Valentin Feurstein

Valentin Feurstein
Born	(1885-01-18)18 January 1885 Bregenz, Austria-Hungary
Died	8 June 1970(1970-06-08) (aged 85) Innsbruck, Republic of Austria
Relatives	∞ 1919 Eva Römer; 3 children
Military career
Allegiance	Austria–Hungary Republic of German-Austria First Austrian Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	Austro-Hungarian Army German-Austrian People's Militia Bundesheer Army (Wehrmacht)
Service years	1906–1945
Rank	General der Gebirgstruppe
Commands	2nd Mountain Division LI Mountain Corps
Conflicts	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Valentin Feurstein (1 January 1885 – 8 June 1970) was an Austrian military officer who served in the Austrian and German armies.

Life

Coming from the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener-Neustadt, Feurstein was transferred to the Austro-Hungarian Army (2. Tiroler Kaiserjäger-Regiment) on 18 August 1906 as a commissioned officer.

He served in World War I and in the Austrian Bundesheer in the 1930s. He was commander of 3rd Division (stationed in St. Pölten). After the Anschluss and the incorporation of the Bundesheer into it, Feurstein served as a general in the Wehrmacht.

He commanded the 2nd Mountain Division during Fall Weiss and during the Norwegian Campaign. In 1941, he was promoted to full general of mountain troops (Gen.d.Geb.Tr.). He also served on the Italian front in 1943.

Feurstein was city commander of Bregenz in 1945 and tried to declare Bregenz a non-combat zone.

Death

General (Ret.) Valentin Feurstein died on 8 June 1970.

Promotions

• 18 August 1906 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
• 1 November 1911 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
  • 20 December 1913 Oberleutnant i. G. (1st Lieutenant in General Staff)
• 1 May 1915 Hauptmann i. G. (Captain in General Staff)
• 1 July 1920 Major
• 1 January 1921 Titular-Oberstleutnant (Brevet Lieutenant Colonel)
• 1 September 1924 Oberstleutnant (active Lieutenant Colonel)
• 30 September 1928 Oberst (Colonel)
  • post-Anschluss, received Wehrmacht Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 August 1935
• 25 June 1935 Generalmajor (Major General)

Awards and decorations

• Military Jubilee Cross for the armed forces
• Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis) in Bronze on the ribbon of the Military Merit Cross (ribbon for wartime merit) in 1914
  • When the "swords" were introduced on 13 December 1916, he was subsequently awarded this distinction.
• Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Swords (BMV4bX/BM4X) in 1915
• Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary), III. Class with War Decoration (ÖM3K) in 1915
  • When the "swords" were introduced to the war decoration on 13 December 1916, he was subsequently awarded this distinction (ÖM3KX).
• Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Crown and Swords (BMV4aX/BM4XmKr) in 1916
• Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis) in Silver with Swords on the ribbon of the Military Merit Cross (ribbon for wartime merit) in 1917
• Order of the Iron Crown (Austria), Knight III. Class with War Decoration and Swords (ÖEK3KX) on 8 May 1918
• Austrian War Commemorative Medal with Swords on 26 June 1933
• Military Service Badge (Austria) for Officers, 2nd Class (for 25 years) on 1 October 1934
• Austrian Order of Merit, Officer's Cross on 25 November 1936
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 1st Class (25-year Service Cross)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords
• Sudetenland Medal with the “Prague Castle” clasp on 10 August 1939
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 5 September 1939
  • 1st Class on 9 October 1939
• Mentioned by name in the Wehrmachtbericht on 23 May 1944
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 August 1944

Sources

• German Federal Archives: BArch PERS 6/138 and PERS 6/299636

References