Gumbel, Walter von, born 15-03-1892 in Hanover, the son of Sigmund Gumbel (1867 – 1942), joined the Army Service as a Leutnant in the 571st Infantry Regiment, on 01-03-1910, age 17. Walter joined the Army as a volunteer in the 8th Jäger Battalion on 01-10-1907, age 18. He was in the fields of the first war and ended as a Regiments Adjutant in the 64th Reserve Infantry Regiment. After the war he retired from the Army on 28-03-1920, age 28 and entered the Police Service on 29-03-1920. Gümbel reactivated in the new growing Reichswehr on 05-10-1935, in the Staff of the 27th Infantry Regiment. At the beginning of World War II, he was the commander of the 118th Infantry Regiment, until 06-02-1940 and commander of the 516th Infantry Regiment to 09-12-1941. Gumbel here with Fieldmarshall Erwin Rommel
Following commander of the 295th to 01-04-1942 and of the 257th until he landed in the Führer Reserve (see Adolf Hitler) (did you know), to 05-06-1942. The Führerreserve (“Leaders Reserve” or “Reserve for Leaders”) was set up in the German Armed Forces during World War II in 1939 as a pool of temporarily unoccupied high military officers waiting for new assignments. The various military branches and army groups each had their own pools that they could use as they saw fit. The officers were required to remain at their assigned stations and be available to their superiors, but could not exercise any command function, which was equivalent to a temporary retirement while retaining their previous income. Especially in the second half of the war, more and more politically problematic, troublesome, or militarily incompetent officers were assigned to the Führerreserve.
Again commander, now of the 182nd Infantry Division, “Division Gümbel”, until 03-08-1942. After the command of the 348th Infantry Division, Wilhelm was replaced by Generalleutnant Paul Seyffardt (5 February – 29 September 1944) and landed again in the Reserve to 01-03-1944. Seyffardt survived the war and died 20-09-1979, age 85, in Baden-Baden.
Gumbel’s last command was of the 152nd Division until 10-05-1945, where he succeeded Generalleutnant Hans Windeck , as he landed in captivity on 10-05-1945. Released on 08-07-1947 he retired in Heidelberg, where he at the old age of 82 died, on 28-10-1970. General Hans Windeck survived the war and died old age 91 on 19-06-1979 in Herford
Death and burial ground of Gumbel, Walter von.
Gümbel is buried on the Bergfriedhof of Heidelberg and close to the graves of WWII personalities, Armament Minister, Albert Speer , Oberst, Kommodore Jagd Gruppe 300, Walter Dahl a Flyer Ace and the composer, Wilhelm Fürtwangler, also a Hitler (see Alois Hitler) favourite.
Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster: robhopmans@outlook.com
Leave a Reply