Hans Gollnick

Hans Gollnick (22 May 1892 – 15 February 1970) was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Gollnick was born at Gut Gursen in the Province of Pomerania as the son of Paul Gollnick, lord of the manor of Gursen, and Elisabeth Peglow descendant from the ducal house of Pomerania.

Gollnick entered military service on 22 March 1912, and served in World War I as a Leutnant. At the beginning of World War II, Gollnick was commander of Infanterie-Regiment 76 in the Skirmish of Krojanty. During the war, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1942, and promoted to General on 1 October 1943. In January 1945 he escaped to Denmark, and was a British POW from January 1946 for a month until 5 February.

Gollnick died in Schönau am Königssee.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1914), 1st and 2nd class
 * Wound Badge (1918) in Black
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 1st class
 * Iron Cross 1939 clasp, 1st and 2nd class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 27 November 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of the 36. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
 * 282nd Oak Leaves on 24 August 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 36. Panzergrenadier-Division
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 26 February 1945

Hans Gollnick was recommended for the Swords to the Knight's Cross for his defensive efforts in East Prussia in April 1945. However, the request was not processed before the war ended.