Kurt Stephani

Kurt Stephani
Born	15 August 1904 Donaueschingen
Died	20 August 1944 (aged 40) Écorches, France
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer  Luftwaffe
Years of service	1923–45
Rank	Major of the Reserves
Unit	Jäger-Regiment 75 Luftlande-Lehr-Abteilung 1
Commands held	Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Kurt Stephani (15 August 1904 – 20 August 1944) was a highly decorated Major of the Reserves in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. 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.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (10 June 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (28 June 1941)^[1]
• General Assault Badge (12 August 1941)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 20 March 1944 as Hauptmann in the Luftlande-Lehr-Abteilung 1^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Major of the Reserves and leader of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9^[3]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (29 July 1944)

References

Citations

1. Thomas & Wegmann 1986, p. 297.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 459.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 333.

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.
• Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knights of the Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military. ISBN 978-0-88740-749-9.
• 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1986). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil II: Fallschirmjäger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part II: Paratroopers] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1461-8.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.