Kempf, Werner, born 09-03-1886 in Königsberg, East Prussia,
the son of a Prussian Oberstleutnant. From 1897 to 1905 he completed his school and pre-military training in the Prussian cadet corps in Karlsruhe, Oranienstein and Groß-Lichterfelde. Königsberg was at the end defended by General der Infanterie, Otto Lasch
joined the Imperial German Army on 14-03-1905, age 19 and served in the 149th Infantry Regiment. In World War I he reached the rank of Hauptmann. He then was allowed and served in the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht. At the beginning of World War II he took part in the invasion of Poland as a Generalmajor commanding a Panzer Division. In 1939 and 1940 he led the 6th Panzer Division
in the Battle of France and was promoted to Generalleutnant and awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for his role in the campaign. From 05-05-1942 he was Commanding General of the XXXXVIII Panzer Corps, he succeeded General der Panzertruppe, Hermann Balck
and lost this command to General der Panzertruppe, Fritz Gräser,
on 10-08-1942, when he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross
on 10-08-1942
. The XXXXVIII. Panzer Corps was originally formed in Germany as the XXXXVIII. Armeekorps (mot) on 15-12-1940. It was then renamed as a Panzerkorps on 22-06-1941, but seems to have used both names until sometime in 1942. In July 1943, he participated in the Battle of Kursk, he as commander of the ‘Army Detachment Kempf’ on the Eastern Front, with SS Oberführer, Kommandeur der 7th Heeresgruppe, Hermann Hoth’s,
General der Panzertruppe.















Death and burial ground of Kempf, Werner.






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