Kurt Bentin

Kurt Bentin
Born	23 March 1914 Unna
Died	1 April 1992 (aged 78) Oberschleißheim
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Heer Bundeswehr
Years of service	1934–45 1956–68
Rank	Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Major (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	Grenadier-Battalion 8./9. "Feldherrnhalle"
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Rostov (1941) Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of the Caucasus Lower Dnieper Offensive Cherkassy Pocket Jassy–Kishinev Offensive (August 1944)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Kurt Bentin (23 March 1914 – 1 April 1992) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Major in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Kurt Bentin was captured in 1945 by British troops and was released in September on that year. He later joined the Bundeswehr retiring in 1968 as a Major.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Eastern Front Medal
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
• German Cross in Gold on 28 June 1944 as Leutnant in the 5./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 February 1945 as Oberleutnant and commander of Grenadier-Battalion 8/9 "Feldherrnhalle"^[2]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 36.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 110.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945