Oberst Willi Langkeit
Born on June 2, 1907, Willi Langkeit was a professional soldier who joined the 100,000 man Reichsheer in 1924. Langkeit was awarded the Ritterkreuz on December 9, 1942 while commanding II/Pz.Rgt. 36 of the Saxon 14. Panzerdivision in the Stalingrad pocket. The Eichenlaub followed almost exactly one year later on December 7, 1943 while in command of the reborn Pz.Rgt. 36. Oberst Langkeit assumed command of Pz.Rgt.“Großdeutschland” Otto Busing in March 1944, leading it through the fighting in Romania, the Baltic States and Prussia.
While commanding Ersatzbrigade GD in Cottbus in January 1945, Langkeit received orders to build a Kampfgruppe for immediate action on the Oder front. At the beginning of February this battle group served as a cadre for the newly-raised Panzergrenadierdivision “Kurmark.” Fighting desperately against great odds, the Division was smashed and its remnants scattered during the attempted breakout from Soviet encirclement in the Halbe are at the end of March 1945. A Generalmajor since February 1945, Willi Langkeit led the survivors of the March fighting to the Americans. “Kurmark” was one of several Großdeutschland “sister units” raised in the last year of war which attempted, with differing degrees of success, to reverse Germany’s fortunes and still uphold the honor and reputation of the parent unit.
Above: Oberst Willie Langkeit, commander of Pz.Rgt. GD, seen in October 1944 with one of the Regiments Tiger I tanks in the background.
Above: Oberst Langkeit discusses the next movements to his subordinates, next to his personal command tank, a Pz.Kpfw. V Panther (Sd.Kfz. 171) Ausf. A.