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~SOLD~ GÖHLER Johannes~SOLD~

Sturmbannführer

Göhler, Johannes

* 15.09.1918 Bischofswerda/Sachsen
+ 21.02.2003 Schwarzenbach

Awarded Knights Cross 17.09.1943
as: Obersturmführer Funktion: Chef 4./ ReiterRgt 1 "Florian Geyer

Postwar signed photo measuring 4” x 6”
Göhler’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Obersturmführer Göhler, who has already proven himself as one of our best in both winter campaigns against Russia, particularly distinguished himself on the 29.08.1943 through exceptional decisiveness and audacity. The Regiment had been fighting a tough defensive battle for days along the Nowo Berezkij - Taranowka railway line against an enemy far superior in men and weapons. The remnants of the 4. Schwadron under the command of Obersturmführer Göhler stood on the open northern flank, and had already held their ground for 2 days against repeated enemy attacks and heavy drumfire. By the 29.08.1943 the last reserve of the Regiment had been used up, and Göhler continued to fight a tactically hopeless battle. This risk was only taken so as to enable the 293. Infanterie-Division (arriving on the next day) to successfully close the large, several kilometre wide gap between the northern wing of the SS-Kavallerie-Division and elements of the 6. Panzer-Division.

At 16:00 the Russians attacked the positions of Göhler’s Schwadron simultaneously from the east and north following a 2 hour drumfire. While the enemy battalion attacking from the north (in strength of far over 500 men) was successfully halted at medium range through the defending fire tactics, at 17:20 the Russians nonetheless penetrated into the position of the Schwadron (down to 43 men) with a tenfold superiority in numbers. After a desperate close-quarter battle lasting about 90 minutes the Russians were forced to retreat while leaving behind over 100 dead. However due to their superiority, and of course the total exhaustion of the Schwadron, this retreat could no longer be turned into a disordered rout. Göhler perceived the tremendous danger, however he was also aware of the decisive importance of his position for the entire Kavallerie-Division. When the Russians sent in a further battalion from Passiki through the cornfield so as to reinforce the retreating Russian battalion, Göhler realized that it would be impossible to successfully repel a renewed enemy attack with his last troops. He sent the following report to the Regiment, which was currently involved in a heavy defensive battle all around:

‘I’m gambling everything on one card; look after the heavy weapons behind me!’

He then cried out to his men: ‘The Russians are already running, Hurra! Hurra!’ He then attacked with fewer than 40 men against a force of 600 Russians that were assembling about 200 metres away in the cornfield before him. A bloodbath ensued among the Russians, whose newly brought up battalion was swept away by the retreat of the first battalion. In this moment 2 Sturmgeschütze arrived from the Regiment, and Göhler mounted up on these with 16 men. This combined force was then able to pursue the enemy just a few hundred metres behind them. The second enemy battalion also sustained hundreds of casualties. The enemy was so badly impacted by this defeat that they did not launch any further attacks against this keystone position beyond armed reconnaissance. As a result the 293. Infanterie-Division was able to close this frontline gap on the evening of the next day without enemy interference.”

Johannes Göhler was born on 15 September 1918 in Bichofswerda Sachsen. He volunteered to join the VT and took part in the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938. During World War II, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in October 1941, during Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union, while serving with Cavalry Brigade. The Iron Cross 1st class followed in January 1942.
He was given command of the 4th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 8th Cavalry Division Florian Geyer and was in command when he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross in September 1943, when serving on the Eastern Front.

Johannes ‘Hannes’ Göhler: German salesman.
Born on 15-9-1918 at Bischofswerda(Sachsen).
Till 1937 he was a salesman and he worked within the company from his father.
In 1937 he joined the Elite (nr. 310.963), this as a member of the Verfügungstruppe.
In 1941 he followed a course at the Junkerschule in Braunschweig.
On 20-4-1941 he got promoted to Untersturmführer.
After that he became a Platooncommander within the 3. Kompanie from
Kavallerie-Regiment 1 within 1. Kavallerie-Brigade.
After that he became commander from 3. Kompanie with Kavallerie-Regiment 1.
Later he became commander from 4. Kompanie with Kavallerie-Regiment 1.
After that he was appointed as Regimentsadjudant with the Staff from Kavallerie-Regiment 1.
He got promoted to Obersturmführer on 16-3-1942.
On 17-9-1943 he received the Knights Cross.
On 26-9-1943 he received the German Cross in Gold.
He was promoted to Hauptsturmführer on 9-11-1943.
He was promoted to Sturmbannfúhrer on 21-12-1944.
In August 1944 he became adjudant from H. Fegelein at the Führerbunker within the
Führerhauptquartier.
After WW-2 he was made a POW and he spent some time at the POW-camp in
Ludwigsburg.
After his release he became a member of the HIAG in Stuttgart.
At the same time he also became 1st chairman of the Truppenkameradschaft der Kavallerie-Divisionen.
Died on 21-2-2003 in Schwarzenbach.


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