Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
| Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord | |
|---|---|
From left to right, first row: Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia, General Otto Hasse and Admiral Erich Raeder in Potsdam (October 1929)
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| Born |
26 September 1878 Hinrichshagen, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, German Empire |
| Died | 24 April 1943 (aged 64) Berlin, Nazi Germany |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
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| Service/branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1898–1934 1939 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands held | Chief of Truppenamt (1929–30) |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Relations |
Walther von Lüttwitz (father in law) Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz (brother in law) |
Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord (26 September 1878 – 24 April 1943) was a German general who served for a period as Commander-in-Chief of the Reichswehr. He is famous for being an ardent opponent of Hitler and the Nazi regime.
He was born to a noble family in Hinrichshagen, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, German Empire in 1878. This family had already produced some famous officers. His parents were upper ranger of Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Heino von Hammerstein and his wife Ida, née Gustedt (also a noble family). After his schooling Hammerstein Equord 1888 joined at the age of ten years Cadet Corps in Plön and came over the Prussian Cadet Corps Berlin-Lichterfelde (entry 1893) to 3rd Foot Guards (German Empire), where he was promoted on March 15, 1898 to lieutenant (Secondelieutenant) thus joining the German Army on 15 March 1898. In 1907 Hammerstein-Equord married Maria von Lüttwitz, the daughter of Walther von Lüttwitz. In this unit was at that time later Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher (1882–1934), and the two men were soon in a friendly connection. From 1905 to 1907 Hammerstein served in Kassel. From 1907 to 1910 he attended the Prussian Military Academy and in 1911 he was used in the deployment section of the Great General Staff. During World War I he first served as an adjutant of Quartermaster Generals and then as General Staff officer in various military units (1915 First General Staff Officer of VIII Reserve Corps, 1916 at the General staff, in 1918 as an Ia in the General staff of the General command). In 1914 he wrote the first Army reports from the Supreme Headquarters. In the meantime he led 1914 a Company in Flanders, where he was awarded the Iron Cross and participated in 1916 in the Battle of Turtucaia. In 1917 he was promoted to major.
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