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Generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...

Hans Kamecke (18 August 1890 – 16 October 1943) was a German

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

officer who saw service commanding the 137th Infantry Division during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He was killed in action on 16 October 1943 near Kolpen and posthumously awarded the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

Career

Kamecke fought in the German

during the

. Whilst in command of 124. Infanterie-Regiment he was awarded the

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leade ...

in Gold on 1 December 1941. As a ''

generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

'' Kamecke was given command of 137. Infanterie-Division on 5 January 1942, fighting in the Russian

Winter campaign of 1941–1942 The winter campaign of 1941–1942 from 5 December 1941 to 7 May 1942 was the name given by Soviet military command to the period that marked the commencement of the Moscow Strategic Offensive Operation (better known as the Battle of Moscow). The ...

. He relinquished command only a month later on 2 February when he was either injured or fell ill. He returned to the division on 1 June and was promoted to ''

generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...

'' on 1 January 1943. Kamecke commanded 137. Infanterie-Division during the

Battle of Kursk The Battle of Kursk, also called the Battle of the Kursk Salient, was a major World War II Eastern Front battle between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia during the summer of 1943, resulting in ...

and

Operation Citadel Operation Citadel () was the German offensive operation in July 1943 against Soviet forces in the Kursk salient, proposed by Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein during the Second World War on the Eastern Front that initiated the Battle of ...

later in the year. The division subsequently fought around the central

Dnieper The Dnieper or Dnepr ( ), also called Dnipro ( ), is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. Approximately long, with ...

. Kamecke was returning to his headquarters from visiting the front line, south of Kolpen, when he was attacked and killed by Soviet fighter aircraft. He was posthumously awarded the

eleven days later. Badly understrength, after Kamecke's death 137. Infanterie-Division was withdrawn from combat and disbanded later in the year.

Awards and decorations

in Gold (1 December 1941) *

(27 October 1943)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kamecke, Hans 1890 births 1943 deaths People from Halberstadt Lieutenant generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) German Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Army personnel killed in World War II Military personnel from the Province of Saxony Military personnel from Saxony-Anhalt German Army generals of World War II