Willy Langkeit

Willy Langkeit ( born June 2, 1907 in Schuchten district Treuburg, East Prussia, † 27 October in Bad Bramstedt, Schleswig -Holstein, 1969 ) was a German officer, last Brigadier General in the Federal Border.

Life

1924 Langkeit joined the Reichswehr. He served until 1934 in the Automotive Division 1 in Königsberg ( East Prussia ) until he joined the Tank Corps. From April 1934 to October 1935 led Langkeit lieutenants courses of anti-tank troops in the military district command I ( East Prussia ).

From 1935 he started as a company commander of the anti-tank department " Olsztyn " and joined in 1938 as Chief of the 8th Company Panzer Regiment 36 in the 4th Panzer Division to Schweinfurt. 1941, the Panzer - Regiment 36 was delivered to the 14th Panzer Division. With the Panzer Regiment 36 Langkeit took part in the Polish Campaign (1939 ), Western campaign (1940 ) and the Russian campaign (from 1941 ). In 1943, he was flown out of the Stalingrad pocket.

In March 1943, Colonel Langkeit became commander of the tank regiment bulk Germany. He led the armored regiment of the Greater Germany Division during the fighting in Romania, Courland and Prussia to October 1944. After recovery from his on October 15, 1944 suffered serious wounds during the fighting in Siauliai (today Šiauliai in Lithuania ), it was the end of 1944 Commander of the Replacement Brigade Greater Germany. This association acted as a battle group in the eastern Brandenburg between the Warta and the Oder, in the room Sternberg and Frankfurt ( Oder). The battle group was in 1945 made ​​up to a full-fledged Panzer Grenadier Division, but suffered from the then widespread shortages of fuel, ammunition, food, transport, spare parts and more.

As commander of the newly formed Panzer Grenadier Division " Electorate " he fought with his troops in early 1945 between Kuestrin and Frankfurt ( Oder). During the heavy fighting of the Battle of Berlin, the Panzer Grenadier Division was pushed south into the room half and Mark- Buchholz. There, the association came into the Halbe pocket. But he could break out in May 1945 and reached the Elbe. Here Langkeit went as a major general with the remnants of the Panzer Grenadier Division in the American prisoner of war.

After release from captivity Langkeit worked as a car Representatives and from 1951 at the Federal Border Guard (BGS ). When BGS he rose to brigadier general (1965). He lived in Schleswig-Holstein, and died 1969 in Bad Bramstedt.

Promotions

(only Wehrmacht )

  • Sergeant June 1, 1930
  • Sergeant April 1, 1933
  • Lieutenant 1934
  • Lieutenant 1934
  • Captain January 1, 1938
  • Major January 1, 1942
  • Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 1942
  • Colonel December 1, 1943
  • Major General April 20, 1945

Awards

  • Iron Cross (1939 ) II and I. Class
  • German Cross in Gold on July 1, 1942
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on December 9, 1942
  • Oak leaves on December 7, 1943 ( 348th ceremony )
October 27 Bundesgrenzschutz Anti-tank warfare Šiauliai Panzer Badge
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