Günter Kießling (20 October 1925 – 28 August 2009) was a German general in the Bundeswehr, who became famous as the subject of what became known as the Kießling (or Kiessling) Affair.
In 1983 Kießling was secretly accused of homosexuality, which, in his position and at the time, was regarded as a security risk and led to his premature retirement. The allegations were later found to be without foundation and he was rehabilitated, being briefly reinstated before retiring with full honours.[2]
Kießling again achieved public prominence in 1997 when he spoke at the funeral of Josef Rettemeier, a highly decorated World War II soldier, holding the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves,[3] who later served in the Bundeswehr.
^Bacia, Horst (28 August 2009). "Nachruf: Günter Kießling gestorben" [Obituary: Günter Kießling died]. Frankfurter Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 15 August 2014. Danach trat er in den Bundesgrenzschutz ein und wechselte 1956 zur Bundeswehr [After that he joined the Bundesgrenzschutz and in 1956 transferred to the Bundeswehr].
^ ab Jacobi, Claus (29 September 2009). "Der General, der an Selbstmord dachte und siegte" [The General who thought of suicide and overcame]. Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
^ Gimson, Andrew (1998-01-15). . Weekly Telegraph (Electronic Telegraph, Issue 965). Telegraph Group Limited. Archived from the original on 2002-11-10. Retrieved 2007-01-06. Gen Günter Kiessling, 72, gave full vent to the anger felt by many German soldiers when he delivered the address last week at a Bundeswehr ceremony in honour of Col Josef Rettemeier. The colonel was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves for gallantry during the Second World War and later served in the Bundeswehr.
günter, kießling, october, 1925, august, 2009, german, general, bundeswehr, became, famous, subject, what, became, known, kießling, kiessling, affair, kießling, 2007born, 1925, october, 1925frankfurt, oder, germanydiedaugust, 2009, 2009, aged, rendsburg, schle. Gunter Kiessling 20 October 1925 28 August 2009 was a German general in the Bundeswehr who became famous as the subject of what became known as the Kiessling or Kiessling Affair Gunter KiesslingKiessling in 2007Born 1925 10 20 October 20 1925Frankfurt Oder GermanyDiedAugust 28 2009 2009 08 28 aged 83 Rendsburg Schleswig Holstein GermanyBuriedBerlin GermanyAllegiance Nazi Germany to 1945 West GermanyService wbr branchArmy Wehrmacht Army Bundeswehr Years of service1939 19451956 19831984RankLieutenant Wehrmacht General Bundeswehr Battles warsWorld War IIKiessling was born in Frankfurt Oder in the Province of Brandenburg In the Second World War he was a lieutenant in the infantry and served on the Eastern Front Some time after the war he joined the Bundesgrenzschutz and later transferred to the Bundeswehr 1 Before his early retirement he was Commander of NATO land forces and deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe In 1983 Kiessling was secretly accused of homosexuality which in his position and at the time was regarded as a security risk and led to his premature retirement The allegations were later found to be without foundation and he was rehabilitated being briefly reinstated before retiring with full honours 2 Kiessling again achieved public prominence in 1997 when he spoke at the funeral of Josef Rettemeier a highly decorated World War II soldier holding the Knight s Cross with Oak Leaves 3 who later served in the Bundeswehr Gunter Kiessling died in Rendsburg in Schleswig Holstein on 28 August 2009 2 References Edit Bacia Horst 28 August 2009 Nachruf Gunter Kiessling gestorben Obituary Gunter Kiessling died Frankfurter Allgemeine in German Retrieved 15 August 2014 Danach trat er in den Bundesgrenzschutz ein und wechselte 1956 zur Bundeswehr After that he joined the Bundesgrenzschutz and in 1956 transferred to the Bundeswehr a b Jacobi Claus 29 September 2009 Der General der an Selbstmord dachte und siegte The General who thought of suicide and overcame Die Welt in German Retrieved 23 September 2015 Gimson Andrew 1998 01 15 Bundeswehr signals end for the citizen s army Weekly Telegraph Electronic Telegraph Issue 965 Telegraph Group Limited Archived from the original on 2002 11 10 Retrieved 2007 01 06 Gen Gunter Kiessling 72 gave full vent to the anger felt by many German soldiers when he delivered the address last week at a Bundeswehr ceremony in honour of Col Josef Rettemeier The colonel was awarded the Knight s Cross with Oak Leaves for gallantry during the Second World War and later served in the Bundeswehr Further reading EditGunter Kiessling Versaumter Widerspruch Hase amp Koehler Mainz 1993 ISBN 3 7758 1294 6 Autobiography in German Military officesPreceded byGunter Luther Deputy Supreme Allied Commander EuropeWith Sir Peter Terry1982 1984 Succeeded byHans Joachim MackPreceded byGeneralmajor Jurgen Brandt Commander of 10th Panzer Division Bundeswehr 13 January 1976 29 September 1977 Succeeded byGeneralmajor Eberhard Hackensellner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gunter Kiessling amp oldid 1112455670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
