Date of birth:

January 17th, 1914 (Insterburg/Eastern Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

November 17th, 1998 (Cologne/North-Rhineland-Westernphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Kurt Plenzat joined the army on April 1st, 1933 and was posted to 10./Infanterie-Regiment 2. In 1935 he was transferred to 11./Infanterie-Regiment 44. In July 1938, Plenzat made the transfer to the Luftwaffe.
After pilot's training, he was posted to 2./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2. With this unit he took part in the battles on the Western Front, the Balkans and in the invasion of Crete. Following this he served on the Eastern Front. At the end of 1943, he became Staffelkapitän of 2./Schlachtgeschwader 2. in the rank of Leutnant. At the end of WW2 he had completed 1234 operational missions, he had scored four victories in the air and had destroyed approximately 80 armored vehicles. He ultimately attained the rank of Hauptmann.
After WW2 he served in the Bundeswehr from 1957 to March 31st, 1971, ultimately being promoted to Hauptmann.

Promotions:
?: Feldwebel;
?: Oberfelwebel;
?: Leutnant;
?: Oberleutnant;
?: Hauptmann;
?: Hauptmann (Bundeswehr).

Career:
April 1st, 1933: 10. / 2. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiments;
1935: 11. / Infanterie-Regiment 44;
July 1938: Luftwaffe;
?: Ergänzungsgruppe Sturzkampfgeschwader 2;
?: 2. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2;
1943: Staffelkapitän 2. / Schlachtgeschwaders 2;
1957 - March 31st, 1971: Bundeswehr.

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• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - OBERMAIER, ERNST, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, Mainz, 1976.
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  - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945