Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen
Encyclopedia
General Adolf-Fiedrich Kuntzen (26 July 1889 – 10 July 1964) was a Panzer
General
in the German
army during World War II
who served as the Commanding General of the LXXXI Army-Corps under Erwin Rommel
in Normandy
in 1944.
He joined a cavalry regiment of the Imperial Army in 1909 as an officer cadet and in World War I
he served in the 1st Hussar
Regiment as an adjutant and in December 1917 he was promoted to Rittmeister
. He was then retained in the Reichswehr
where he served as a staff officer and was promoted to Major in 1929 as squadron chief of the 8th Mounted Regiment. He was then detached to study History and Philosophy at Bonn University. He served on the general staff in the 1930 and further promotions followed to Oberstleutnant
(1932), Oberst
(1934) and Generalmajor (1938).
At the outbreak of World War II he was the commander of the
3rd Light Division which became the 8th Panzer Division. In 1941 he was appointed conmmanding general of the LVII Army-Corps. He was the Commanding General of the LXXXI Army-Corps from 28 May 1942 - 4 September 1944 and held this position on D-Day when the corps was based in France
. He was transferred to the Leadership reserve on 14 September 1944 and was retired in December 1944.
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
General
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who served as the Commanding General of the LXXXI Army-Corps under Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in 1944.
He joined a cavalry regiment of the Imperial Army in 1909 as an officer cadet and in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served in the 1st Hussar
Hussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
Regiment as an adjutant and in December 1917 he was promoted to Rittmeister
Rittmeister
Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
. He was then retained in the Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
where he served as a staff officer and was promoted to Major in 1929 as squadron chief of the 8th Mounted Regiment. He was then detached to study History and Philosophy at Bonn University. He served on the general staff in the 1930 and further promotions followed to Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
(1932), Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
(1934) and Generalmajor (1938).
At the outbreak of World War II he was the commander of the
3rd Light Division which became the 8th Panzer Division. In 1941 he was appointed conmmanding general of the LVII Army-Corps. He was the Commanding General of the LXXXI Army-Corps from 28 May 1942 - 4 September 1944 and held this position on D-Day when the corps was based in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was transferred to the Leadership reserve on 14 September 1944 and was retired in December 1944.
External links
- Adolf Friedrich Kuntzen career chronology (Archived 2009-10-24)