Curt von Jesser

Curt von Jesser (4 November 1890 – 18 August 1950) was an Austrian general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Curt von Jesser
Oberst Curt von Jesser
Born	(1890-11-04)4 November 1890 Wadowice, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austria-Hungary
Died	18 August 1950(1950-08-18) (aged 59) Vienna, Austria
Allegiance	Austria-Hungary (to 1918) First Austrian Republic (to 1938) Nazi Germany
Branch	Army
Years of service	1909–38 (Austria) 1938–45 (Germany)
Rank	Oberstleutnant (Austria) Generalmajor
Commands	155th Reserve Panzer Division
Battles / wars	World War I World War II Battle of Belgium Battle of France Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Battle of Brody Battle of Uman Battle of Rostov Battle of Mont Mouchet Battle of Mont Gargan
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Jesser was born on November 4, 1890, in Wadowice as the son of future Austrian-Hungarian Feldmarschalleutnant Moritz von Jesser. He entered the Austrian Army on August 18, 1909, with the rank of Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter and was assigned to the 6th Rifle-Regiment (Schützen Regiment 6). He remained in Austrian service after World War I and became a Wehrmacht soldier after the Anschluss of Austria in 1938. In World War II he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor. He commanded the 155. Reserve-Panzer-Division from 24 August 1943 to 6 September 1943. Between June and August 1944, he commanded Sicherungs-Brigade 74 [de], also known as Kampfgruppe Jesser or "Jesser Brigade" in operations against Maquis in rural France.^[1] He was given command of Festungsabschnitt Steiermark in 1945.^[2]

Curt von Jesser died in Vienna on 18 August 1950.^[3][4][5]

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 January 1942 as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Regiment 36^[6]
• German Cross in Gold (29 November 1941)
• Iron Cross, 1st Class (1939)
• 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class
• Austrian Military Merit Cross, 3rd class with War Decoration (World War I award)
• Austrian Military Merit Medal in Silver with Swords (World War I award)
• Austrian Military Merit Medal in Bronze with Swords (World War I award)
• 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class (World War I award)
• Karl Troop Cross (World War I award)
• Austria-Hungary Wound Medal (World War I award)
• Panzer Badge in Silver
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 1st Class