Kurt von Briesen was a General of Infantry awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross by Hitler for gallantry in the Polish campaign.

Early Years and World War I

Kurt von Briesen enlisted 16 September 1904 as a cadet in Kaiser Franz Guard Infantry Regiment no. 2. On 27 January 1906 he was promoted to second lieutenant. On 1 October 1910 he became adjutant in the Fusilier Battalion of the Kaiser Franz Guard infantry Regiment no. 2. On 19 July 1913 he was promoted to first lieutenant. On 1 October 1913 he was delegated to the war academy. On the 1st August 1914, at the outbreak of World War I, he became regimental adjutant of reserve infantry regiment 15. On 23 August 1914 he was wounded and sent to a military hospital. On 28 October 1914 he became adjutant of the 26th Reserve infantry brigade. In 1916 he was appointed to the general staff of IVth Army corps. In September 1916 he was shifted to the general staff of the army. In 1918 he became 1st General staff officer of the 239th Infantry division.

Inter War Years

In January 1919 the now Captain von Briesen became commander of volunteer battalion 52. Three months later he became an officer of the general staff, IInd Army corps. In October 1919 he became an officer on the staff of the IInd military district command. On 9 March 1920 he was, effective 31 March 1920, discharged from the army. Von Briesen found employment, 1 May 1922, with the Land-Service (Land-Dienst) of military district II. There he was entrusted with the organization of border control in Pomerania

Pomerania

Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...

. On 1 April 1934 von Briesen was transferred to the army as commander of New Stettin. On 1 May 1934 he was promoted to major. On 15 October 1935 he became the commander of Infantry regiment 69. On 1 August 1937 he was promoted to major general. On 4 February 1938 he became, during the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair

Blomberg-Fritsch Affair

The Blomberg–Fritsch Affair were two related scandals in early 1938 that resulted in the subjugation of the German Armed Forces to dictator Adolf Hitler...

, commander of the 30th Infantry division.

World War II

On 27 August 1939 von Briesen was promoted to major general (generalleutnant) and led the 30th Infantry Division in the invasion of Poland. During the Battle of the Bzura

Battle of the Bzura

The Battle of the Bzura was a battle in the opening campaign of World War II during the 1939 German invasion of Poland, fought between 9 and 19 September, 1939, between Polish and German forces...

 von Briesen's right forearm was wounded in combat, but he insisted on returning to lead his division as soon as his wound was cared for. Von Briesen's division held the flanks of the main column of Colonel General Johannes Blaskowitz

Johannes Blaskowitz

Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...

's 8th Army against a mass break out attempt by Polish forces, and in the process von Briesen personally led the last reserve battalion into combat. Adolf Hitler, touring the front lines with Wilhelm Keitel

Wilhelm Keitel

Wilhelm Bodewin Gustav Keitel was a German field marshal . As head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and de facto war minister, he was one of Germany's most senior military leaders during World War II...

 shortly after von Briesen’s injury, was deeply impressed. Believing von Briesen had saved Blaskowitz's army by his gallantry and drive, Hitler directed that von Briesen be 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 27 October 1939 von Briesen received the award. In 1940 von Briesen commanded the 30th Infantry division in France during the German invasion. When Paris fell, the 30th Infantry Division marched in a victory parade along the avenue Foch, von Briesen on horseback saluting his men as they passed by. On 1 Aug 1940, von Briesen was promoted to the rank of general (US equivalent of lieutenant general). On 25 November 1940 he was appointed commanding general of the LII Army corps. Soviet aircraft killed him, age 55, in Russia, Isjum on the Donetz, southeast of Kharkov, 12:30pm, November 20, 1941.