Billing, Günter Joachim

Operation Greif

Date of birth:: April 9th, 1923 (Naumburg/Saale)
Date of death:: December 23rd, 1944 (Henri-Chapelle, Belgium)
Buried on:: German War Cemetery Lommel
Plot: 24. Grave: 471.
Service number:: N17/41KS
Nationality:: German

Biography

Günter Billing was the son to son manufacturer Herbert Billing and Louise Auguste Frederike Billing-Steinbach.

Promotions:
January 1st, 1942: Funkgefreiter;
April 1st, 1942: Reserveoffiziersanwärter;
January 1st, 1943: Funkmaat der Reserve;
March 20th, 1943: Fähnrich der Reserve;
October 1st, 1943: Oberfähnrich der Reserve;
September 1st, 1944: Leutnant der Reserve (Marine) (RDA: June 1st, 1944).

Career:
1929 - 1933: Grundschule Naumburg;
September 1st, 1933: Hitlerjugend;
1933 - 1930: Walter-Flex Oberschule;
?: Marinegefolgschaft 1/203, Passendorf;
October 3rd, 1940 - 3 november 1940: Rad-Abteilung K3, Passendorf;
January 11th,1941: 4. Kompanie, Marine-Stammabteilung Brake;
April 1st, 1941: Durchgangskompanie, Wangerooge;
May 18th, 1941: 8. Batterie, Marine-Flak-Abteilung 246, Oosterend;
July 1st, 1941: 4. Batterie, Marine-Flak-Abteilung 201, Wijk aan Zee;
July 18th, 1941: Minensuchboot, M 1601, 16. Minensuchflottille;
October 1st, 1941: 1. Kompanie, Marinenachrichtenschule, Aurich;
January 5th, 1942: Minensuchboot, M 1601, 16. Minensuchflottille;
May 2nd, 1942: 3. Kompanie, 1. Marineunteroffiziers-Lehrabteilung, Glücksburg;
June 28th, 1942: Minensuchboot, M 1601, 16. Minensuchflottille;
September 1st, 1942: 2. Kompanie, Marinenachrichtenschule, Mürwick;
November 29th, 1942: Minensuchboot, M 39, 6. Minensuchflottille;
March 26th, 1943: Minensuchboot M 206, 6. Minensuchflottille;
April 7th, 1943: 10. Kompanie, II. Abteilung, Marinekriegsschule, Glücksburg;
June 17th, 1943: Marinenachrichtenschule, Mürwick;
October 14th, 1943: 3. Marinenachrichtenoffizier, I. Marinenachtirchen-Abteilung, Kommandierender Admiral Adria;
May 15th, 1944: 4. Marinenachrichtenoffizier, Triest;
August 23rd, 1944: Dienststellenleiter Marinefunkstelle;
December 1944: Panzer-Brigade 150 / Team 1, Einheit Stilau.

Exactly how Günter Billing ended up with operation Greif could not be determined. Striking is the last note in his Führungsbuch that stains his spotless career. Billing ran into problems because on 26.11.1943 he shortened a message that he had to send as one hand and without observing the applicable rules. The message had to be resent and he was arrested for three days for this action. At that time he was Marinenachrichtenoffizier in Belgrad.

At the Marinenachrichtendienst he served until his participation in the operation Greif. The Billing Team is the most famous team since the execution of this team was filmed and photographed. On his rank there is some uncertainty. Although his service record clearly shows he was promoted to Leutnant der Reserve (Marine), he was registered during his capture and execution as Oberfähnrich der Reserve.

With Günter Billing, Henri-Chapelle died on 23.12.1944 Manfred Pernass and Wilhelm Schmidt. They were captured on December 18th, 1944.