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Gürke, Ernst (Flak-Regiment 43)

Date of birth:
May 23rd, 1899 (Posen,Posen)
Date of death:
May 7th, 1946 (POW General Hospital Minsk)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Berjosa
Grave: UNK.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Oberst Ernst Friedrich Johann Gürke

00.00.1914-00.00.1918: Grenadier-Regiment 9
00.00.1939-00.03.1941: Kdr., Res.Flak-Abt. 221
01.08.1941: Kdr., Luftgau-FAS VI
00.08.1941: Major, Kdr., I. Abteilung, Flak-Rgt. 43, 15. Panzer-Division
00.12.1942-00.01.1943: Kdr., Feld-FAS (Süd) 20
11.01.1943-10.03.1945: Oberstleutnant (Tr.O./Flak), temporary Kdr. FFAS (Mitte) 13 Stolpmünde
01.04.1944: promoted to Oberst
22.02.1945: Oberst , Kdr. FFAS 13 Stolpmünde
10.03.1945-08.05.1945: Kdr., Flak-Rgt. "Gürke"
03.05.1945: Oberst, front employment as Flakführer Hela (north
of Danzig), 18. Flakdivision
00.05.1945: soviet POW
07.05.1946: died in soviet captivity

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
May 23rd, 1918
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1919
Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 2. Stufe
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1919
Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 1. Stufe
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Awarded on:
1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 17th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 18th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, Flak-Regiment 43, 15. Panzer-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
November 3rd, 1942
Awarded for his actions on the 27.05.1942 during the battle of Gazala. On this day a force of about 65 British tanks began a potentially dangerous attack against the rear of the 15. Panzer-Division. In response Oberst Wolz and Major Gürke formed a 3 km long continuous front of 8.8 cm AA guns to counter the British advance. It succeeded in this task while claiming 24 British tanks destroyed. Gürke would be awarded the Knights’ Cross for his invaluable role in this very important tactical victory.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Ärmelband Afrika

Sources

Photo