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SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke (March 15, 1911 - August 6, 2001) was one of Hitler's last remaining generals. During the Battle of Berlin he commanded a Kampfgruppe charged with defending the Berlin government area, including the Reichstag, nicknamed Die Zitadelle (The Citadel). Image File history File links Wmohnke. ...
Image File history File links Wmohnke. ...
Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. ...
March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ...
1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ...
August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ...
2001: A Space Odyssey. ...
Combatants Germany Soviet Union, Poland Commanders Gotthard Heinrici Helmuth Weidling Helmuth Reymann Wilhelm Mohnke Georgy Zhukov Ivan Konev Vassili Chuikov Strength 1 million men, 1,500 AFVs, 3,300 aircraft 2. ...
The Kampfgruppe was a common combat formation used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. ...
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The Reichstag building The Reichstag building in Berlin was constructed as the place where the Reichstag, the parliament of the German Empire, would convene. ...
Early Life
Wilhelm Mohnke was born in Lübeck, Germany on 15 March 1911. His father, who shared his name with his son, was a cabinet maker. After his father's death he went to work for a glass and porcelain manufacturer, eventually reaching a management position. Mohnke joined the NSDAP on 1 September 1931, and the SS two months later.
Service Mohnke led 5.Kompanie at the outset of the Western campaign, taking over command of II.Bataillon on 28 March after the Bataillon commander was wounded. It was around this time that Mohnke was allegedly involved in the murder of 80 British prisoners of war of the 48th Division at Wormhoudt. Mohnke was never brought to trial for these allegations, and when the case was reopened in 1988 a German prosecutor came to the conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. Four years later, Mohnke's name was again mentioned in connection with war crimes, this time as the commander of 1.SS-Panzerdivision Leibstandarte "Adolf Hiter", where units under his command were charged with the Malmedy Massacre. It is also alleged that Mohnke was responsible for the murder of 35 Canadian POW's while with the Hitlerjugend at Fountenay le Pesnel. The German Nazi party established the Hitler Youth (in German: Hitler-Jugend or HJ) in 1926. ...
He commanded the II.Bataillon during the Balkan campaign, where he lost his foot in a Yugoslavian air attack on 6 April 1941. It was the decision of the medics that his leg would need to be amputated, but Mohnke overrode that decision. His wound was so grievous that they were still forced to take his foot. While recuperating he was awarded the German Cross in Gold due to the severity of his injury. The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler in 1942 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. ...
It was Mohnke who planted the seed for the formation of the LSSAH Panzerabeitlung early in 1942 after returning to active service. He charged Ralf Tiemann as his adjutant, whose first official task was finding recruits. Tiemann than proceeded to compile a list, eventually with enough names to fill two Kompanies. While the newly wed Sepp Dietrich presented his new wife to his officers on 14 Janaury, Mohnke presented divisional commander Sepp Dietrich with his personnel list, which had in the mean time turned into transfer orders. Dietrich, who was caught unaware, finally relented to Mohnke's pressure and signed the paper. So was born the Panzerwaffe of the Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler". It was not to be though, and Mohnke was relieved of his command and transferred to the the replacement battalion on 16 March 1942. This is where he was to remain until the formation of 12.SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend". He was given command of SS-Pz. Gren. Rgt 2. Leading the young grenadiers in Normandy, SS-Pz. Gren. Rgt 26 was responible for holding the brunt of the allied offensives from 10-20 June. This resulted in Mohnke being awarded the coveted Knight's Cross on 11 July 1944. Following the breakout and escape from Falaise, Mohnke was one of the few to lead organized resistance on the western bank of the Seine. He led this Kampfgruppe until 31 August, when he replaced the injured Theodor Wisch Mohnke led the LSSAH throughout Wacht am Rhine, and was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer on 30 January 1945. SS-Brigadeführer Mohnke was forced to relinquish command a short while later as he was again injured in an air raid; this time suffering ear damage. After recovery Mohnke was appointed the commandant of the Reichs Chancellery defense, where he formed Kampfgruppe Mohnke. His Kampfgruppe consisted of 9 Battalions, including the remnants of 33. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS "Charlemagne". The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz) is a military decoration of Germany which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813. ...
Near End and Post War SS-Brigadeführer Mohnke was captured by the Russians while leading a group of surviors in an attempt to break out from the bunker. He was imprisoned in solitary confinement until 1949, then transferred to the Generals prison in Woikowo, remaining, in captivity until 10 October 1955. He worked as a dealer in small trucks and trailers following his release, living in Barsbuttel in Germany. October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ...
1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Despite a campaign, led by the British Member of Parliament Jeff Rooker, to prosecute him for his alleged involvement in war crimes during the early part of the war, Wilhelm Mohnke was able to live out his last few years in peace. He died in the coastal village of Damp, near Eckenförde in Schleswig-Holstein in August 2001, ninety years old. André Hennicke later played Mohnke in the film Der Untergang. Jeffrey Rooker, Baron Rooker, PC (born 5 June 1941), was the Labour Party member of parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr until the 2001 general election. ...
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the 16 Bundesländer in Germany. ...
Der Untergang (2004; international English title Downfall) is a German film depicting the final days of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in 1945. ...
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