(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Generalleutnant Alfred Gerstenberg
Born: 06 Apr 1893 in Neudorf, District Oppeln
Died: 04 Jan 1959 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Promotions:
Charakter als Fähnrich (09 Apr 1912); Fähnrich (18 Dec 1912); Leutnant (18 Aug 1913); Oberleutnant (01 Jun 1922); Major (01 Oct 1934); Oberstleutnant (01 Aug 1936); Oberst (01 Oct 1938); Generalmajor (01 Sep 1941); Generalleutnant (01 Sep 1943); Some Sources, e.g. Sammlung Krug, indicate the Promotion to General der Flieger on 01 Sep 1944. Proof concerning this cannot be found. This promotion is very improbable as he was already in Soviet Captivity at this time
Career:
Entered the Army in the Ulanen-Regiment (09 Apr 1912-1916)
Detached to War School in Danzig (1912-00 Aug 1913)
Observer in the 2nd Combat-Wing ‘Richthofen’ (1916-20 Oct 1917)
Shot Down and wounded, in Hospital (20 Oct 1917-00 Jan 1918)
Signals-Officer in the Grand Headquarters (00 Jan 1918-00 Dec 1918)
With the Processing-Office of the 1st Ulanen-Regiment (00 Dec 1918-30 Sep 1919)
In the 8th Mounted-Regiment (01 Oct 1919-31 Dec 1920)
In the 9th Mounted-Regiment (01 Jan 1920-31 Jul 1926)
Retired (31 Jul 1926)
Assistant of Oberst von Niedermaier, Leader of the Military Assignment of the Reichswehr in the Soviet Union, Zemo, Moscow (01 Aug 1926-1932)
Chief Of Staff of the German Air-Sport-Formation (DLV) (Secret Luftwaffe) (01 Jul 1934-30 Sep 1934)
Entered Luftwaffe Service as Chief Of Staff of the Luftwaffe-Reserve (01 Oct 1934-31 Jul 1936)
Tactics-Instructor at the Air War School Tutow (01 Aug 1936-31 May 1938)
Luftwaffe-Attaché at the Embassy in Warsaw (01 Jun 1938-01 Sep 1939)
Luftwaffe-Attaché at the Legation in Bucharest (01 Jun 1938-27 Aug 1944)
Commanding General and Commander of German Luftwaffe in Rumania (15 Feb 1942-27 Aug 1944)
In Soviet Captivity (28 Aug 1944-12 Oct 1955)
Released (12 Oct 1955)

Decorations & Awards:
- RK des Kgl. Preuss. Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Preuss. Flugzeugbeobachter-Abzeichen
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis II. Klasse
- Kriegserinnerungs-Ärmelband “Jagdgeschwader Freiherr von Richthofen Nr. 1 1917/1918”
- Kgl. Rumän. Orden “Michael der Tapfere” III. Klasse: 03.03.1943


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