(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Generalmajor Claus Hempel
Born: 16 Mar 1883 in Köslin
Died: 08 Feb 1952 in Bielefeld (Fatal Accident)
Promotions:
Fähnrich (22 Apr 1902); Leutnant (27 Jan 1903); Oberleutnant (27 Jan 1912); Hauptmann (08 Nov 1914); Charakter als Major (31 Jan 1925); Major (01 Oct 1933); Oberstleutnant (01 Apr 1935); Oberst (01 Feb 1939); Generalmajor (01 Feb 1943)
Career:
Entered the Army as Fahnenjunker and Company-Officer in the 170th Infantry-Regiment (16 Sep 1901-31 Mar 1913)
Detached to the Airship-Battalion (01 Feb 1909-31 May 1909)
Detached to the Military-Gymnasium (01 Oct 1911-31 Jul 1912)
Pilot-Training at the Flying-School Halberstadt (01 Apr 1913-06 Jun 1913)
Detached to the Flying-Station Metz (07 Jun 1913-30 Sep 1913)
Pilot with the 4th Flying-Battalion (01 Oct 1913-01 Aug 1914)
Pilot with the 20th Field-Flying-Battalion (01 Aug 1914-26 Nov 1914)
Pilot with the Messenger-Pigeon-Battalion O, Ostend (27 Nov 1914-30 Apr 1915)
Leader of the 21st Field-Flying-Battalion (01 May 1915-31 Jan 1916)
Leader of the 40th Field-Flying-Battalion (01 Feb 1916-31 Dec 1916)
Commander of Battle-Wing 4 of the Supreme Army Command (01 Jan 1917-04 Sep 1917)
In British Captivity (04 Sep 1917-26 Oct 1919)
Released and Detached to the Inspection Of Flying Troops (27 Nov 1919-24 Mar 1920)
Air-Base-Commandant Brieg (25 Mar 1920-24 May 1920)
Detached to the Staff of Military-District-Command VI (25 May 1920-30 Sep 1920)
With the Staff of the III. Battalion of the 1st Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1920-04 Mar 1921)
Company-Chief in the 1st Infantry-Regiment (05 Mar 1921-31 Jan 1925)
Retired (31 Jan 1925)
Leading Employee with the Firm Junkers Air-Commerce, Dessau (17 Feb 1925-31 Oct 1926)
With the German Lufthansa, Berlin (01 Nov 1926-28 Jan 1927)
Participant at the Sven-Hedin-Expedition at China in Order of the RLM (29 Jan 1927-31 Mar 1929)
Employee of the Army as Standing Officer with the II. Battalion of the 1st Infantry-Regiment (13 Mar 1931-30 Sep 1933)
Entered Luftwaffe Service as Supplemental-Officer (Fully Activated on 01 Feb 1939) and Detached to the RLM (01 Oct 1933-14 Jun 1934)
Leader of the Air-Office Stettin (15 Jun 1934-31 Jan 1936)
Leader of the Air-Office Magdeburg (01 Feb 1936-14 Jun 1936)
With the Staff of the Military-Replacement-Inspection Münster (15 Jun 1936-31 Jan 1941)
Commander of Military-District-Command Gelsenkirchen (01 Jan 1942-31 Oct 1943)
Retired (31 Oct 1943)

Decorations & Awards:
- RK des Kgl. Preuss. Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Preuss. Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. bis I. Klasse mit Schwertern


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