__NOTOC__ Werner Karl Otto Leopold Ranck (25 October 1904 – 7 December 1989) was a general in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

, awarded by for successful military leadership. Ranck, promoted to Generalleutnant in April 1945, surrendered to the Soviet forces in May 1945 in the

Courland Pocket The Courland Pocket was a Pocket (military), pocket located on the Courland Peninsula in Latvia on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front of World War II from 9 October 1944 to 10 May 1945. Army Group North of the ''Wehrmacht'' were ...

. Routinely convicted as a "

war criminal A war crime is a violation of the laws of war that gives rise to individual criminal responsibility for actions by combatants in action, such as intentionally killing civilians or intentionally killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hostage ...

" in the Soviet Union, he was held until 1955.

Promotions

* 1 April 1924 Kandidat (Officer Candadate) * 1 July 1925 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter (Officer Candidate with Lance Corporal rank) * 1 November 1925 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank) * 1 September 1926 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet) * 10 August 1927 Oberfähnrich (Senior Officer Cadet) with effect from 1 August 1927 * 20 December 1927 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with effect from 1 December 1927 * 1 August 1930 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) * 20 April 1935 Hauptmann (Captain) with effect and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 May 1935 *14 September 1940 Major with effect and RDA from 1 October 1940 ** 18 March 1941 received new RDA from 1 February 1940 *16 March 1942 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 April 1942 *20 April 1943 Oberst (Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 March 1943 * 1 October 1944 Generalmajor (Major General) * 15 April 1945 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect and RDA from 20 April 1943 (order signed by General Burgdorf on 7 April 1945)

Awards and decorations

* DRA/Reich Sports Badge in Bronze on 1 August 1928 *

Wehrmacht Long Service Award The Wehrmacht Long Service Award () was a List of military decorations of the Third Reich, military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service. History On 16 March 1936, Adolf ...

, 4th to 3rd Class on 2 October 1936 *

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

(1939) ** 2nd Class on 23 May 1940 ** 1st Class on 29 June 1940 *

Order of the Crown of Romania The Order of the Crown of Romania is a chivalric order set up on 14 March 1881 by King Carol I of Romania to commemorate the establishment of the Kingdom of Romania. It was awarded as a state order until the end of the Romanian monarchy in 1947. ...

, Commander's Cross with Swords on the ribbon "''für militärische Tapferkeit''" (for military bravery) on 9 August 1941 * Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 15 July 1942 *

Crimea Shield The Crimea Shield () was a World War II German military decoration. It was awarded to military personnel under the command of Field Marshal von Manstein, including supporting naval and air force units, who fought against Soviet Red Army forces ...

on 23 August 1942 * German Cross in Gold on 10 February 1944 * Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 21 September 1944 * Honour Roll Clasp of the Army on 15 October 1944 *

on 2 March 1945 as ''

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

'' and commander of 121. Infanterie-DivisionFellgiebel 2000, p. 284.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ranck, Werner 1904 births 1989 deaths Lieutenant generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) Military personnel from Hamburg Reichswehr personnel Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union