Kurt Feldt

Kurt Feldt
Born	22 November 1897 Schmentau
Died	Berlin
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1908–45
Rank	General der Kavallerie
Commands held	1. Kavallerie-Division 24. Panzer-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of the Netherlands Battle of the Afsluitdijk Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Kiev (1941)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Kurt Feldt (22 November 1897 – 11 March 1970) was a highly decorated General der Kavallerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Kurt Feldt was captured by British troops in May 1945 and was held until 1947.

Biography

Feldt was born in Schmentau, he joined the service of the German Cavalry, being enlisted in 1. Kavalleriedivision at the beginning of World War I. During that war and the interbellum, he would remain part of that unit, and other regiments, until commanding it in the next war. During the first years of the Second World War he and his division were involved in many campaigns and battles. The division's most notable, and independent action being that of the occupation of the northern provinces of The Netherlands in May 1940, leading to the Battle of The Afsluitdijk. In June 1940 he was involved in the capture of Saumur, the seat of the French Cavalry, where the famous Cadre Noir was located. When 1. Kavalleriedivision was transformed into 24. Panzer-Division in 1942, he became Befehlshaber South-West in April that year and later commanded Wehrkreis VI (Westfalen). In 1944 he fought in France and the Low Countries against the Allies until being captured by the British. Released after more than three years as a POW he settled in Berlin. His sepulchre is at South-western Cemetery in Stahnsdorf.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 August 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of 1. Kavallerie-Division

External links

Military offices
Preceded by None	Commander of 1. Kavallerie-Division 25 October 1939 – 28 November 1941	Succeeded by Renamed 24. Panzer-Division
Preceded by Previously 1. Kavallerie-Division	Commander of 24. Panzer-Division 28 November 1941 – 15 April 1942	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Bruno Ritter von Hauenschild