Date of birth:

September 25th, 1905 (Stettin/Pommerania, Germany)

Date of death:

February 12th, 1950 (Hamburg/Lowersaxony, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

11.10.1944: Major m. RDA v. 0ß1.01.1944 (52)

Gustav Brehmer was born on September 25th, 1905 in Stettin. Almost nothing is known about his military career. Before the war he was a sergeant in the 2nd Company of the Sperenberg Pioneer Battalion. He may have been the commander of Pioneer Battalion 113, from which Pioneer Battalion 271 was formed on November 17, 1943. Brehmer took over the command. In the course of the fighting in Normandy, the battalion was broken up as part of the 271st Infantry Division. However, the battalion was re-established in Tyrnau on September 17, 1944. To what extent Brehmer was still in command is unclear. As a major in the reserve and commander of the Pioneer Battalion 271, at least he received the Knight's Cross on December 9, 1944. It is possible that he was given this prestigious honor for service during the fighting in the Falaise area. Gustav Brehmer returned from captivity on December 1st, 1949, but committed suicide on February 12th, 1950 for reasons unknown in Hamburg-Harburg. His marriage was divorced four days later.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Kdr, Pionier-Bataillon 271, 271. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 5th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major der Reserve (Major of Reserves)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Pionier-Bataillon 271, 271.Volksgrenadier-Division

Awarded on:

December 9th, 1944

Major Brehmer and his Pionier-Bataillon were among the units that provided the rearguard during the withdrawal from the Falaise pocket. After Brehmer had received orders to serve as a blocking force he learned of a new breakthrough by US troops. He thus decided to disregard his outdated orders and instead rush to the village of Cordey, about 6 km southwest of Falaise. Here he succeeded in successfully holding the advancing Allied forces at bay while inflicting heavy losses. He would later be awarded the Knight’s Cross on the basis of his actions here.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - SCHERZER, VEIT, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Bissendorf, 2010.
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