Captain, 10th Panzer Grenadier Regiment
Born: May 24th 1921
Died: August 27th 1944
Age at Death: 24
Killed in action near Reims, August 27th 1944
Günther is the only known fallen Old Brightonian who fought for the Axis side. Born on 24 May 1921, he lived in Hove and attended the College while his father worked as the UK head of IG Farben, the German chemical firm. He then went on to the University of Geneva.
He was conscripted during the war, and by 1943 was serving with the 10th Panzer Grenadier Regiment. He died when his tank was hit, probably by an American fighter plane, near Reims, where, some eight months later, the German Army surrendered to the Allies. Guhl is buried in a French cemetery.
His status as a fallen Old Brightonian was discovered by the Head of History, Martin Jones, in 1997. Pondering whether to include Guhl on the official roll of honour of war dead in the College Chapel, the school contacted 32 Old Boys who had served in the war, every one of whom was in favour. Four Old Boys even asked for the address of Günther’s brother Wolfgang in order to meet him. Wolfgang wrote to the Head Master at the time, John Leach, and thanked the school, saying:
The spirit in which you do this really does touch my heart. I suppose it is quite natural for you English – as I know you – not to show any rancour to others, whoever they might be.