Karl Kessel

Karl Kessel (born June 1, 1912 in Mülheim an der Ruhr ; † August 24, 1997 in Bonn ) was a German officer , most recently major general in the Bundeswehr .

biography

After graduating from high school, Kessel joined the Reichswehr on April 1, 1933 , where he was promoted to lieutenant in 1935 and trained as an aircraft pilot. After being employed as a supervisory officer and adjutant at the Air War Academy Berlin-Gatow , he was in Kampfgeschwader 2 “Holzhammer” squadron captain , then first general staff officer (Ia) and later group commander . As a squadron commodore , he led this squadron at the beginning of the Steinbock company . From mid-February 1944 he worked again at the Air War Academy and from July 1944 until the end of the war at the Reich Air Fleet as Ia and head of the management department.

After the war, Kessel worked in the sales and export department of a cardboard box factory. In 1956 he joined the newly established Bundeswehr as a colonel, where he was initially a consultant in the Ministry of Defense . From July 1961 to November 1962 he was commander of the flight candidate regiment in Uetersen. During his time as a subdivision head in the air force command staff , he was promoted to brigadier general by decision of the 76th cabinet meeting on May 16, 1963 . In his last employment he was from October 1, 1967 until his retirement on September 30, 1970 as major general in command of the 6th Air Force Division .

Awards

Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
Front flight clasp in gold
German cross in gold on March 29, 1943
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on January 24, 1944
Large Federal Cross of Merit 1970

Individual evidence

^ Karl Kessel , Munzinger.
^ Teaching, training and experimental associations and units (BL 14), Federal Archives.
↑ Appendix 1 to the minutes of text 76th Cabinet meeting on Thursday, May 16, 1963, Federal Archives.
↑ 6th Air Force Division 1957-1970 (BL 7-6). Federal Archives, 2006, accessed on August 8, 2020 .
↑ ^a ^b Veit Scherzer : Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 The owners of the Iron Cross of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and armed forces allied with Germany according to the documents of the Federal Archives , Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, Ranis / Jena 2007, ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2 , p. 438.

personal data
SURNAME	Kessel, Karl
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German officer, most recently major general in the Bundeswehr
DATE OF BIRTH	June 1, 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH	Mülheim an der Ruhr
DATE OF DEATH	August 24, 1997
Place of death	Bonn

[1] Karl Kessel , Munzinger.

[2] Teaching, training and experimental associations and units (BL 14), Federal Archives.

[3] Appendix 1 to the minutes of text 76th Cabinet meeting on Thursday, May 16, 1963, Federal Archives.

[4] 6th Air Force Division 1957-1970 (BL 7-6). Federal Archives, 2006, accessed on August 8, 2020 .

[Scherzer-5] Veit Scherzer : Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 The owners of the Iron Cross of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and armed forces allied with Germany according to the documents of the Federal Archives , Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, Ranis / Jena 2007, ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2 , p. 438.