Günter Kießling

Günter Kießling (born 1925-10-20) is a former German general in the Bundeswehr, who became famous as the subject of what became known as the Kießling (or Kiessling) Affair.

Kießling was born in Frankfurt (Oder) in the Province of Brandenburg. In the Second World War, he was a lieutenant in the infantry and served on the Eastern Front. After the war, he joined the Bundesgrenzschutz and later transferred to the Bundeswehr. Before his early retirement he was Commander of NATO land forces and deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

In 1983 Kießling was secretly accused of homosexuality, which, in his position, was regarded as a security risk and led to his early retirement. The allegations were later found to be without foundation and he was rehabilitated, being briefly reinstated before retiring with full honours.

Kießling again achieved public prominence in 1997 when he spoke at the funeral of Joseph W. Rettemeier, a highly decorated World War II soldier and one of the few soldiers to be awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. [cite news | first = Andrew | last = Gimson
title = Bundeswehr signals end for the citizen's army
url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1998/01/15/wnaz15.html | work = Weekly Telegraph (Electronic Telegraph, Issue 965)
publisher = Telegraph Group Limited
date = 1998-01-15 | accessdate = 2007-01-06 | language = English
quote = Gen Günter Kiessling, 72, gave full vent to the anger felt by many German soldiers when he delivered the address last week at a Bundeswehr ceremony in honour of Col Josef Rettemeier. The colonel was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves for gallantry during the Second World War and later served in the Bundeswehr.]

References

Literature

* Günter Kießling: "Versäumter Widerspruch". Hase & Koehler, Mainz 1993, ISBN 3-7758-1294-6. Autobiography. De icon

Persondata
NAME=Kießling, Günter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=German general
DATE OF BIRTH=1925-10-20
PLACE OF BIRTH=Frankfurt (Oder)
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=