Werner von Gilsa

Werner Freiherr von und zu Gilsa (4 March 1889 – 8 May 1945) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II, whose last assignment was as military commandant of Dresden.

Werner von Gilsa
Gilsa in 1940
Born	(1889-03-04)4 March 1889 Berlin, German Empire
Died	8 May 1945(1945-05-08) (aged 56) Leitmeritz, Nazi Germany
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	German Army
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands	LXXXIX Army Corps Military commander of Dresden
Battles / wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

In 1936 he was the commander of the olympic village for the 1936 Summer Olympics. From 1 April 1941 to 4 April 1943, Gilsa was commander of the 216th Infantry Division. In the winter of 1941/42 the division was sent to the Eastern Front. Gilsa was promoted to General of Infantry on 1 July 1943. From 11 June 1943 to 23 November 1944 he was Commanding General of the LXXXIX Army Corps, which took part in the Battle of the Scheldt, from 2 October to 8 November 1944. Gilsa was Military Commander of Dresden from 15 March to May 1945. At the end of the war, Gilsa committed suicide.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) 1st Class (18 October 1914) & 1st Class (14 May 1915)^[1]
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (14 September 1939) & 1st Class (21 October 1939)^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 5 June 1940 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 9
  • 68th Oak Leaves on 24 January 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of 216. Infanterie-Division