Gunter Kiessling

October 20, 1925 (age 83)

Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg, Germany

In the Second World War, he was a lieutenant in the infantry and served on the Eastern Front. Some time after the war, he joined the Bundesgrenzschutz and later transferred to the Bundeswehr. Before his early retirement he was Commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization 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 premature retirement. The allegations were later found to be without foundation and he was rehabilitated, being briefly reinstated before retiring with full honours Günter Kießling died in Rendsburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, on 28 August 2009.

Gunter Kiessling Edit Profile

university professor author

Background

Kießling was born in Frankfurt (Oder) in the Province of Brandenburg.

Career

In the Second World War, he was a lieutenant in the infantry and served on the Eastern Front. Some time after the war, he joined the Bundesgrenzschutz and later transferred to the Bundeswehr. Before his early retirement he was Commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization 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 premature retirement.

The allegations were later found to be without foundation and he was rehabilitated, being briefly reinstated before retiring with full honours

Günter Kießling died in Rendsburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, on 28 August 2009.

Achievements

Kießling again achieved public prominence in 1997 when he spoke at the funeral of Josef Rettemeier, a highly decorated World World War II soldier and one of the few soldiers to be awarded the Knight"s Cross with Oak Leaves.

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