Gerhard von Schwerin
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Helmuth Detloff Graf
von Schwerin (23 June 1899 – 29 October 1980) was a German
army General
in World War II
. As General der Panzertruppe, he was tasked with defending the city of Aachen
while in command of the 116th Panzer Division "Windhund" (the "Greyhound Division").
By the time the 3rd US Armored Division reached Aachen on 13 September 1944, the once-formidable 116th Panzer-Division had been reduced to 600 men, 12 tanks, and no artillery pieces. When he contemplated surrender to Allied forces in order to prevent civilian casualties and to protect the city's artifacts (the city was the ancient resting place of Charlemagne
's empire, or the First Reich), Adolf Hitler
had him removed and sent Colonel Gerhard Wilck
to defend the city with around 5,000 Volkssturm
.
In May 1950, he was appointed as chief advisor on military issues and security policy to Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
and head of the covert government agency Dienststelle Schwerin (with the code name "Zentrale für Heimatdienst"), responsible for preparations for German rearmament. However, after he talked to the press about his work, he was replaced by Theodor Blank
in October 1950. Schwerin subsequently was active as an advisor on military policy for the parliamentary group of the liberal Free Democratic Party of Germany.
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
von Schwerin (23 June 1899 – 29 October 1980) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army General
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As General der Panzertruppe, he was tasked with defending the city of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
while in command of the 116th Panzer Division "Windhund" (the "Greyhound Division").
By the time the 3rd US Armored Division reached Aachen on 13 September 1944, the once-formidable 116th Panzer-Division had been reduced to 600 men, 12 tanks, and no artillery pieces. When he contemplated surrender to Allied forces in order to prevent civilian casualties and to protect the city's artifacts (the city was the ancient resting place of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
's empire, or the First Reich), Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
had him removed and sent Colonel Gerhard Wilck
Gerhard Wilck
Colonel Gerhard Wilck was the German commander who defended the German city Aachen in the Battle of Aachen. He surrendered on 22 October 1944 against the orders of Hitler, after a stubborn defence and bitter urban warfare.-References:* Ambrose, S. E. . Citizen soldiers : the U.S...
to defend the city with around 5,000 Volkssturm
Volkssturm
The Volkssturm was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was founded on Adolf Hitler's orders on October 18, 1944 and conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard.-Origins and...
.
In May 1950, he was appointed as chief advisor on military issues and security policy to Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
and head of the covert government agency Dienststelle Schwerin (with the code name "Zentrale für Heimatdienst"), responsible for preparations for German rearmament. However, after he talked to the press about his work, he was replaced by Theodor Blank
Theodor Blank
Theodor Anton Blank was a German politician of the CDU. He was one of the founders of the CDU in 1945....
in October 1950. Schwerin subsequently was active as an advisor on military policy for the parliamentary group of the liberal Free Democratic Party of Germany.
Awards
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Silver - Infantry Assault BadgeInfantry Assault BadgeThe Infantry Assault Badge was a German war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during WWII. This decoration was instituted on December 20th 1939 by the Oberstbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch...
- "Afrika" Cuffband
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd and 1st Class - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 17 January 1942 as OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 76 (mot.) - 240th Oak Leaves on 17 May 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of the 16. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
- 41st Swords on 4 November 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 16.Panzergrenadier-Division
- Knight's Cross on 17 January 1942 as Oberst
- Mentioned in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
on 27 October 1943