Feurstein, Valentin, born 18-01-1885, in Bregenz, entered the Austrian Army as a Leutnant with the 2nd Tiroler Kaiser Jäger Regiment on 18-08-1906, age 21. He followed the War School in Vienna and came as the General Staff Officer with of the 8th Infantry Troops Division 
until end April 1914, now a Oberleutnant. He was transferred, as a Hauptmann, in the same position to the 122nd Infantry Mountain Brigade, when the first war broke out. He was transferred again to the General Staff of the XX Corps 
in 1916 under command of General der Artillerie Friedrich von Scholtz, 
. Von Scholtz on 24-01-1919, retired to civilian life and died eight years later at the age of 76 years on 30-04-1927, in Ballensted. After the war Feurstein was accepted in the Austrian Bundesheer, Army and on 01-07-1920 promoted to Major, serving in different Staff’s. Promoted to Oberstleutnant on 01-09-1924, to Oberst in the autumn of 1928 and Generalmajor on 25-06-1935 as a Division Commander. After the union with Germany in the spring of 1938 his was transferred to the German Wehrmacht with the command of the 2nd Mountain Division 
, from 01-04-1938. Promoted to Generalleutnant on 01-06-1939 and led his Division in the invasion of Poland. He was awarded with both the Iron Crosses 
and now involved in the Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway 
where his division made the brake through from Trondheim to Narvick. He lost his command to General der Gebirgstruppe, Kommandeur LXXV Armeekorps, Hans Schlemmer
until end April 1914, now a Oberleutnant. He was transferred, as a Hauptmann, in the same position to the 122nd Infantry Mountain Brigade, when the first war broke out. He was transferred again to the General Staff of the XX Corps in 1916 under command of General der Artillerie Friedrich von Scholtz, . Von Scholtz on 24-01-1919, retired to civilian life and died eight years later at the age of 76 years on 30-04-1927, in Ballensted. After the war Feurstein was accepted in the Austrian Bundesheer, Army and on 01-07-1920 promoted to Major, serving in different Staff’s. Promoted to Oberstleutnant on 01-09-1924, to Oberst in the autumn of 1928 and Generalmajor on 25-06-1935 as a Division Commander. After the union with Germany in the spring of 1938 his was transferred to the German Wehrmacht with the command of the 2nd Mountain Division , from 01-04-1938. Promoted to Generalleutnant on 01-06-1939 and led his Division in the invasion of Poland. He was awarded with both the Iron Crosses and now involved in the Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway where his division made the brake through from Trondheim to Narvick. He lost his command to General der Gebirgstruppe, Kommandeur LXXV Armeekorps, Hans Schlemmer
on 04-03-1941 and landed in the Führer Reserve. 
From Mai 1941 assigned with the command of the Higher Command LXX and promoted to General of the Mountain Troops on 01-09-1941. General der Infanterie, Commanding General of the LXX Army Corps, Hermann Tittel
took over his command and he was appointed now as Commander of the Higher Command LXX. With the transformation of the Staff, he end January 1943 was assigned as Commanding General of the LXX Army Corps. He landed again in the Reserve as his lost the command of LXX Army Corps. End August 1943 he became the Commanding General of the LI Mountain Army Corps in Italy. After heavy battles in North Italy and around Monte Casino he was mentioned in the Wehrmacht reports for his excellent leading in these battles. He received the Knight Cross of the Iron Cross on 12-08-1944. With the beginning of 1945 he was replaced by General der Artillerie, Kommandeur der LI Gebirgstruppe, Friedrich Hauck
and again in the Reserve, at the same time commander of South West Italy under General Field Marshal der Flieger, Oberbefehlhaber der Luftflotte 2, 
Albert Kesselring 
until 22-04-1945. Then he became the Commander of the Alp front and the Fortress of Bregenz, his hometown. He declared Bregenz as an open city for the attacking French forces, but the same afternoon Gauleiter
Franz Hofer. Hofer died age 72 in Mühlheim an der Ruhr, on 18-02-1975, dismissed Feurstein of his command and replaced him by General der Infanterie, Kommandeur 24th Heereskorps, Hans Schmidt. Schmidt also refused to defend Bregenz to the last man in deliberation with Kesselring. Schmidt surrendered to the French forces but Bregenz was still partial destroyed in the following heavy battles. Feurstein landed in Allied captivity on 29-04-1945 and was released again on 28-08-1948.Death and burial ground of Feurstein, Valentin.
Living and retiring in Innsbruck, Austria, Feurstein died old age 85, on 08-06-1970 and is buried next to the Luftwaffe Oberstleutnant August Fitz, Kommandeur I Panzer Grenadier Regiment I “Herman Goering”
with his wife Eva, born Römer, who died age 83, on 05-01-1975, on the Old Military Cemetery of Pradl, a suburb of Innsbruck.
