Kastner-Kirdorf, Gustav, born 02-02-1881 in Trumpfsee, District Angermünde, 
in 1899 became a member of the Burschenschaft Hevellia Berlin, one of the traditional Studentenverbindungen (student fraternities) of Germany. Burschenschaften 
were founded in the 19th century as associations of university students inspired by liberal and nationalistic ideas. They were significantly involved in the March Revolution 
and the unification of Germany. After Gustav Kastner married his fiancée, the widow Adele Kirdorf, daughter of the influential mining industrialist Adolph Kirdorf, he adopted the double name Kastner-Kirdorf at the request of his father-in-law. Adele Caroline (born 10-12-1885 in Aachen; died 07-10-1965) was previously married to Eduard Honigmann (born 02-03-1872 in Grevenberg near Aachen), son of the mine owner Friedrich Moritz Ehrenfried Arnold Honigmann. Mine director Eduard fell as a reserve captain of the 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment in Allaines on 03-09-1916 at the Battle of the Somme. Gustav entered the Army Service, as a Fähnrich in the 25th Infantry “von Lutzow” Regiment 
on 05-02-1904, age 23. Promoted to Leutnant on 15-11-1905 and there he was first a company officer, later an adjutant of the first battalion and last regimental adjutant until 21-03-1914. Then he was from March 22, to 03-08-1914, company officer, Hauptmann from 28-11-1914, in the infantry regiment Graf Barfuß No. 17. 
Here he made in July 1914 a pilot training and with the outbreak of World War I he was a pilot and observer with the 39th Field Flying Battalion. 
With the outbreak of the first war Kastner Kirdorf acted from August 4 to 10-09-1914 as General Staff Officer and leader of the flyer Detachment Deputy of the XIV Corps 
. He acted on several positions and was not wounded. From January 1919 to June 1919 he was commander of the Neuruppin airport. He left the army on 08-06- 1919. He ended the war as the Air Base Command of Neuroppin and retired from the Army on 08-06-1919. Promoted to Major on 01-04-1934, Oberst on 01-10-1935, Kastner reactivated in the growing Reichswehr, RLM, as Adolf Hitler 
(did you know) had taken over power, on 01-10-1937 as a Supplement Officer. Promoted to Generalmajor on 01-06-1938. With the outbreak of World War II he was Chief of the Luftwaffe Personal Office RLM until 23-02-1943 and from 01-01-1940 as a Generalleutnant and General de Flieger on 01-07-1941.
in 1899 became a member of the Burschenschaft Hevellia Berlin, one of the traditional Studentenverbindungen (student fraternities) of Germany. Burschenschaften were founded in the 19th century as associations of university students inspired by liberal and nationalistic ideas. They were significantly involved in the March Revolution and the unification of Germany. After Gustav Kastner married his fiancée, the widow Adele Kirdorf, daughter of the influential mining industrialist Adolph Kirdorf, he adopted the double name Kastner-Kirdorf at the request of his father-in-law. Adele Caroline (born 10-12-1885 in Aachen; died 07-10-1965) was previously married to Eduard Honigmann (born 02-03-1872 in Grevenberg near Aachen), son of the mine owner Friedrich Moritz Ehrenfried Arnold Honigmann. Mine director Eduard fell as a reserve captain of the 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment in Allaines on 03-09-1916 at the Battle of the Somme. Gustav entered the Army Service, as a Fähnrich in the 25th Infantry “von Lutzow” Regiment on 05-02-1904, age 23. Promoted to Leutnant on 15-11-1905 and there he was first a company officer, later an adjutant of the first battalion and last regimental adjutant until 21-03-1914. Then he was from March 22, to 03-08-1914, company officer, Hauptmann from 28-11-1914, in the infantry regiment Graf Barfuß No. 17. Here he made in July 1914 a pilot training and with the outbreak of World War I he was a pilot and observer with the 39th Field Flying Battalion. With the outbreak of the first war Kastner Kirdorf acted from August 4 to 10-09-1914 as General Staff Officer and leader of the flyer Detachment Deputy of the XIV Corps . He acted on several positions and was not wounded. From January 1919 to June 1919 he was commander of the Neuruppin airport. He left the army on 08-06- 1919. He ended the war as the Air Base Command of Neuroppin and retired from the Army on 08-06-1919. Promoted to Major on 01-04-1934, Oberst on 01-10-1935, Kastner reactivated in the growing Reichswehr, RLM, as Adolf Hitler (did you know) had taken over power, on 01-10-1937 as a Supplement Officer. Promoted to Generalmajor on 01-06-1938. With the outbreak of World War II he was Chief of the Luftwaffe Personal Office RLM until 23-02-1943 and from 01-01-1940 as a Generalleutnant and General de Flieger on 01-07-1941.
Kastner-Kirdorf second from the left.
Officer with Special Duties of the RLM, to 14-04-1943. Kastner-Kirdorf became Chief of the Office for Execution and Clemency Affairs of Hermann Goering’s 
(did you know) Luftwaffe, until 04-05-1945.
(did you know) Luftwaffe, until 04-05-1945.
After Gustav Kastner married his fiancée, the widow Adele Kirdorf, daughter of the influential mining industrialist Adolph Kirdorf, he adopted the double name Kastner-Kirdorf at the request of his father-in-law. Adele Caroline (born 10-12-1885 in Aachen; she died 07-10-1965) was previously married to Eduard Honigmann born 02-03-1872 in Grevenberg near Aachen), son of the mine owner Friedrich Moritz Ehrenfried Arnold Honigmann. Mine director Eduard fell as a reserve Hauptmann of the 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment in Allaines on 03-09-1916 at the Battle of the Somme.
Death and burial ground of Kastner-Kirdorf, Gustav.
The desperate Generalleutnant Kastner-Kirdorf committed suicide on 04-05-1945, shooting through his head in the house of Herman Goering on the Obersalzber. Kastner-Kirdorf was found by the American major Winters, Richard Davis “Dick”, 
of the 506th Band of Brothers, 101 Airborne division 
, the first Regiment on the Berghof. Kastner-Kirdorf is buried on the War cemetery of Berchtesgaden, row 9 and grave 1, on the feet of the Obersalzberg and the Berghof.
Leave a Reply