Postel, Georg-Wilhelm

Date of birth:: April 25th, 1896 (Zittau/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:: September 20th, 1953 (Schachty Kriegsgefangenenlager 8108 Hospital, Soviet Union)
Mentioned on:: German War Cemetery Krasnodar-Apscheronsk
Nationality:: German

Biography

Georg-Wilhelm Postel was born in Zittau on April 25th, 1896.

On August 30th, 1944 he became POW to the Soviets upon the capitulation of Rumania. After his imprisonment he stayed in the Prison Camps Nr. 160, 74, 48 and 149 and in the hospital of Prison Camp Nr. 5351. He war interred in Prison Nr. 1 at Kharkov in 1949, where he was convicted to 25 years forced labour on June 4th, 1949. Potel died of Tubeculoses in the hospital of Prison Camp at Schachty on September 20th, 1953. There he was buried at the camps cemetery in Row 3, Grave 14. As far as is known, his remains were not transferred to any German war cemetery.

Georg-Wilhelm Postel finally reached the rank of General der Infanterie as Kommandierende General XXX. Armeekorps.

Promotions:
1914: Fahnenjunker;
29th May 1915: Leutnant;
1919: Leutnant Reichswehr (RDA 1st September 1915;
July 1925: Oberleutnant (RDA 1 aprst April 1925);
1st November 1930: Hauptmann;
1st December 1935: Major (RDA 55);
1st January 1939: Oberstleutnant;
1st December 1941: Oberst (RDA 1st November 1940);
1st January 1943: Generalmajor;
1st September 1943: Generalleutnant;
?: General der Infanterie.

Career:
1914: 3. / (Pomm.) Infanterie-Regiment "Graf Schwerin" Nr. 14;
20th August 1914: 10. Königlich Sächsisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 134;
1920: Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 24;
?: 10. (Sächs.) Infanterie-Regiment;
1924: 5. / 10. (Sächs.) Infanterie-Regiment, Bautzen;
1925: 8. (MG.) / 10. (Sächs.) Infanterie-Regiment, Bautzen;
1st October 1926: Führergehilfenausbildung / Stab 4. Division, Dresden;
1st October 1928: 8. (MG.) / 11. (Sächs.) Infanterie-Regiment, Leipzig;
1930: Chef 8. (MG.) / 11. (Sächs.) Infanterie-Regiment;
1st April 1936: Lehrer Kriegsschule München;
1939: Kommandeur II. / Infanterie-Regiment 109;
January 1940: Kommandeur II. / Infanterie-Regiment 433;
30th April 1940: Kommandeur I. / Infanterie-Regiment 364;
5 th July 1940: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 364;
August 1942: Führerreserve;
1st January 1943 - 26th May 1943: Kommandeur 320. Infanterie-Division;
20th August 1943 - 10th July 1944: Kommandeur 320. Infanterie-Division;
16th July 1944 - 30th August 1944: Kommandeur XXX. Armeekorps.

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1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 364
Awarded on:: July 10th, 1941

1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 364
Awarded on:: August 17th, 1941

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Infanterie-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: February 28th, 1942

Full name is written in Patzwall / Scherzer as Georg Postei.
Award 80/77.

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur, Infanterie-Regiment 364, 161. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: August 9th, 1942

On the 04.02.1942 Oberst Postel was assigned command of all German units located around the Soviet penetration zone south of Wosszino. The next day Postel and his troops launched an attack that managed to close the gap created in the frontline by this penetration. Oberst Postel would be awarded the Knight’s Cross for this and other actions around Rzhev in early 1942.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:: Kommandeur 320. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: February 14th, 1943

Mentioning:
"An Infantry Division composed of withdrawn forward strong points under the exemplary leadership of its divisional commander Generalmajor Postel penetrated the strong enemy forces, destroyed them and returned to their own lines in a nine days lasting battle."

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalmajor (Brigadier)
Unit:: Kommandeur, 320. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: March 28th, 1943

The following newspaper article (dated 31.03.1943) describes why Postel received the Knight’s Cross…

“Every Kilometer Bitterly Defended - The Battlefield Feats of Generalmajor Postel:

… Generalmajor Postel acted to pass on his unbreakable determination to the men of his Division ever since it became caught up in the extremely trying combat between the Don and Donez rivers in mid-January. Over the course of weeks of bitter fighting (and often without friendly contact to either the left or right) his men bloodily repulsed the assaults of overwhelming enemy forces and fought hard for every kilometre of ground. Eventually the unit pulled back from its forward strongpoints as per orders and proceeded to fight a 9-day breakthrough battle to occupy new friendly positions. In the process the men of the Division eliminated several strong Bolshevik battlegroups.

During all this fighting Generalmajor Postel served as his soldiers’ commander and lead combatant. He always placed himself where the fighting was fiercest and thereby inspired his men to give their best. Consequently he became badly wounded while conducting reconnaissance in the foremost line.”

A particularly noteworthy incident in this time took place on the 10.02.1943, when Postel and his Division destroyed a reinforced Soviet rifle regiment. The Division finally reached German lines on the 13.02.1943.

215th Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:: Kommandeur 320. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:: January 19th, 1944

Mentioning:
"The Silesian 320th Infantry Division, under the leadership of Generalleutnant Postel, exceptionally distinguished itself in combat in the southern sector of the eastern front."

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:: Kommandeur, 320. Infanterie-Division, Heer
Awarded on:: March 26th, 1944

Awarded for the outstanding leadership of his Division during the summer of 1943 near Belgorod, in the fall of 1943 around Kharkov, and in the winter of 1943/44 near Krementschug.

57th Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:: Kommandeur XXX. Armeekorps
Awarded on:: August 31st, 1944

Mentioning:
"The 30th Army Corps under the leadership of Generalleutnant Postel together with the 306th Infantry Division, 15th Infantry Division and 13th Panzer Division fought heroically in sacrificial battles against superior forces in the southern sector of the eastern front."