Panke, Gunter

Born in the family of an officer. Deciding to make a military career, from 1910 to 1917 he studied at the Prussian cadet corps.

Member of the First World War . In June 1918, promoted to lieutenant. After the end of the First World War, he joined the Freikor in the Iron Division , operating in the Baltic States . Until 1920, he served in the West Prussian border guard. After the dissolution of the organization, its participants were not recruited into the army and industry, so Gunther went first to Spain , and then to Chile and Argentina , where until 1927 he was engaged in farming.

After returning to Germany, he worked in a technical physics laboratory in Kiel .

On August 1, 1930, he joined the NSDAP (No. 282737), and on June 1, 1931, he joined the SS (No. 10110).

In 1931, he lost his job and began to actively participate in political activities. December 15, 1932 received the rank of SS Sturmbannführer . From June 1931 he was an inspector and then the head of the SS school in Kreinsen .

From mid-June 1932 he was an adjutant of the 12th SS standard ( Hannover ), from December 24th - Commander of the 50th SS standard "North Schleswig" ( Flensburg ), from December 15th, 1933 - the 22nd Absnita SS ( Allenstein ), with April 1934 - the 13th Absnith SS ( Shettin ), from August 31 - the commander of the 15th Absnit SS ( Alton ).

In 1935 he entered the ground forces with the rank of lieutenant, served in reconnaissance units. From April 25 to June 1, 1938, he was the Chief of Staff of the SS "North" (Hamburg / Altona), after the unification of the North-West and North-West headquarters on April 1, 1936, he became the Chief of the Headquarters of the North-West.

In September 1936, for ideological reasons, he left the Protestant church.

September 12, 1938 became the head of the Main Directorate of the SS on Race and Settlement , which was the main institution pursuing racial policies both in Germany and in the occupied territories. With the beginning of the Second World War at the head of the punitive detachment, was sent to the occupied territories of Poland . A punitive detachment formed from the 2nd Regiment of the SS "Brandenburg" of the "Dead Head" formations, operating in the zone of the 8th army , conducted mass executions of the civilian population and Polish prisoners of war.

From July 9, 1940 to September 15, 1943, he served as head of the SS Center "Center" ( Brandenburg Province ).

Simultaneously, on October 6, 1942, he was appointed supreme leader of the SS and police in Denmark ( Copenhagen ), where he took part in the suppression of the anti-fascist uprising.

After the war, he was arrested by the Danish authorities. On September 20, 1948, the court in Copenhagen was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In 1953, Günter Panke was pardoned. Died August 17, 1973 in Hamburg .

• Iron Cross , 2nd Class (1914)
• Insignia for the injury (black) (1918)
• Honorary Cross of a War Veteran
• Old fighter chevron
• 1st degree military merit cross with swords
• 2nd degree military merit cross with swords
• Golden Party Badge of the NSDAP
• Medal For long service in the Nazi Party in bronze and silver
• Ring "Dead Head"
• Honorary saber of the SS Reichsführer

• PANCKE, Günther Awards

• Zalessky K.A. SS. Security detachments NSDAP. - M .: Eksmo, 2005. - 672 p. - ISBN 5-699-09780-5 .