Date of birth:

December 16th, 1891 (Ringelheim/Hannover, Germany)

Date of death:

December 30th, 1982 (Bonn/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Kurt Bennecke entered service as Fahnenjunker on February 18th, Until the First World War he raised in the ranks to Leutnant.

The First World War he entered as Leutnant and Adjutant II. / Infanterie-Regiment 15. For his services during WW1 he received the Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (October 16th, 1914), Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (October 30th, 1915), the Königliche Bayerische Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern (December 21st, 1914), the Fürstliche Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz (September 26th, 1915) and the Schaumburg-Lippisches Kreuz für treue Dienste 1914 (July 18th, 1915) and was awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz for a wound received.

After the First World War he remained in the Army, reaching the rank of Generalmajor and Chef des Stabes 4. Armee.

During the Second World War he kept climbing the ranks, reaching that of General der Infanterie and became POW to the US Forces on May 8th, 1945 He remained POW until March 31st, 1948.

After WW2, Kurt Brenecke was involved in buiding the new Bundeswehr. For his services he was awarded the Grosses Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

Promotions:
February 18th, 1910: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier;
? : Fähnrich;
August 18th, 1910: Leutnant;
August 18th, 1915: Oberleutnant;
August 18th, 1918: Hauptmann;
January 1st, 1929: Major;
April 1st, 1933: Oberstleutnant;
April 1st, 1935: Oberst;
August 1st, 1939: Generalmajor;
August 1st, 1940: Generalleutnant;
February 1st, 1942: General der Infanterie.

Career:
February 18th, 1910: 2. / Westfälisches Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande" Nr. 15;
?: Adjutant 2. / Westfälisches Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande" Nr. 15;
1915: Adjutant Westfälisches Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande" Nr. 15;
1916: Adjutant 26. Infanterie-Brigade;
?: Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 14;
?: 17. Infanterie-Regiment, Braunschweig;
1921: Nachrichten-Offizier Stab 17. Infanterie-Regiment;
October 1st, 1923: Chef 2. / 17. Infanterie-Regiment, Braunschweig;
October 1st, 1924: Ausbildungs-Eskadron / 2. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment, Allenstein;
October 1st, 1925: Generalstab 2. Division Reichswehr, Stettin;
?: Führergehilfenausbildung;
October 1st, 1930: Lehrer für Kriegsgeschichte M.Frunse Kriegsakademie, Russland;
?: Heeres-Ausbildungsabteilung (T 4);
October 1st, 1933: 2. (Preuß.) Kraftfahr-Abteilung, Stettin;
February 1st, 1934: Kommandeur 2. (Preuß.) Kraftfahr-Abteilung;
?: Kommandeur Kraftfahr-Abteilung, Stettin;
June 1st, 1935: Chef des Generalstabes VII. Armeekorps;
November 24th, 1938 - 26 augustus 1939: Chef des Stabes Heeresgruppen-Kommando 6;
August 26th, 1939 - October 25th, 1940: Chef des Generalstabes 4. Armee;
October 25th, 1940 - June 21st, 1941: Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe C;
June 21st, 1941 - January 17th, 1942: Chef des Stabes Heeresgruppe Nord;
January 17th, 1942: Führerreserve;
August 15th, 1942 - January 23rd, 1943: Kommandierenden General XXXXIII. Armeekorps;
January 23rd, 1943: Führerreserve;
July 1943 - May 8th, 1945: Leiter Kurse für Divisionskommandeure und Kommandierende Generale;
May 8th, 1945 - March 31st, 1948: POW to the US Forces.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur Kraftfahr-Abteilung, Stettin

Awarded on:

January 30th, 1935

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes VII. Armeekorps

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes VII. Armeekorps

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes VII. Armeekorps

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes VII. Armeekorps

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Chef des Stabes Heeresgruppen-Kommando 6

Awarded on:

April 18th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstabes 4. Armee

Awarded on:

September 12th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on October 16th, 1914.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Awarded on:

September 28th, 1939

Had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class on October 30th, 1915.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Chef des Generalstab Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

October 13th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)

Unit:

Kommandierender General XXXXIII. Armeekorps

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1942

The following wartime excerpt describes why Brennecke was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“General der Infanterie Brennecke achieved great battle-deciding successes as a result of his own independent decisions during the course of the fighting around Podlipki. He showed outstanding personal bravery within the context of the fighting to destroy an enemy group during both the decisive period 24.-27.05.1942 and in the subsequent combat to completely destroy the group.”

The fighting described in this excerpt refers to the clearing out of the 4. Armee’s rear area from the Soviet Cavalry Corps Below and strong partisan formations.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: S. Wieslaw
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
  - Axis Biographical Research