Bio of Major Gottfried Geißler (1914-2006)

Full nama: Gottfried Geißler
Nickname: Gottfried
Date of Birth: 17 October 1914 at Hömberg, Rhein-Lahn, Rheinland-Pfalz (German Empire)
Date of Death: 21 July 2006 at Moers, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany)
NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
31.12.1936 Fähnrich (W) Kriegsmarine
00.00.1938 Leutnant
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant
00.11.1942 Hauptmann
00.11.1944 Major i.G.

Karriere (Career):
00.00.1934 Entered the Reichsmarine (Crew 34)
01.01.1937 Moved to Heer, member of leichten Artillerie unit at Koblenz
00.03.1940 Member of Stab / Artillerie-Regiment 34
00.05.1940 Member of Artillerie-Regiment 70 (Westfeldzug)
10.08.1940 Transferred to Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 185
07.02.1941 Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 185 renamed to Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185
00.07.1941 Führer (later Chef) 3.Batterie / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185
11.11.1942 - 14.02.1944 Kommandeur Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 232
14.2.1944 - 00.05.1944 Kommandeur Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232
00.01.1944 Generalstabsausbildung
  
Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV.Klasse
20.03.1940 Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
20.05.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
23.06.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
02.07.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
02.07.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber. Awarded for wounds received on 22 June 1941 and 29 June 1941
12.07.1941 Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen
21.08.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberleutnant and Chef 3.Batterie / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185. On the 28 June 1941 previously, the Vorausabteilung of the 1. Infanterie-Division advanced towards Riga via Bauske. After swiftly taking the latter the advance continued, with the ultimate goal being the Daugava bridges in Riga. After reaching the city’s edge at 10:30, Oberleutnant Geißler and his Sturmgeschütze rampaged through the city and discovered a still intact pontoon bridge. He drove over to the east bank on his own initiative with a squad of flamethrower-equipped Pionieren and 3 other Sturmgeschütze, however just after this the pontoon bridge as well as the nearby railway bridge were both blown up. Oberleutnant Geißler thus formed a small hedgehog position, and defended against constant enemy attacks for the entire day. However the Pioniere were slowly whittled down, and the Sturmgeschütze destroyed by enemy AT teams one after another. Eventually only Geißler’s vehicle was intact. After being wounded himself twice he abandoned the vehicle along with his crew. Now, as darkness set in, the survivors ran to the river and tried to reach the western bank via the destroyed railway bridge. Engaged by an MG, the last three Pioniere were killed and Oberleutnant Geißler received his third wound of the day. Only Geißler and three other men, all wounded, returned to German lines. However through this bold deed Geißler had created the basis for the eventual capture of Riga. He would be awarded the Ritterkreuz in recognition of his actions. Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis was also presented on 21 August 1941.
06.10.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold. Awarded for receiving a fifth wound on 7 August 1941
00.00.194_ Ärmelband "Kurland"

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* In November 1941, Geißler was transferred to Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 232 after recovery from his wounds at the hospital. He fought among other things. during the relief attempt at Stalingrad , as commander of an assault gun training division at the battle of Monte Cassino and in the Kurland pocket (as Ib, then Ia of an infantry division ).
* In the final battle , Major i. G. Geissler was served in a bled infantry regiment, which in the last days of the war was still in the stage of formation when threatened by encirclement by the Red Army . On the night of May 7-8, 1945 , the regiment was heroically rescued by the Kriegsmarine without a man losses and taken to Kiel, where Geißler and his men were taken prisoner by the Western Allies.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Gei%C3%9Fler,_Gottfried
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47917/Gei%C3%9Fler-Gottfried.htm