Knauer, Hans Georg Ludwig August von.

Knauer, Hans Georg, born 15-05-1874 in Oldenburg, the son of Karl August Ludwig von Knauer (1829-1903) and his wife  Johanna Auguste Louise, born Hoppenstedt (1839-1911). Hans joined the Army service on 04-11-1892, age 18, as a Fahnenjunker in the 10^th Field Artillery Regiment. He was in the fields of the first war as with the command of the 44^th Field Artillery Regiment. He ended the war as a Major and retired on 15-06-1921, age 47. He in July 1927 joined the Chilean Army and became adviser of the German Embassy in Spain and of the Condor Legion  to 01-10-1939. The bombing of Guernica  was the most infamous operation carried out by the Condor Legion.  Generalfeldmarschall der Luftwaffe, Kommandeur Luftflotte 3, Hugo Sperrle   commanded the unit’s aircraft formations and General der Panzertruppe, Wilhel Ritter von Thoma, here with Montgomery,  commanded the ground element.

The number of the Guernica civilian fatalities is now set at between 170 and 300 people. Until the 1980s, it had been generally accepted that the number of deaths had been over 1,700, but these numbers are now known to have been exaggerated. Historians now agree that the number of deaths was under 300.

An early study by Gernikazarra Historia Taldea estimated the number of victims to be 126, later revised to 153, and is still considered by the organisation to be provisional. Those incomplete data roughly correspond to the mortuary records of the town that survived, and do not include the 592 deaths registered in Bilbao’s hospital. Raúl Arias Ramos in his book La Legión Cóndor en la Guerra Civil states that there were 250 dead.

Knauer placed to disposal of the Army again, age 65, on 01-10-1939. He was in the War History Department of the General Staff to June 1940 and Field Commandant Vannes, to July 1941. Group Director of the War History Department of the Army General Staff until 19-10-1942. He then lands in the Führer Reserve (see Adolf Hitler) (did you know) to 28-02-1942 and finally retired age 68.

Death and burial ground of Knauer, Hans Georg Ludwig August von.

Living in Gildehaus, Knauer died at the age of 64, on 01-02-1944 and is buried with his wife Marie, born Noon, who died age 62, on 25-06-1942, on the local cemetery of Gildehaus.

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