Kurt Versock
Encyclopedia
General Kurt Versock was a German
General
of the Mountain Troops who was awarded the Knight's Cross during World War II
.
From 1913 to 1914 he studied Law and Economics. In October 1914 he joined an Infantry and in May 1915 he was commissioned as a Leutnant and commanded a platoon and was a battalion adjutant, company commander and regimental adjutant, mainly on the western front during World War I
.
After the war he was retained in the Reichswehr
and on 1 January 1921 he commanded a platoon of the 4th (MG) Company of Infantry Regiment 10. He was an assistant training officer and a company commander in the 16th Company and then the 4th (MG) Company of the 10th Infantry Regiment From 1934 to 1938, followed by a period as a lecturer at the infantry school in Dresden
. He was promoted to Major
and Oberstleutnant
in January 1938. On 1 November 1938 he was appointed commander of the First Battalion of the 138th Mountain Regiment.
After the Polish campaign Versock was from March to October 1940 the Commander of the officer-training courses. On 1 November 1940 he was promoted to Oberst
and appointed commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment and he led the regiment in the battles in Ukraine
and Crimea
. For the performance of the regiment and for his personal involvement in the conquest of the fortress of Sevastopol
, on 25 August 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
On 1 March 1943 Versock served on the Leningrad
front with the 24th Infantry Division. In May 1943 he was promoted to Generalmajor and appointed commander of the 24th Infantry division. On 1 November 1943 this was followed by a promotion to Generalleutnant.
On 18 February 1944 he was seriously wounded by a machine gun bullet, but in June he was able to return to his division. On 3 September 1944, He was appointed commander of the XXXXIII Army Corps and tasked with the organization of the coastal defense of the Courland
operation. On 1 November 1944 he was promoted to General der Gebirgstruppe
and at the end of the war he was captured by the Americans.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
General
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
of the Mountain Troops who was awarded the Knight's Cross during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
From 1913 to 1914 he studied Law and Economics. In October 1914 he joined an Infantry and in May 1915 he was commissioned as a Leutnant and commanded a platoon and was a battalion adjutant, company commander and regimental adjutant, mainly on the western front during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the war he was retained in the Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
and on 1 January 1921 he commanded a platoon of the 4th (MG) Company of Infantry Regiment 10. He was an assistant training officer and a company commander in the 16th Company and then the 4th (MG) Company of the 10th Infantry Regiment From 1934 to 1938, followed by a period as a lecturer at the infantry school in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. He was promoted to Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
and Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
in January 1938. On 1 November 1938 he was appointed commander of the First Battalion of the 138th Mountain Regiment.
After the Polish campaign Versock was from March to October 1940 the Commander of the officer-training courses. On 1 November 1940 he was promoted to Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
and appointed commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment and he led the regiment in the battles in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. For the performance of the regiment and for his personal involvement in the conquest of the fortress of Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
, on 25 August 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
On 1 March 1943 Versock served on the Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
front with the 24th Infantry Division. In May 1943 he was promoted to Generalmajor and appointed commander of the 24th Infantry division. On 1 November 1943 this was followed by a promotion to Generalleutnant.
On 18 February 1944 he was seriously wounded by a machine gun bullet, but in June he was able to return to his division. On 3 September 1944, He was appointed commander of the XXXXIII Army Corps and tasked with the organization of the coastal defense of the Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
operation. On 1 November 1944 he was promoted to General der Gebirgstruppe
General der Gebirgstruppe
General der Gerbirgstruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1940....
and at the end of the war he was captured by the Americans.
Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 25 August 1942 as OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
and commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 31 - German Cross in Gold (20 June 1944)