Question, how did Prince wilhelm die?

LordCalner

I have tried finding sources on the circumstances around death of Prince Wilhelm but all i can find is that he was ambigoulsy severely wounded and died of his injuries. What injuries were there? Could he have survived and in what state?
 

Lalli

Might be that there is not anymore if ever had clear records on his injuries. Even his death wasn't very widely reported so might be that there is not lot of information existing anyway.
 

NoMommsen

Kicked
... there might be some notions to be found in the regimental or whatever military unit(s) were engaged around Valenncienes between 20th and 27th May 1940.
... or in the diary of his frend und bearer of his last will towards his widow Hans-Viktor von Salviati.

Unfortunatly I don't know how and where to try for access to these sources.

While @Lalli is right that there were no "official" news about his death in press and radio ... somehow ... enough people learned of it so that about 50.000 attended the funeral to make a guard of honor of ~ 3 kilometers.

edit:
He served with the 1st Infantry Division (Königsberg), part of Army reserves of 6th Army of Army Group B.
More detailed I couldn't find anything yet.
 
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Winterwolf1

Gukpard said:
@Winterwolf1 any idea?
Click to expand...
Since there is no specific information about Prince Wilhelm Friedrich Franz Joseph Christian Olaf of Prussia's exact injuries, it is difficult to say to get an near look an what would be realistic lets see what troops were fighting on each side:
During the Battle of France in May 1940, several military units were engaged around Valenciennes. The German Army’s Panzer Group Kleist was advancing towards the city from the east while other elements of General Heinz Guderian’s XIX Corps advanced on it from Cambrai to the south.
On May 24th and 25th, British forces under Major-General Harold Franklyn attempted a counterattack against these German advances but suffered heavy losses and had to withdraw. By May 27th, most Allied troops had been forced out of Valenciennes by overwhelming German firepower.
In addition to this information about specific military units involved in fighting near Valenciennes during that time period (May20-27), there may be more detailed accounts available through historical records or archives.

He probably could have sustained various types of injuries, including gunshot wounds or shrapnel injuries from explosions, or all, sadly i found no sources on how he died. If we look on what caused the most death during
the Western campaign in World War II in 1940, German infantry soldiers died most often from gunshot wounds, grenade impacts and other direct combat injuries. The fighting was characterized by the use of artillery, machine guns and armored vehicles by the Allies as well as air raids.
In addition to the immediate battle-related causes of death, there were also many soldiers who died from injuries such as hypothermia or exhaustion resulting from long marches and intense fighting. Diseases such as typhus or other infections could also play a role. I think he was probably wounded by the allis counteroffensive and died later of his wounds.
 
Gukpard

Gukpard

Gone Fishin'
Winterwolf1 said:
Since there is no specific information about Prince Wilhelm Friedrich Franz Joseph Christian Olaf of Prussia's exact injuries, it is difficult to say to get an near look an what would be realistic lets see what troops were fighting on each side:
During the Battle of France in May 1940, several military units were engaged around Valenciennes. The German Army’s Panzer Group Kleist was advancing towards the city from the east while other elements of General Heinz Guderian’s XIX Corps advanced on it from Cambrai to the south.
On May 24th and 25th, British forces under Major-General Harold Franklyn attempted a counterattack against these German advances but suffered heavy losses and had to withdraw. By May 27th, most Allied troops had been forced out of Valenciennes by overwhelming German firepower.
In addition to this information about specific military units involved in fighting near Valenciennes during that time period (May20-27), there may be more detailed accounts available through historical records or archives.

He probably could have sustained various types of injuries, including gunshot wounds or shrapnel injuries from explosions, or all, sadly i found no sources on how he died. If we look on what caused the most death during
the Western campaign in World War II in 1940, German infantry soldiers died most often from gunshot wounds, grenade impacts and other direct combat injuries. The fighting was characterized by the use of artillery, machine guns and armored vehicles by the Allies as well as air raids.
In addition to the immediate battle-related causes of death, there were also many soldiers who died from injuries such as hypothermia or exhaustion resulting from long marches and intense fighting. Diseases such as typhus or other infections could also play a role. I think he was probably wounded by the allis counteroffensive and died later of his wounds.
Click to expand...
ACH MEIN GOTT

Least detailed german explanation, perfekt!
 
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Rattenfänger von Memphis

Rattenfänger von Memphis

Donor
Klaus Jonas, in his book “The Life of the Crown Prince”, page 199, provides this detail :
Klaus Jonas said:
“On May 23, 1940, Prince William of Prussia, first lieutenant of the reserve and company leader, was severely wounded in the fighting near Valenciennes. This news was telephoned to the Crown Prince by the brother of his daughter-in-law, Captain von Salviati. Three days later in an army hospital in Nivelle the prince died of his severe internal injuries.”
Click to expand...
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Please use the Post-1900 Misc. thread for these sorts of WI.

You need to actually start a discussion not just ask a question or issue an AH challenge


Miscellaneous >1900 (Alternate) History Thread

It is often the case that people on this forum have miscellaneous or frivolous questions that could be easily answered by the many experts on this forum but are difficult to find the answer to on Google Scholar/Books or Wikipedia because they don't often deal in alternatives. There are other...
www.alternatehistory.com

Normally this would be locked. This thread, however, has generated some lengthy replies so I'm going to let it run.
 
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