Willy Langkeit

Willy Langkeit (2 June 1907 – 27 October 1969) was an Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Willy Langkeit was taken prisoner by American troops in May 1945 and transferred to British custody later that month. He was held until 1947 and later joined the Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Guards) in 1951, retiring in 1967.

Willy Langkeit, 2nd from left

Willy Langkeit
Born	(1907-06-02)2 June 1907 Schuchten
Died	27 October 1969(1969-10-27) (aged 62) Bad Bramstedt
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service / branch	Heer Bundesgrenzschutz
Years of service	1924–45 1951–67
Rank	Generalmajor (Wehrmacht) Brigadegeneral (Bundesgrenzschutz)
Commands	Panzer Division "Kurmark"
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Battle of Brody (1941) Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Rostov (1941) Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Battle of Smolensk (1943) Lower Dnieper Offensive First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive Battle of the Seelow Heights Battle of Halbe
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (10 November 1939)^[1]
  • 1st Class (30 August 1940)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 1 July 1942 as Major in the II./Panzer-Regiment 36^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 9 December 1942 as Major and commander of I./Panzer-Regiment 36^[3][4]
  • 348th Oak Leaves on 7 December 1943 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Panzer-Regiment 36^[3][5]
• Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany