Klaus-Henning von Schmeling-Diringshofen

Klaus-Henning von Schmeling-Diringshofen
Birth name	Klaus-Henning Alexander Eberhard von Schmeling-Diringshofen
Birth date	22 December 1910(1910-12-22)
Place of birth	Bromberg, Province of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date	⚔ 18 September 1939 (aged 28)
Place of death	Kutno, Poland
Allegiance	Weimar Republic National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Reichswehr Heer
Rank	Hauptmann (Captain)
Battles/wars	World War II
Relations	∞ 1935 Erika Lohmann

Klaus-Henning Alexander Eberhard von Schmeling-Diringshofen (sometimes Claus; 22 December 1910 – 18 September 1939) was a German officer of the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Hauptmann (Captain) in World War II as well as military instructor in China under Hans von Seeckt on behalf of Chiang Kai-shek.

Life

Family coat of arms

Klaus-Henning was born in 1910 in Bromberg. He spent his youth in the several garrisons of his father (Schneidemühl most of the time). After the divorce of his parents in 1921, he stayed with his mother in Berlin-Lichterfelde. He finished Gymnasium with the “Abitur” and entered service of the Reichswehr in the II. (Jäger-)Bataillon of 4. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment in Kolberg (Kolberger Jäger; bearing the tradition of the Pommersches Jäger-Bataillon “Fürst Bismarck” Nr. 2). In 1933, he was promoted to Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant). His Bataillons-Kommandeur was the later Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein, who was commander of the Kolberger Jäger from 1931 to 1934, promoted to Oberst during this time.

China

Many sources state, although with no proof, that von Schmeling-Diringshofen was a quarter-Jew (Vierteljude), allegedly having a Jewish grandparent, and therefore forced to leave the Reichswehr. This is quite unlikely, many quarter-Jews, even half-Jews served with Reichswehr and Wehrmacht. Von Schmeling-Diringshofen was posted to the staff of Hans von Seeckt in 1934. This staff of hand-picked and capable personnel was established to support the Chinese National Gouvernment and to train the National Chinese Army. From 1934 to 1938, Klaus-Henning served as a high respected officer there, since 1935 under the command of General Alexander von Falkenhausen (in Nanking under the direct command of senior officer Alfred Streccius). Most of the time in Nanking (living at 33 Muxu Yuan), later in Tschungking. After the German-Japanese pact in autumn 1938, the time of this detachment had to end and the officers had to leave China (otherwise they had to face the loss of their German citizenship).

Return to the Fatehrland

His brother-in-law Alexander tells the story that – like he was told as a child – von Schmeling-Diringshofen was travelling with a cargo-steamer and this vessel sunk in heavy waters at the Galizian Coast. He was able to save his pure life only. Soon after arriving in Germany in September 1938, he in fact took the opportunity to proceed with his military carrer and went on to become Commander of the 1st Company/Infanterie-Regiment 73 in Celle with the rank of Hauptmann (Captain). With this unit he went into war.

WWII

The hardest battle which would fullfil his fate was to become known in German as the “Schlacht an der Bzura” during the Poland Campaign. Very heavy fighting was in progress in the area Ruszki – Adamowa Góra for at least four days (16 to 19 September). The whole area and parts of it were passing from hands to hands many times.

Death

Klaus-Henning von Schmeling-Diringshofen was killed in action during fighting near Dwor Ruszki (manor [Gut] Ruszki) near the village of Adamowa Góra not far from Sochaczew. According to the records of Hauptmann Chill from 1st Bataillon/Infanterie-Regiment 73, he was fatally wounded in the early hours of 18 September ("kurz nach 4 Uhr gefallen") during a Polish attack with heavy weapons against the positions guarded by his 1st Company.

Burial

His body was recovered and transported to Berlin. Hauptmann Klaus-Henning Alexander Eberhard von Schmeling-Diringshofen was buried with military honours at the war cemetery in Berlin-Steglitz-Lichterfelde (Kriegsgräberstätte in Berlin-Steglitz-Lichterfelde II Parkfriedhof); Final burial location (Endgrablage): Grave 10.

Family

Son Yorck (1938–2020)

Klaus-Henning was the son of Major (ret.) Henning Julius Alexander Klaus von Schmeling-Diringshofen (1876–1936) and his first wife (∞ 1908; o¦o 1921) Kläre, née Born (1887–1928). He had four siblings, the two youngest ones were from his fathers second wife (∞ Potsdam 11 August 1925) Alice Lind (1895–1933). His father's third and last wife (∞ Naumburg 26 May 1934) was Ernestine "Erny" Mühlenbruch (b. 5 March 1893 in Colmar, Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen).

Siblings

• Ursula Marie Luise Irmgart Ida (b. 31 August 1908 in Treptow an der Rega); ∞ Berlin-Lichterfelde 4 February 1928 Wilhelm Albert Kuno Freiherr von Knigge (1902–1967), 6 children
• Hans-Joachim Henning Alexander (b. 23 January 1912 in Bromberg), 2nd Lieutenant (ret.), merchant; ∞ Essen-Heisingen 27 May 1939 Ilse Brunswick
• Alexander Henning (b. 6 January 1926 in Potsdam), diplomat, e.g. Legationsrat I. Klasse in Berlin, Consul General in Washington D.C., Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur
• Ingeborg Alice Eva (b. 8 April 1930 in Warnow; d. 4 March 2010 in Bochum); ∞ Kohlmeyer, several children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Marriage

On 1 July 1935 in Nanking, China, von Schmeling-Diringshofen married his fiancée Erika Lohmann (b. 9 November 1912 in Bremen). They had two children:

• Klaus Henning Eberhard (b. 16 December 1935 in Shanghai, China)
• Yorck Alexander (b. 25 December 1938 in Celle; 26 June 2020 in Grünwald), entrepreneur, e.g. NAK Augsburg, Mech. Baumwollspinnerei & Weberei Bayreuth, SFT Sport- und Freizeit-Trägergesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Grünwald, TWD Teppichgarne GmbH Leinefelde-Worbis, TWD Teppichgarne GmbH Deggendorf, EUROPEYARN GmbH Leinefelde-Worbis, SEDLMAYR GRUND UND IMMOBILIEN AG, ADCURAM Industriekapital GmbH