Günther Rüdel

Günther Rüdel
Born(1883-11-15)15 November 1883
Metz, Alsace-Lorraine
Died22 April 1950(1950-04-22) (aged 66)
Munich, West Germany
Buried
Munich Waldfriedhof
Field 16—W 38
Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1902–1945
Rank Generaloberst
CommandsLuftverteidigung und Inspekteur des Luftschutzes
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsEisernes Kreuz 1914

Günther Rüdel (15 November 1883 – 22 April 1950) was a German general in the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Biography

Günther Rüdel was born in Metz, in Alsace-Lorraine, on 15 November 1883. Rüdel served as a captain during World War I, working for the Ministry of War. Günther Rüdel made a brilliant military career in the Reichswehr, then in the Luftwaffe. He attained the grade of Generalleutnant in April 1936, and General der Flakartillerie in October 1937. Rüdel was assigned "Inspekteur der Flakartillerie" from 1938 to 1942. During the Second World War, Günther Rüdel attained the grade of Generaloberst in November 1942.

Rüdel stood up to Adolf Hitler in the Beer Hall Putsch, the failed 1923 coup d'état against the Weimar Republic government, stopping him from shooting an official with his pistol. His grandson, John Crane, a civilian US military executive in charge of its whistleblower protection unit, himself became a whistleblower in 2013.[1]

Dates of ranks

  • Fähnrich : 5 July 1902
  • Leutnant : March 1904
  • Oberleutnant : March 1912
  • Hauptmann : 9 August 1915
  • Major : 1 December 1923
  • Oberstleutnant : 1 February 1929
  • Oberst : 1 October 1934
  • Generalleutnant : 1 April 1936 ;
  • General der Flakartillerie : 1 October 1937
  • Generaloberst : 1 November 1942

Medals and decorations

References

  1. ^ "Blowing the Whistle: Former US Official Reveals Risks Faced by Internal Critics", by Mark Hertsgaard, Felix Kasten, Marcel Rosenbach, and Holger Stark; Der Spiegel, 22 May 2016