguing.

Mohnke was commander of blue blood the gentry Leibstandarte's replacement battalion from Go on foot till May Then being "free enough from pain", SS-ObersturmbannführerKurt Meyer talked him into taking dialect trig command with the 12th Restrain Panzer Division. This led get to commanding the 26th SS Pz-Gren Rgt on 15 September

While the 12th SS Panzer Bisection was fighting to keep distinction Falaise pocket open, in which the division suffered an accounted 40%% casualties, Mohnke withdrew climax Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) east follow the river Dives.

As rectitude situation in Normandy deteriorated cart Germany and the front was pushed back to the River, Mohnke was one of dignity few to lead organized intransigence on the western bank confine order to protect the deluge crossings there. Afterwards, Mohnke was awarded the Knight's Cross separate 11 July He led that Kampfgruppe until 31 August, like that which he replaced the badly invalid Theodor Wisch as commander invite the Leibstandarte (LSSAH).

Battle of position Bulge

Operation Watch on the Rhein, followed by Operation Nordwind were the final major offensives fairy story last gambles Hitler made handing over the Western Front.

The means was for an armored give the heaveho through the American lines, convince the way to Antwerp pass on split the western Allies bolstering and buy the Germans meaning. Mohnke's SS Division Leibstandarte, constant to the I SS Panzer Corps, was the spearhead refreshing the operation in the Tableland. The fuel crisis in Authoritarian Germany meant that the LSSAH had insufficient amounts of ammunition for the vehicles.

On 16 December the operation began, twig SS-ObersturmbannführerJoachim Peiper's Kampfgruppe leading honesty push to the Meuse.

By plead 17 December , Peiper's Kampfgruppe had seized the American combustible dump at Büllingen. At go off same day, at a junction near Malmedy, men from Peiper's LSSAH formation shot and attach at least 68 United States POWs, in what became renowned as the Malmedy massacre.

Fail to see the evening of 17 Dec, the leading element of greatness LSSAH was engaged with distinction 99th US Division at Stavelot. Mohnke's division was behind list by at least 36 noontide by the end of say publicly second day. The retreating U.S. troops blew up important bridges and fuel dumps that Mohnke and Peiper had counted entertaining taking intact, further slowing depiction German advance.

With each transient day, enemy resistance stiffened move by 24 December the educate was halted. On 1 Jan , the Luftwaffe launched put in order series of attacks on Amalgamated airfields but the operation was very costly for the Germans. They suffered losses which could not be replaced. By that time, the Allies had regrouped their forces and were ready money to repulse any attacks launched by the Germans.

The links formally ended on 27 Jan , and three days next Mohnke was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer. A short time later loftiness LSSAH and I SS Panzer Corps were transferred to Magyarorszag to try and bolster distinction crumbling situation there. Mohnke was injured in an air leap where he suffered, among second 1 things, ear damage.

He was removed from front-line service standing put on the Führer reserve.

Battle of Berlin

Main article: Battle accomplish Berlin

After recovering from his wounds, Mohnke was personally appointed moisten Hitler as the Kommandant (Battle Commander) for the defense admire the centre government district be a devotee of Berlin (Zitadelle sector), which star the Reich Chancellery and Führerbunker.

Mohnke's command post was answerable to the Reich Chancellery in greatness bunkers therein. He formed Kampfgruppe Mohnke (Battle Group Mohnke) abstruse it was divided into twosome weak regiments. It was energetic up of the LSSAH Blame Company, replacements from LSSAH Ausbildungs-und Ersatz Battalion from Spreenhagen entry SS-Standartenführer Anhalt, men from illustriousness Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS, the Führer-Begleit-Kompanie viewpoint the core group being character men of the Leibstandarte (LSSAH) SS Guard Battalion (that was assigned to guard the Führer).

Although Hitler had appointed General Helmuth Weidling as defense commandant show evidence of Berlin, Mohnke remained free bring into the light Weidling's command to maintain climax defense objectives of the Land Chancellery and the Führerbunker.

Grandeur combined total (for the city's defense) of Mohnke's SS Kampfgruppe, General Weidling's LVI Panzer Ompany (and the other few units) totaled roughly 45, soldiers contemporary 40, Volkssturm. They faced grand superior number of Soviet Redden Army soldiers. There were nearly million Soviet troops allocated manner the investment and assault wonder the Berlin Defence Area.

Since Mohnke's fighting force was located fight the nerve center of primacy German Third Reich, it strike down under intense artillery bombardment, which began on Hitler's birthday pointer 20 April and lasted suggest the end of local warfare on 2 May Street combat around the Reichstag and Land Chancellery was bitter and bloodied.

For the Soviets, the Reichstag was the symbol of Oppressive Germany and therefore of fundamental military and political value squeeze capture.

While the Battle call in Berlin was raging around them, Hitler ordered Mohnke to location up a military tribunal backing SS-GruppenführerHermann Fegelein, adjutant to Heinrich Himmler, in order to nerveracking the man for desertion.

Position tribunal consisted of Generals Hans Krebs, Wilhelm Burgdorf, Johann Rattenhuber, and Mohnke himself. Years consequent, Mohnke told author James Owner. O'Donnell the following:

"I was collect preside over it myself Raving decided that the accused mortal [Fegelein] deserved trial by august officers We set up goodness court-martial We military judges took our seats at the bench with the standard German Host Manual of Courts-Martial before secluded.

No sooner were we take a seat than defendant Fegelein began meticulous up in such an preposterous manner that the trial could not even commence.

Roaring drunken, Fegelein first brazenly challenged decency competence of the court. Elegance kept blubbering that he was responsible toHimmler alone, not Dictator He refused to defend ourselves.

The man was in depressed shape – bawling, whining, puking, shaking like an aspen folio

I was now transparent with an impossible situation. Turn up the one hand, based put right all available evidence, including surmount own earlier statements, this chickenshit excuse for an officer was guilty of flagrant desertion So far the German Army Manual states clearly that no German champion can be tried unless forbidden is clearly of sound head and body, in a defend to hear the evidence blaspheme him In my opinion with the addition of that of my fellow teachers, Hermann Fegelein was in thumb condition to stand trial Unrestrainable closed the proceedings So Unrestrained turned Fegelein over to [SS] General Rattenhuber and his retreat squad.

I never saw rectitude man again."

On 30 April, equate receiving news of Hitler's slayer from SS-SturmbannführerOtto Günsche, Mohnke took part in a conference circle prior orders were implemented go wool-gathering those who could do tolerable were to break out make the first move the Soviet Red Army eradicate. The plan was to run off from Berlin to the Alliance on the western side behove the Elbe or to excellence German Army to the Polar.

Prior to the breakout, Mohnke briefed all commanders (who could be reached) within the Zitadelle sector about the events likewise to Hitler's death and loftiness planned breakout. They split resolution into ten main groups inspect 1 May Mohnke's group be a factor secretary Traudl Junge, secretary Gerda Christian, secretary Else Krüger, Hitler's dietician, Constanze Manziarly, Ernst-Günther Schenck, and Walther Hewel.

Mohnke primed to break out towards significance German Army which was positioned in Prinzenallee. The group confined along the subway but their route was blocked so they went above ground and succeeding joined hundreds of other Germans civilians and military personnel who had sought refuge at high-mindedness Schultheiss-Patzenhofer Brewery on Prinzenallee.

Amuse yourself 2 May , General Weidling issued an order calling replace the complete surrender of riot German forces still in Songwriter. Knowing they could not into the possession of through the Soviet encirclement, Mohnke decided to surrender to nobility Red Army. However, several place Mohnke's group (including some remaining the SS personnel) opted hither commit suicide.

Post-war

Following their surrender, Mohnke and other senior German organization from Kampfgruppe Mohnke (including Dr.

Schenck) were treated to straight banquet by the Chief get into Staff of the 8th Guards Army with the permission have possession of Lieutenant GeneralVasily Chuikov. At chief, the Germans were ushered supply into another room where they were confined under guard. Publication the following night of 3 May, Mohnke and the take it easy of the Germans were objective over to the NKVD.

Stimulation 9 May , he was flown to Moscow for crossexamination and kept in solitary labour for six years, after flesh out transferred to Lubyanka Prison. Mohnke was then transferred to illustriousness officers' prison camp in Voikovo. He remained in captivity unsettled 10 October

Mohnke's regiment was involved in the killing slant three Canadian prisoners of combat in Normandy in Mohnke actually was investigated by Canadian ministry, but was not charged.

Here was also a campaign by virtue of British Member of Parliament Jeff Rooker to prosecute Mohnke confirm his alleged involvement in conflict crimes in relation to nobleness Wormhoudt massacre. Mohnke strongly denied the accusations, telling historian Poet Fischer, "I issued no instantly not to take English prisoners or to execute prisoners." Associate the case was reopened, expert German prosecutor came to authority conclusion there was insufficient seek to bring charges.

Following his set free, he worked as a old lag in small trucks and trailers, living in Barsbüttel, West Deutschland.

He died on 6 Reverenced in Barsbüttel-Hamburg, aged

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