Bio of Major i.G. Gottfried Geißler (1914-2006)

Gottfried Geißler

Date of birth: 17.10.1914 - Hömberg, Rhein-Lahn, Rheinland-Pfalz (German Empire)
Date of death: 21.07.2006 - Moers, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.1935 Fähnrich (W) Kriegsmarine
00.00.1938 Leutnant
00.03.1940 Oberleutnant
00.11.1942 Hauptmann
00.11.1944 Major im Generalstab

Career:
00.00.1934 Joined the Reichsmarine (Crew 34)
01.01.1937 Joined the Heer and went to Koblenz to serve in the light artillery
00.03.1940 Stab/Artillerie-Regiment 34
00.05.1940 Artillerie-Regiment 70
00.07.1941 Chef 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185
00.11.1942 Transferred to Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 232 after hospital and recovery
11.11.1942 - 14.02.1944 Kommandeur Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 232
00.01.1944 Generalstabsausbildung
14.02.1944     00.05.1944 Kommandeur Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232
00.00.1944 Ib 1. Infanterie-Division
00.00.1945 Ia 1. Infanterie-Division

Awards 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 in Schwarz
02.07.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
02.07.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (awarded for wounds received on June 22nd, 1941 and June 29th, 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 in Gold (awarded for receiving a fifth wound on August 7th, 1941)
00.00.1945 Ärmelband "Kurland"

Battles:
Westfeldzug, Stalingrad, Monte Cassino, Kurland Pocket. In the final battle, Major i. G. Geißler's unit was a bled dry infantry regiment, which in the last days of the war was still in the refreshment stage, but was threatened by encirclement by the Red Army. On the night of May 7th, 1945, the regiment was heroically rescued by the Navy without losing a man and taken to Kiel, where Geissler and his men were taken prisoner of war by the Western Allies.

* 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
http://soldaten.balsi.de/index.php?action=show&id=17460
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47917/Gei%C3%9Fler-Gottfried.htm