| Willy Langkeit | |
|---|---|
| File:Langkeitw.jpg | |
| Born | 2 June 1907 |
| Died | 27 October 1969 (aged 62) |
| Place of birth | Schuchten |
| Place of death | Bad Bramstedt |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch |
Heer Bundesgrenzschutz |
| Years of service |
1924–1945 1951–1967 |
| Rank |
Generalmajor (Wehrmacht) Brigadegeneral (Bundesgrenzschutz) |
| Commands held | Panzer Division "Kurmark" |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Willy Langkeit (2 June 1907 – 27 October 1969) was an Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Willy Langkeit was taken prisoner by American troops in May 1945 and transferred to British custody later that month. He was held until 1947 and later joined the Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Guards) in 1951, retiring in 1967.
Willy Langkeit, 2nd from left
Awards and decorations[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black
- Eastern Front Medal
- Panzer Badge
- in Silver
- Level II (25)
- Level III (50)
- Level IV (75) (30 April 1945)
- Order of Michael the Brave 3rd Class (30 May 1944)
- German Cross in Gold (1 July 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 9 December 1942 as Major and commander of I. / Panzer-Regiment 36 [2]
- 348th Oak Leaves on 7 December 1943 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Panzer-Regiment 36[3]
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Order of St. John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
See also[]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Erlau, Peter (1964). Flucht aus der weissen Hoelle, Kulturhistorischer Verlag Dr. Riegler, Stuttgart.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Kurowski, Franz (2010). Panzer Aces III:German Tank Commanders in Combat in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA USA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0654-4
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2300-3.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Willy Langkeit and the edit history here.