Gerhard von Schwerin

Gerhard Graf von Schwerin

Graf Gerhard von Schwerin
Born 23 June 1899(1899-06-23)
Hanover
Died 29 October 1980(1980-10-29) (aged 81)
Rottach-Egern
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Rank General der Panzertruppen
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Other work politician

Gerhard ("Gerd") 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.

Contents

Awards

Notes

Regarding personal names: Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany, however, since 1919 Graf is no title any more but part of the surname, thus following the given name(s) and not to be translated.

References

Citations
  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 396.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 69, 478.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 41.
Bibliography
  • Berger, Florian (2000). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Rass, Christoph; Rohrkamp, René; Quadflieg, Peter M. (2007). General Graf von Schwerin und das Kriegsende in Aachen. Ereignis, Mythos, Analyse. Aachen: Shaker. ISBN 978-3-8322-6623-3.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Searle, Alaric (2003). Wehrmacht Generals, West German Society, and the Debate on Rearmament, 1949-1959, Praeger Pub.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Generalmajor Gerhard Müller		 Commander of 116th Panzer Division
1 May 1944 – 31 August 1944		 Succeeded by
Generalmajor Heinrich Voigtsberger
Preceded by
Generalleutnat Ernst-Günther Baade		 Commander of 90th Grenadier Division (motorised)
December 1944 – ?		 Succeeded by
none
Preceded by
General der Panzertruppen Traugott Herr		 Commander of LXXVI. Panzerkorps
26 December 1944 – 25 April 1945		 Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Karl von Graffen