Tribute to August von Kageneck

[Astérix]

I listened yesterday morning M. Kageneck.
He makes a lot for friendship between French and Germans: clever, European and human.
He was an officer in a PzDiv during WWII.
Does anybody have some more details?
He wrote a book about his brother (Erbo), German fighter ace (67 kills), KIA in december 1941 (50 kills in 4 month only!).

[bhholst]

Hello Asterix:
Maj. Clemens Graf von Kageneck was born on 17.Oct. 1913 in Berlin.
Entered military service 1934, Reiter Rgt.4 then in 1935 to 6./Pz.Rgt. 6 of the 3.Pz.Div. . Promoted to Lt. 1939 Participated in the Poland campaign as platoon leader and as signals officer of II./Pz.Rgt. 6 in the western campaign 1940. Was signals officer of this rgt. in the openening of the campaign against the Soviet Union.. In March of 1942 he became company commander of 4./Pz.Rgt. 6 as a First Lt.
Awarded the German Cross i.Gold with date of 28.Nov.1942.
As of Oct.1942 he was 1.Ordonanz Offizier on the staff of 3.Pz.Div. and promoted to Hptm. on 1.Feb.1943 and assigned to command of schw.Pz.Abt. 503, participating in operation "Zitadelle"during which he was severely wounded.. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz with date of 4.Aug.1943.
After recuperation from his wounds he resumed command of schw.Pz.Abt. 503 and participated in the armoured formation "Baeke' in operations on the eastern front. Again severely wounded , he was promoted to Major with date of 1.Jan.1944. He received the Oakleaves to the Knightscross with date of 24.June 1944 as the 513. recipient. As of Oct.1944 he was assigned to the Pz.Tr.Schule Bergen and became an allied prisoner of war at the end of hostilities.
He also lost another brother, Franz-Josef in action as battalion commander on the eastern front. This during the same week his brother Erbo died of wounds on 12.Jan.1942.
Source: vol. III of the 4 volume ref. work on recipients of the Oakleaves by Peter Stockert.
Bernhard H. Holst

[Denis]

Hello
Bernhard, I believe there was a misunderstanding.
In fact, Astérix was talking about August von Kageneck, the brother of Erbo (ELträger), Clemens (ELträger) and Franz-Josef.
If my memory serves me, August was a Oblt. at the end of the war in a Pz.Rgt. Like Astérix said, he wrote several books dealing with WWII :
as Astérix said :
one of these was about his brother Erbo (Erbo pilote de Chasse in French) (Erbo Fighter Pilot in English),
another one deals with his own military life during WWII (Lieutenant de Panzers in French) (Panzer Lieutnant in English),
another one is related to the way German people have managed their history and their culpability : the title was "Examen de Conscience" in French (Self Examination in English)
and I believe a last one covers a unit history in which Kageneck fought but I don"t remember its title.
It is really worth noting that August von Kageneck wrote all his books directly in French and lived France for many years.
A true gentleman
Regards
Denis

[bhholst]

Hello Denis.
Thank you for the clarification and extensive description of August v. Kageneck's writings etc
I hope not to have caused any confusion besides my own.
Bernhard H. Holst

[Astérix]

Thanks to all...

... for information.
This aristocratic family proves again that war is not made by good men against bad men, and there are goods and bads on both sides.
It proves also that, even if necessary, a war is made with blood of men.

Thanks