Günther
Ludwig Feodor von Pannewitz
(06.12.1857 - 23.09.1936)
place of birth: Neiße,
Oberschlesien (Upper Silesia)
Königreich
Preußen: KG,
Stellv KG, General der Infanterie
Imperial
German general officer
Günther
von Pannewitz
commanded XVII. Army Corps in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.
Von Pannewitz was in command of 4th Infantry Division during the years
leading up to the Great War. His Pomeranian
division, which was part of von Linsingen's II. Army Corps, went into
battle in August 1914 subordinate to General von Kluck's First Army on
Germany's northern-most flank. The division hurriedly pushed through
Belgium and into France with their eye on the capital city, not
stopping until the devastating Battle of the Marne.
Generalleutnant von Pannewitz was transferred
in November 1914 to the Eastern Front to replace August von Mackensen
as the leader of XVII. Army Corps. The corps was engaged in
northwestern Poland, with fighting in Kutno, Lodz,
and Rawka-Bzura, where they remained until the
summer of 1915. In the meanwhile, von Pannewitz had been promoted to
General der Infanterie in January on the occasion of the Kaiser's
birthday. In July 1915, XVII. Army Corps joined Armeegruppe Gallwitz to
fight the Narev Offensive. After crossing the River
Narev in August, the Germans were able to defeat the Russian enemy near
Wonsewo. They continued pushing forward until
reaching the swamplands of Lithuania.
XVII. Army Corps was thereafter
transported to the Western Front, where in the summer of 1916 they
fought in support of Germany's Second Army during the Battle
of the Somme. Chronic health problems forced General von
Pannewitz to finally request in September 1916 release from his duties.
He was soon awarded the Pour le Merite in
recognition of his years of quality leadership demonstrated on the
battlefield. At the insistence of his superior officer, General von
Gallwitz, OHL sent to von Pannewitz to Allenstein,
where he functioned for the remainder of the War as stellvertrender
Kommandierender General (Acting Commander) at XX. Army Corps
headquarters. In
spite of poor health, the general lived until the age of 78, passing
away in September 1939 in Freiburg im Breisgau.
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General
der Infanterie |
27.01.1915 |
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Pour
le Mérite |
13.09.1916 |
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