Kurt Haehling

Kurt Johannes Hähling (7 November 1897 – 20 May 1983) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Hähling surrendered to the Red Army in May 1945 in the Courland Pocket.

Post-WWII On 28 March 1951, he was repatriated to East Germany and became a member of the NDPD (National Democratic Party of Germany) and a full-time party official. In 1952, he became deputy chairman, and from 1953 to September 1960, chairman of the NDPD district association of Dresden. Simultaneously, from 1953 to 1963, he was a member of the NDPD's main committee and a representative in the Dresden district assembly. From May 1954 to 1958, he was a member of the National Council of the National Front of the GDR. From 1958 onward, he was also a member of the executive committee of the Association of Former Officers (AeO).

Promotions 6 August 1914 Kriegsfreiwilliger und Artillerist (War Volunteer and Artilleryman) 18 August 1915 Gefreiter (Private E-2/Lance Corporal) 21 October 1916 Unteroffizier (NCO/Corporal/Junior Sergeant) 24 November 1917 Vizewachtmeister (Vice Sergeant/Vice Staff Sergeant/Junior Sergeant-Major) 22 October 1918 Leutnant der Landwehr I. Klasse (2nd Lieutenant of the Landwehr, 1st Class)

Police 1 April 1925 Polizei-Wachtmeister (Staff Sergeant of the Police) 17 December 1925 Polizei-Oberwachtmeister (Sergeant Major / Senior Staff Sergeant of the Police) 17 April 1928 Polizei-Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant of the Police) with effect from 1 April 1928 11 April 1930 Polizei-Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant of the Police) with effect from 1 April 1930 30 January 1935 Hauptmann der Landespolizei (Captain of the State Police) with effect from 1 January 1935 Wehrmacht 1 August 1935 Hauptmann (Captain) with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 August 1933 (20b) 31 July 1937 Major with effect and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 August 1937 (8) 20 October 1940 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 November 1940 (3) 15 May 1942 Oberst (Colonel) with effect and RDA from 1 June 1942 (2) 30 January 1945 (18) Generalmajor (Major General)

Awards and decorations Iron Cross (1914), 2nd Class on 13 September 1916 Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 2nd Class 3rd Class on 2 October 1936 2nd Class on 5 September 1937 Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd Class on 1 October 1939 Wound Badge (1939) in Black (wounded on 11 September 1939) Iron Cross (1939), 1st Class on 19 July 1940 German Cross in Gold on 24 December 1941 General Assault Badge on 2 June 1942 Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 1 August 1942 Courland Cuff Title Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 2 March 1945 as Generalmajor and Commander of the 126. Infanterie-Division Patriotic Order of Merit in Bronze on 5 October 1955 Ernst Moritz Arndt Medal of the National Council of the National Front of the GDR