Kaliebe, Johannes.

Kaliebe, Johannes, born 06-07-1894 in Petershagen, District Kolberg, entered the Army Service, age 20, on 05-03-1914, as Fahnenjunker in the 29^th Pioneer Battalion and Company Leader during the first war, until 01-02-1919. Then connected to the Border Protection in Pomerania/Mark, until 01-10-1919, now an Oberleutnant. Transferred into the 2^nd Reichswehr Pioneer Battalion to 01-10-1920 and assigned as Pioneer Officer with the Staff of Command Office in Swinemünde, to 16-02-1921. Then with the Staff of Command Office Breslau and on 15-03-1923 transferred into the 4^th Pioneer Battalion to 01-10-1925. Appointed to Instructor at the Pioneer School in Munich and from 01-04-1929, meanwhile a Hauptmann, Company Chief in the 4^th Pioneer Battalion to 01-09-1931 and with the Staff of Command Office in Neustettin, to 01-10-1934. Promoted to Major on 01-10-1934 and assigned as Commander of Fortress Pioneer Staff 2, until 01-02-1935. He became Instructor at the Pioneer School to 01-09-1939, now since 01-08-1937 an Oberstleutnant.

From the start of World War II Commander of the Pioneer School I in Munich to 01-10-1939 and came in the fields as Commander of the 42^nd Pioneer Battalion to 20-10-1940, meanwhile since 01-06-1940 an Oberst. On 20-10-1940 he landed in the Führer Reserve,  until 10-02-1940. Now appointed to Commander of the 512^th Pioneer Regiment to 15-06-1942 and of the Senior Construction Staff until 01-04-1943, as he landed again in the Führer Reserve to 15-03-1944, almost one year. Army Pioneer Leader of the 19^th Army, under General der Infanterie, Friedrich Wiese   until 01-08-1944, Wiese died age 79, on 13-02-1971, in Giessen.

After the debacle in Southern France, the 19th Army was recreated with poorly trained conscripts and tasked with defending the west bank of the Rhine, and the city of Strasbourg. The 19th Army, now under command of General der Panzertruppe Erich Brandenberger , here with Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein was again encircled and largely destroyed during the battle for the Colmar Pocket in January and February 1945. Once again its headquarters survived capture and was rebuilt largely from Volkssturm and hastily trained replacement troops in early 1945. With many of its best men and junior leaders dead or captured, the 19th Army’s effectiveness was seriously impaired and it proved unable to parry the thrusts of its constant foe, the French First Army. Split by deep French armored thrusts into Baden, the Black Forest, and Württemberg, the 19th Army was destroyed in the area of Stuttgart and Münsingen in late April 1945, with remnants of the army surrendering as late as 08-05-1945. Formal surrender was accepted by Major General Edward Hale “Ted”. Brooks, Commander of the U.S. Army’s VI Corps. General Brandenberger died age 62 on 21-06-1955 in Bonn.

From 01-08-1944, since 01-12-1943 a Generalmajor, he became the Commander of Pioneers of Army Group G to 01-12-1944 and succeeded Generalleutnant der Pioniere,Kaliebe skar Canztler. Kaliebe was Higher Pioneer Commander 3 to 08-05-1945 and landed in Russian captivity until 11-10-1955, more then ten years.

Death and burial ground of Kaliebe, Johannes.

Released on 11-10-1955, by the intervention of new chancellor Konrad Adenaur,

Kaliebe retired in Munich, where he at the age of 71 died on 21-09-1965 and is buried with his wife Wlhelmine, born Wilkens, age 88, in 1984, on the Waldfriedhof of Munich. My friend Bill Sanstrom from Arizona, found and sent me the photo of the grave.

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