In the Second World War, he was a lieutenant in the infantry and served on the Eastern Front.

In 1983 Kießling was secretly accused of homosexuality, which, in his position and at the time, was regarded as a security risk and led to his premature retirement.

The allegations were later found to be without foundation and he was rehabilitated, being briefly reinstated before retiring with full honours.

[2] Kießling again achieved public prominence in 1997 when he spoke at the funeral of Josef Rettemeier, a highly decorated World War II soldier, holding the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves,[3] who later served in the Bundeswehr.

Günter Kießling died in Rendsburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, on 28 August 2009.