Kunibert Randewick (born 7 February 1898 in Neisse) was a German Signals officer before and during World War II who was responsible for the establishing of several intercept out-stations and later becoming commander of all KONA regiments in the west. He would eventually achieve his wish of becoming Chief Signals Officer. Randewick was involved in the design of radio components of the V-2 rocket, specifically researching remote control via wireless steering, remote detonation and remote jamming. At the start of World War II, Randewig was already a veteran of Soviet Wireless telegraphy traffic and a supporter of decentralisation.
Life
Randewig was the Son of a professional Army officer. While following his father from base to base, his schooling became fragmented. He attended school in Potsdam, Magdeburg, Kuestrin and finally Graulenz, where he took his Abiturium
Military career
He originally intended to study architecture, but owing to a strain on his fathers financial resources, he entered the Army as a Subaltern in July 1914, and was posted to the regiment, Garde Telegraphie in Berlin. During World War I, Randewig was posted to the Western Front where he successively worked on the Telephone department of VII Corps, High Command of the GKDO, and then subordinated to the Adjutant of Officers Training Course.
Interwar period
In 1918, Randewick joined the Freikorps volunteer unit, and at the end of 1919 moved to the Borders Guard East (). On 1 October 1920, Randewig was taken into the Reichswehr Army of 100,000 men and became an Adjutant of the Reiterabteilung III at Potsdam. Between 1922 and 1923, Randewig was placed in the wireless training academy at the army base in Jüterbog. Between 1923 and 1925 he was the adjutant of Regimental Commander of Signal Troops in Group Kdo 2, (Army Group) in Kassel. Promoted to Oberleutnant Lieutenant and between 1925 and 1927 became Zugführer, Platoon leader of Signals department 5 in Stuttgart. Between 1927 and 29, he held the same appointment in Signals Department 1 in Königsberg. Between 1929 and 33 Randewig was part of the staff of 1st Division as Commanding Officer of Wireless Telegraphy (abbr. W/T) interception in Königsberg, and promoted to Hauptmann (Captain). On 1 April 1933 Randewig was Staff Captain at Signals Abteilung 4 in Dresden and then promoted Company commander of the W/T company. In November 1934 he was Chief Signal Officer of General Kommando 9 (Corps Area) in Kassel. On 19 April 1938, he became Commanding Officer of Signals Training, but later took part in the Anschluss.
World War II
In 1939, Randewig was responsible for three signal intercept companies posted to the West Wall. It was feared by Germany that France would invade Germany, and Randewig's job was to use his intercept companies to detect any movement in the French forces. In August 1939, Randewig was mobilised into the O.C. Signals Operational Abteilung (department) of the Army Advanced Guard. At the time, there were two fixed intercept stations in the west-Stuttgart and Münster. Randewig's next posting was the Signals Interception unit in Zeppelin bunker in Wünsdorf near Zossen, Brandenburg, to intercept signals from Poland. In mid September 1939, he became Commanding Officer Intercept Troops, West and helped to build up the new Army H.Q in Giesen. During this period, his commitments were against France, Belgium and Holland inclusively. In April 1940, the Intercept unit that Randewig was commanding was split into three separate units, to cover Army Group A, B and C. Each had a Commanding Officer (O.C.) of Signals Interception and Randewig was made Commanding Officer of Signal Interception of Army Group A, with General Gerd von Rundstedt as his G.O.C. Working until the end of June, Randewig was working with three intercept companies monitoring French radio communications exclusively. On 1 April 1940, Randewig started studying message interception from radio communications from Great Britain. Facilities available were the fixed intercept station at Husum, the Münster and Euskirchen. They were also two mobile intercept companies together with Direction finding (abbr. D/F) sections. This went on until April 1941. General Rundstedt was then posted to the Eastern Front and Randewig's unit was posted as well. The Army Group became Army Group South. Randewig was promoted to () Lt. Colonel and to () Colonel in 1942. There were three companies engaged in Signals Interception against the Soviets, KONA 1, KONA 2 and KONA 3.