Eberhard Kinzel

Eberhard Kinzel
Eberhard Kinzel
Born	18 October 1897 Berlin
Died	Flensburg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Unit	Heeresgruppe Nord Heeresgruppe Weichsel
Commands held	570. Volksgrenadier-Division 337. Volksgrenadier-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Narva (1944) Vistula-Oder Offensive East Pomeranian Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Friedrich Lützow (brother-in-law) Günther Lützow (nephew)

Eberhard Kinzel (18 October 1897 – 23 May 1945) was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Kinzel was with section Fremde Heere Ost, FHO or Foreign Armies East, until the spring of 1942 when he was replaced by Reinhard Gehlen. The FHO prepared situation maps of the Soviet Union, Poland, Scandinavia and the Balkans; and assembled information on potential adversaries.

Eberhard Kinzel was part of the delegation that participated in the surrender negotiations with Field-Marshal Montgomery at Lüneburg Heath. Eberhard Kinzel, together with his girlfriend Erika von Aschoff, committed suicide on 23 May 1945.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords (29 July 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Order of the Cross of Liberty 2nd class with swords (25 March 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 December 1942 as Oberst im Generalstab (in the General Staff) and Generalstab des Heeres

External links

• Eberhard Kinzel @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)
• Eberhard Kinzel @ Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945 at the Wayback Machine (archived June 10, 2012)

Military offices
Preceded by —	Leader of Foreign Armies East 1 March 1939 – 31 March 1942	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Reinhard Gehlen
Preceded by Generalleutnant Wilhelm Hasse	Chief of Staff of Heeresgruppe Nord 22 January 1943 – 18 July 1944	Succeeded by Generalmajor Oldwig von Natzmer
Preceded by Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding	Chief of Staff of Heeresgruppe Weichsel 21 March 1945 – 22 April 1945	Succeeded by Generalmajor Ivo-Thilo von Trotha