Kurt Arthur Benno Student ( German Kurt Arthur Benno Student , May 12, 1890 - July 1, 1978 ) - Colonel General in the Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) , a participant in the First and Second World Wars. The pilot ace of the First World War, during which won six air victories. Founder and first commander of the German Airborne Troops (and in fact recognized as the founder of the Airborne Forces as a branch of the army).
| Kurt Student | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| him. Kurt arthur benno student | |||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||
| Date of Birth | May 12, 1890 | ||||||||||||||
| Place of Birth | Birkholz , Brandenburg , German Empire | ||||||||||||||
| Date of death | July 1, 1978 (88 years old) | ||||||||||||||
| A place of death | Lemgo , North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany | ||||||||||||||
| Affiliation |  German Empire Germany Germany Germany | ||||||||||||||
| Type of army |  Luftwaffe airborne troops | ||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1910-1945 | ||||||||||||||
| Rank | Colonel General | ||||||||||||||
| Commanded | |||||||||||||||
| Battles / wars | World War I The Second World War | ||||||||||||||
| Awards and prizes | German Empire
Third Reich
 | ||||||||||||||
Content
- 1 Career start
- 2 World War I
- 3 Between World Wars
- 4 World War II
- 5 Awards
- 6 Literature
Career start
He entered the military service in March 1910 by fenrich (candidate for officer) in the 1st Jaeger Regiment. In March 1911 he was promoted to lieutenant . In 1913 he completed a training course at the flight school.
World War I
Since August 1914 - pilot in the 17th air battalion. In September 1914 he was awarded the Iron Cross of the 2nd degree. Since June 1915 - lieutenant , was awarded the Knight's Cross of the 2nd class of the Saxon Order of Albrecht , in August 1915 - the Iron Cross of the 1st degree.
Since February 1916 - in fighter aircraft (pilot, then squadron commander). In May 1917, he was wounded in an air battle. In June 1917 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Hohenzollern House . In 1916-1917 he shot down 6 enemy aircraft. Since June 1918 - captain.
Between World Wars
After World War I, Captain Student continued his service in the Reichswehr. Since 1920 - in the Ministry of War, in the department of weapons inspection. In 1921, he suffered while testing a glider .
From January 1929, he was the company commander of the 2nd Infantry Regiment; from 1931-1933, he was the battalion commander of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, major.
Since September 1933 - in the Ministry of War as an officer for special assignments in aviation. Since 1935 - Colonel. He was in charge of aviation schools, a testing center and an air base. Since April 1938 - Major General.
On July 4, 1938, by order of Goering, he was appointed commander of the Luftwaffe parachute and airborne landing units.
Since September 1938 - the commander of the 7th Airborne Division . Since February 1939, concurrently - inspector of the airborne troops.
World War II
Since January 1940 - Lieutenant General . During the Western campaign for fighting in the Netherlands, he was awarded the Knight's Cross (No. 18) in May 1940, and was wounded on leave until 1941. He was promoted to the rank of general of the airborne troops.
Since January 1941 - the commander of the 11th airborne corps ( landing operation in Crete ), since June 1941 - the commander of the airborne troops.
In September 1943 he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.
Since March 1944 - Commander of the 1st Airborne Army (Western Front). Since July 1944 - Colonel General .
In October 1944 - April 1945, the commander of various army groups, then again the 1st Airborne Army (Western Front).
May 8, 1945 captured by British troops.
In May 1947, the Student was tried and charged on eight counts of abuse and murders of prisoners of war committed by his subordinates in Crete (but not crimes against the civilian population of Crete, as in Kondomari, Alikianos and Kandanos). He was convicted on three charges, but escaped harsh punishment due to testimony of Brigadier Lindsay Inglis, commander of the 4th Brigade of New Zealand. The student was sentenced to five years in prison, but in 1948 he was assigned early release on medical grounds.
Rewards
- Badge of a Military Pilot (February 27, 1914) ( Kingdom of Prussia )
- 2nd Class Iron Cross (September 26, 1914) ( Kingdom of Prussia )
- 1st Class Iron Cross (August 29, 1915)
- Honorary Cup for the winner in aerial combat
- Order of Albrecht 2nd Class Knight's Cross with swords (June 21, 1915) ( Kingdom of Saxony )
- Royal Order of the Hohenzollern House Knight's Cross with Swords (June 5, 1916) ( Kingdom of Prussia )
- Breastplate “For Injury” (1918) in black
- Breastplate of Honor (Prussia) (September 10, 1919)
- Pilot badge (May 21, 1935)
- Medal “For the length of service in the Wehrmacht” 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st grade
- Medal "In memory of October 1, 1938" with a buckle "Prague Castle" (June 5, 1939)
- Buckle to the Iron Cross of the 2nd and 1st grade (September 20, 1939)
- Knight's cross of an iron cross with oak leaves
- Knight's Cross (May 12, 1940)
- oak leaves (No. 305) (September 27, 1943)
- Badge of the pilot and observer in gold with diamonds (September 2, 1940)
- Breastplate “For the wounded” (1939) in silver
- Cuff tape "Crete"
Literature
- Barnett C. Hitler's Generals . - New York, NY: Grove Press, 1989 .-- 528 p. - ISBN 0-802-13994-9 .