Hans Kundt

Hans Kundt
Hans Kundt ca. 1915
Born	(1869-02-28)28 February 1869 Neustrelitz, Germany
Died	30 August 1939(1939-08-30) (aged 70) Lugano, Switzerland
Allegiance	Germany (to 1918)  Bolivia (to 1933)
Service/branch	Deutsches Heer Bolivian Army
Years of service	1888-1933
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	Deutsches Heer Bolivian Army
Battles/wars	World War I Chaco War

Hans Kundt (28 February 1869, Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Strelitz – 30 August 1939, Lugano, Switzerland) was a German military officer from a family of military officers. He was the primary military figure of Bolivia during the two decades preceding the Chaco War.

Kundt was born in 1869 in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, and was commissioned in 1888 (1889 Fähnrich). In 1902 he served as captain of the Generalstab (General Headquarters). He arrived in Bolivia in 1908, as head of a German military training mission. He enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Bolivians and acquired a reputation as a great administrator and troop trainer. In 1911, he began the reorganisation of the Bolivian Army, following the pattern of the Prussian Army.

At the start of First World War, Kundt returned to Germany. In 1914 he was commander of a regiment on the Eastern Front and achieved the rank of Generalleutnant. He served as chief of staff on the corps level, and as a brigade commander. After the First World War, Kundt retired at the rank of colonel, although he was conferred the rank of general upon retiring.

Following the First World War, Kundt again returned to Bolivia. There he was offered the posts of Chief of Staff of the Army, and of Minister of War, with the rank of general. Kundt accepted the posts and headed the program of rearming Bolivia during the 1920s, and the planning to occupy the Chaco. He adopted Bolivian citizenship and entered the army as a general. In this post he continued the reorganisation he had begun in 1911, and became very popular as - unlike much of the Bolivian officer corps - he was concerned with the well-being of the troops. In 1923 he was named Minister of War. After the fall of president Hernando Siles Reyes in a coup in 1930, Kundt was exiled for having collaborated with that administration.