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| An immobilized Panther of Wiking keeps fighting in Kowel sector |
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| Herbert Gille's SS-Panzergrenadiers during the relief effort at Kowel |
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| SS-Gruppenführer Herbert Otto Gille: Liberation of Kowel |
SS-Gruppenführer Herbert Otto Gille flew into the encircled Polish city of Kowel to command its forces while Wiking and Heer units fought to the rescue. In the fortress, he reguested assistance from the Luftwaffe, since a lengthy defense of the city would not be possible without supply from the air. Herbert Gille, commander of 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and of the IV.SS-Panzerkorps, holder of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds, was highly regarded for his leadership qualities and tactical abilities. He commanded Waffen-SS units at the regiment, division and corps level with distinction during WWII. Gille was popular with his Dutch and Scandinavian men and admired for his personal bravery. When the end of war was clear, the then SS-Obergruppenführer Gille marched his men towards U.S. troops in order to avoid surrendering to Soviet forces. All of his decorations were stolen in Augsburg. Because of his membership in the Waffen-SS, Gille was taken to Salzburg prison by the U.S. Army. Finally, on May 21 1948, he was released to his family. Gille died aged 69 of heart failure on December 26 1966 in Stemmen near Hannover. More than 800 former Waffen-SS comrades from all over European nations accompanied the general to his final resting place. Former SS-Oberführer
Karl Ullrich, the last commander of the Wiking, spoke the eulogy at the graveside of this unforgettable soldier and founder of the veteran magazine
Wiking Ruf. Top image: SS-Gruppenführer Herbert Gille and SS-Obersturmführer Hermann Kaufmann scan the battlefield for enemy movements during the Kowel encirclement in March 1944. Photo by SS-Kriegsberichter Alois Jarolim. U.S. NARA. Credit: Julia Kotterias. Top clip: a Panther of SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 in Kowel sector, immobilized with track damage but the gun is in working order, and the crew continue to give fire support. Middle clip: SS-Panzergrenadiers of the Wiking in Kowel sector, where the division saw fierce combat in the spring of 1944. Bottom clip: huge congratulations to the relief force who attacked and liberated the city of Kowel which had been surrounded by the Soviets in mid-March 1944. The relief force consisted of elements from the Wiking division, 4. and 5.Panzer-Division and 131.Infanterie-Division which together broke through the Soviet lines on April 5 1944 and established a permanent linkup with the defenders in Fortress Kowel led by SS-Gruf. Herbert Gille. All clips Die Deutsche Wochenschau.
The photographer (SS-PK) Alois Jarolim was assigned to the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking in 1943. At that time the Wiking was employed on the west bank of the Dnieper River. Jarolim survived the breakout from the Cherkassy Pocket and the defence of Kovel in 1944, but was killed in action when the Wiking division attacked the Fourth Guards Tank Army in Operation Konrad, in an attempt to relieve the Soviet siege of Budapest, the Hungarian capital, in early 1945
ReplyDeleteMy name is John David Gille I live in NYC they made a toy out this man. A distant ancestor from the fatherland like old Ridgewood Queens you should also check out John gill from an old star trek episode.
DeleteOf the estimated 13-15 million men who served in the German Armed Forces in World War II only 27 were awarded the Knight's Cross with Diamonds, formally known as the Knight's Cross with Oak-leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.
ReplyDeleteThe grenadier to right in holding a Russian TT33 pistol in his hand. It was developed in the early 1930s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet military.
ReplyDeleteAs his predecessor before him, Gille too, was awarded the prestigious Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty. Felix Steiner on June 16, 1942 and Gille on March 6, 1943. The award dates are those given in the Finnish documents.
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