Rudolf von Bünau (father)

Rudolf von Bünau (19 August 1890 – 14 January 1962) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. His son, also named Rudolf von Bünau, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 August 1943; he was killed in action just one week later on 15 August 1943 south of Roslavl. His other son, Günther von Bünau was also killed in action in 1943. Rudolf von Bünau would survive the war. He was interned by the Americans until April 1947. Rudolf was killed in a car crash in 1962.

Rudolf von Bünau
Rudolf von Bünau
Born(1890-08-19)19 August 1890
Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Died14 January 1962(1962-01-14) (aged 71)
Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service / branch German Army
Years of service1909–45
RankGeneral der Infanterie
Commands177. Infanterie-Division
73. Infanterie-Division
XXXXVII Panzerkorps
LII Armeekorps
XI. Armeekorps
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
RelationsRudolf von Bünau (son)

According to documents released by the Bundesnachrichtendienst in 2014, Rudolf von Bünau, led a "group staff" of the Schnez-Truppe, a German secret paramilitary force established by Nazi veterans in 1949.[1]

Awards and decorations

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Wiegrefe, Klaus, Files Uncovered: Nazi Veterans Created Illegal Army, SPIEGEL, 14 May 2014
  2. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 91.
  3. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 67.
  4. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 126.
  5. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 82.

Bibliography

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  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 – The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Otto Ottenbacher
Commander of Division Nr. 177
25 October 1940 – 1 June 1941
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Hermann von Gimborn
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Bruno Bieler
Commander of 73. Infanterie-Division
1 November 1941 – 1 February 1943
Succeeded by
Generalmajor Johannes Nedtwig
Preceded by
Generaloberst Erhard Raus
Commander of XXXXVII. Panzerkorps
25 November 1943 – 31 December 1943
Succeeded by
General der Panzertruppe Nikolaus von Vormann
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Erich Buschenhagen
Commander of LII. Armeekorps
1 February 1944 – 1 April 1944
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Erich Buschenhagen
Preceded by
General der Artillerie Wilhelm Stemmermann
Commander of XI. Armeekorps
20 March 1944 – 16 March 1945
Succeeded by
General der Artillerie Horst von Mellenthin
Preceded by
General der Artillerie Horst von Mellenthin
Commander of XI. Armeekorps
20 March 1945 – 6 April 1945
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Friedrich Wiese