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Saturday, April 1, 2023

Bio of SS-Hauptsturmführer Wolfgang Gast (1919-1988)

Werner Wolfgang Gast

Date of Birth: 14.02.1919 - Beelitz-Heilstätten,  Beelitz, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Brandenburg (Germany)
Date of Death: 08.05.1988 - Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg (West Germany).

Promotions:
20.04.1940 SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1941 SS-Obersturmführer
09.11.1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer

Career:
20.04.1940 - 00.00.1940 SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
01.08.1940 - 31.12.1940 SS-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division "Deutschland"
01.01.1941 - 00.00.194_ Adjutant IV.Abteilung / SS-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division "Reich"
00.00.194_ - 30.11.1943 Führer I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"
01.12.1943 - 01.03.1944 SS-Artillerie-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Regiment
01.03.1944 SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"

Awards and Decorations:
27.05.1941 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
04.12.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange in Bronze
04.06.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Obersturmführer and Führer I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2 "Das Reich" / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". Gast’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: "On 24 October 1943 the enemy attacked with strong infantry forces from Chodoroff along the road to Tschutschinka. Their aim was to unite their two bridgeheads. After they had forced out our infantry from their positions west of Chodoroff they advanced forwards uncontested to a point about 200-300 meters in front of the firing positions of the 1. and 2.Batterie / SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ‘Das Reich’. Here they encountered bitter resistance from these Batterien, the soul of which was SS-Obersturmführer Gast (commander of the I./SS-Pz.A.R. ‘Das Reich’). SS-Obersturmführer Gast realized that this dangerous situation could only be saved by a counterthrust, and so he personally led such a maneuver with his artillerymen. He succeeded in striking the opponent in their flank and pushing them back to the woods at Wesselaja—Dubrowa. In the process the I./SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ‘Das Reich’ destroyed 3 T-34 tanks. Numerous Russians ended up dead on the battlefield. SS-Obersturmführer Gast thereby prevented a dangerous Russian thrust into the rear of the weak German forces positioned east of Tschutschinka, and through these actions he also saved valuable materiel in the form of artillery pieces and vehicles. He held this position long enough for elements of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’ to be brought up, which then swiftly established a new frontline in front of the firing positions of the I./SS-Pz.A.R. ‘Das Reich’.”

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Werner Wolfgang Gast (February 14, 1919 in Beelitz-Heilstätten near Potsdam, Brandenburg province - May 8, 1988 in Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg) was a German officer in the Waffen-SS, most recently SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Second World War.

From September 28 to October 24, 1943, the “Das Reich” division on the Eastern Front saw heavy, bloody fighting for the Red Army bridgeheads at Grebenki, Shushinka, Komola and Khodoroff on the Dnieper. The division prepares itself for the attack in the Wesselaja-Dubrowa area and, beginning at 9:00 a.m., begins the attack on Hill 193 east of Chuchina. At night there was heavy enemy air activity with bombing and fighter aircrafts. When the enemy attacked the Germans on October 24, 1943 with strong infantry formations supported by tanks from Khodoroff along the road to Chuchinka in order to unite their two bridgeheads, the Russians were able to overrun and drive out the weak German infantry units west of Khodoroff. The Russians continued to advance, and the 1st and 2nd batteries of SS Panzer Artillery Regiment 2 “Das Reich” waited patiently, well camouflaged. When the first enemy mass was between 200 and 300 m away, SS-Oberstrumfuhrer Gast opened fire. The enemy was not prepared for this.

Gast's battery, which was closest to the action, quickly repositioned at his command and counterattacked, shelling the enemy's flank. The 1st battery drove the fleeing enemy back into the forests near Vesselaya-Dubrowa, leaving behind three completely destroyed T-34s, burned-out vehicles and countless enemy casualties. Gast had thus prevented a bypass of the German main battle line, the enemy in the rear of the weak German forces east of Chuchinka could have meant their downfall. The Germans also lost countless vehicles and artillery pieces. Gast's battery then held the position until parts of the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Der Führer" were brought up, which were then able to set up and hold a new main battle line in front of the positions of the two batteries. For this act of bravery, Wolfgang Gast, who had meanwhile been promoted to SS Hauptsturmfuhrer, received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in June 1944.

This artillery regiment is the first of the Waffen SS. It was set up on June 1, 1939 as an SS artillery standard for the SS disposal troops. The replacement was provided by the SS Artillery Replacement Department, which was formed for this purpose, but was only formed during mobilization. The SS artillery standard was taken over by the SS disposal division. When the division was given the name SS Division "Reich" (mot.) in February 1941, the SS Artillery Standard became the Artillery Regiment SS Division "Reich", later "Das Reich" and in October 1943, at After the reorganization into a Panzer Division, the regiment eventually became the SS-Panzer-Artillerie Regiment 2.


Source :
Mark C. Yerger photo collection
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Gast,_Wolfgang
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=270492&p=2466109#p2466109
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/g.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/13335/Gast-Wolfgang.htm
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/german-photographs-postcards/show-your-signed-photos-284539-2/#post847432

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