Günther Ludwig Feodor von Pannewitz
(06.12.1857 - 23.09.1936)
place of birth: Neiße, Oberschlesien  (Upper Silesia)
Königreich Preußen:  General der Infanterie


Imperial German general officer Günther von Pannewitz commanded XVII. Army Corps in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Von Pannewitz was in command of 4th Infantry Division during the years leading up to the Great War. His Pomeranian division, which was part of von Linsingen's II. Army Corps, went into battle in August 1914 subordinate to General von Kluck's First Army on Germany's northern-most flank. The division hurriedly pushed through Belgium and into France with their eye on the capital city, not stopping until the devastating Battle of the Marne. 

Generalleutnant von Pannewitz was transferred in November 1914 to the Eastern Front to replace August von Mackensen as the leader of XVII. Army Corps. The corps was engaged in northwestern Poland, with fighting in Kutno, Lodz, and Rawka-Bzura, where they remained until the summer of 1915. In the meanwhile, von Pannewitz had been promoted to General der Infanterie in January on the occasion of the Kaiser's birthday. In July 1915, XVII. Army Corps joined Armeegruppe Gallwitz to fight the Narev Offensive. After crossing the River Narev in August, the Germans were able to defeat the Russian enemy near Wonsewo. They continued pushing forward until reaching the swamplands of Lithuania.

XVII. Army Corps was thereafter transported to the Western Front, where in the summer of 1916 they fought in support of Germany's Second Army during the Battle of the Somme. Chronic health problems forced General von Pannewitz to finally request in September 1916 release from his duties. He was soon awarded the Pour le Merite in recognition of his years of quality leadership demonstrated on the battlefield. At the insistence of his superior officer, General von Gallwitz, OHL sent to von Pannewitz to Allenstein, where he functioned for the remainder of the War as stellvertrender Kommandierender General (Acting Commander) at XX. Army Corps headquarters. In spite of poor health, the general lived until the age of 78, passing away in September 1939 in Freiburg im Breisgau.

	General der Infanterie ....	27.01.1915
	Pour le Mérite ....................	13.09.1916