Günter Goebel

Who was Günter Goebel?

Günter Goebel was an Officer in the German Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II.

Goebel’s 79th Infantry Division was part of the 6th Army during the invasion of the Soviet Union. In October 1941 he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his part in leading an advance battalion when a supply route was captured by Soviet forces. In 1941 he was also entered into the Honour Roll of the German Army.

He is also known for the command of the Kampfgruppe Goebel assault on Stalingrad at the end of November 1942 around Nishij and Tschiskaja with 3,000 servicemen. With the following radio message, they became known to the staff of the 6th Army: "Battle-group Captain Goebel with 3,000 men holds the Don River bridge at Chir. Keep the head up, as we do". He held, together with his Kampfgruppe, for weeks, an important bridgehead. He later became the 180th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves for his bravery.

In 1945, two days after signing the unconditional surrender documents for all German forces, he was taken into Soviet captivity, on 11 May 1945. He was detained for more than 10 years in different Soviet labor camps. On 9 October 1955 he was released, thanks to Konrad Adenauer and his successful negotiations over the release of the last German World War II prisoners.