(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Generalleutnant Friedrich Kersten
Born: 21 Aug 1887 in Prenzlau
Died: 03 Dec 1974 in Bad Oeynhausen
Promotions:
Fähnrich (17 May 1910); Oberleutnant (22 Mar 1915); Hauptmann (22 Mar 1918); Major (01 Mar 1931); Oberstleutnant (01 Jul 1934); Oberst (01 Oct 1936); Generalmajor (01 Oct 1940); Generalleutnant (01 Oct 2942)
Career:
Entered Army Service (21 Sep 1909)
Fahnenjunker in the 54th Infantry-Regiment (21 Sep 1909-01 Aug 1914)
Company-Leader in the 54th Infantry-Regiment & 209th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment (01 Aug 1914-01 Oct 1916)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 397th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1916-01 Jan 1918)
Division-Signals-Commander of the 222nd Infantry-Division (01 Jan 1918-00 Dec 1918)
Leader of a Signals-Battalion in Border-Protection East (42nd Reichswehr-Brigade) (00 Dec 1918-01 Oct 1919)
Company-Chief, later Hauptmann with the Staff of the 2nd Signals-Battalion (01 Oct 1919-01 Oct 1923)
Adjutant of the Reichs Defence Minister, Director of the Signals-Operations-Department & of the Courier-Office in the RWM (01 Oct 1923-01 Apr 1927)
With the Staff of the 4th Signals-Battalion (01 Apr 1927-01 Apr 1929)
Staff-Officer of Signals-Troops with the Staff of the 4th Division (01 Apr 1929-01 Apr 1932)
Director of the Regulations-Office of Signals-Troops at the Artillery-School (01 Apr 1932-01 Apr 1934)
Commander of Signals-Battalion Liegnitz (01 Apr 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Commander of Signals-Troops IX & for Military-District IX, later for Military-District XII (15 Oct 1935-01 Oct 1937)
Commander of Signals-Troops X & for Military-District XI (01 Oct 1937-26 Aug 1939)
Army-Signals-Leader of the 4th Army (26 Aug 1939-01 Oct 1939)
Higher Signals Leader in Bohemia & Moravia (01 Oct 1939-10 Jan 1941)
Army-Signals-Leader of the 18th Army (10 Jan 1941-15 Apr 1941)
Higher Signals Leader with Military-Commander France (15 Apr 1941-15 Sep 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (15 Sep 1943-01 Dec 1943)
Commander of POWs in Military-District XI (01 Dec 1943-20 Nov 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH (20 Nov 1944-31 Mar 1945)
Retired (31 Mar 1945)
In Captivity (07 Apr 1945-08 Jul 1945)
Released (08 Jul 1945)
In Captivity (20 Nov 1945-08 Jul 1947)
Released (08 Jul 1947)

Awards & Decorations:
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse


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