Date of birth:

May 25th, 1893 (Arnswalde/Pommerania, Germany)

Date of death:

January 8th, 1981 (Goslar/Lowersaxony, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Mortimer von Kessel was born on May 25th, 1893 as the son to Konstantin von Kessel and Julie Freijn von Buddenbrock. On March 17th, 1928 he married Dorothee von Kessel. The couple had a son on December 14th, 1928 (Mortimer von Kessel), another son on January 13th, 1931 (Silvius von Kessel) and one more on May 24th, 1934 (Immo von Kessel).

Promotions:
August 1st, 1914: Fahnenjunker;
March 22nd, 1915: Leutnant (Patent September 1st, 1913);
June 1st, 1923: Oberleutnant;
?: Hauptmann;
February 11th, 1935: Major;
October 1st, 1937: Oberstleutnant;
April 20th, 1939: Oberstleutnant (RDA: January 1st, 1937);
October 1st, 1939: Oberst;
November 1st, 1942: Generalmajor;
December 1st, 1943: Generalleutnant;
March 1st, 1945: General der Panzertruppen.

Career:
August 1st, 1914: Ersatztruppenteil, Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12;
September 28th, 1914: Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12;
September 4th, 1916: Ordonnanzofficier, Stab, Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12;
September 9th, 1916: Regimentsadjutant/Gerichtsoffizier, Stab, Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12;
July 1st, 1917: stellvertretenden Brigadeadjutant;
May 1919: Abwicklungsstelle, Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12;
1919: 10. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment, Reichsheer;
March 22nd, 1922: Wehrkreisprüfung;
1924: 2. Eskadron, 10. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment;
November 1st, 1926: Regimentsadjutant, 10. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment;
February 1st, 1928: 4. Eskadron, 10. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment;
1929: Chef, 3. Eskadron, 10. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment;
October 1st, 1933: Stab, 13. (Preuß.) Reiter-Regiment;
October 1st, 1934: Stab, Reiter-Regiment Hannover;
May 1st, 1935: Stab, 3. Kavallerie-Division;
October 15th, 1935: Stab, 1. Panzer-Division;
October 12th, 1937: Kommandeur, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 9;
November 10th, 1938: Kommandeur, Aufklärungs-Regiment (motorisiert) 8;
July 1st, 1939: Abteilung P2, Oberkommando des Heeres;
November 1st, 1939: Abteilungschef P2, Heerespersonalamt (HPA);
January 15th, 1943: Führerreserve OKH;
May 8th, 1943: Kommandeur, 20. Panzer-Division;
December 27th, 1944: Führer, Generalkommando, VII. Panzerkorps;
March 1st, 1945: Kommandierender General, VII. Panzerkorps.

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12, 2. Kavallerie-Division, Deutsches Heer

Awarded on:

March 27th, 1915

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Adjutant/Gerichtsoffizier, Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12, 2. Kavallerie-Division, Deutsches Heer

Awarded on:

September 25th, 1917

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 20. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 5th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 20. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

July 23rd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 20. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

December 28th, 1943

Awarded for his achievements as commander of the 20. Panzer-Division. Kessel himself described one of the most important actions that led to his being awarded the Knight’s Cross as follows…

“A counterattack with a Volkswagen against a commanding height, which was recaptured with enemy losses of 2 companies, 12 heavy machine guns and 9 anti-tank rifles. This hill was then held against two attacking enemy battalions, which were smashed.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalleutnant (Major-general)

Unit:

Kommandeur, 20. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 16th, 1944

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

• Photo 1: Bill Hughes
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - SCHERZER, V., Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945, Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag, Jena, 2005.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - General der Panzertruppe Mortimer von Kessel - Lexikon der Wehrmacht