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Kurt Dittmar | |
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| Born | (1891-01-05)5 January 1891 Magdeburg,Province of Saxony,Kingdom of Prussia,German Empire |
| Died | 26 April 1959(1959-04-26) (aged 68) Stadtoldendorf,Lower Saxony,West Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service | Army |
| Years of service | 1909–1945 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Commands | 169th Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | German Cross in Gold Iron Cross with 1939 Clasp |
Kurt Dittmar (January 5, 1891 inMagdeburg – April 26, 1959 inStadtoldendorf) was a German general inWorld War II, who served as the Official Military Commentator of the German Armed Forces.
Dittmar entered theGerman Imperial Army as Officer candidate in March 1909. He was assigned to the 4th Engineer Battalion (Magdeburgisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr.4.) and commissioned a second lieutenant one year later. DuringWorld War I, Dittmar served with the rank of captain as a company commander and also as a temporary battalion commander.
After the War, Dittmar entered theReichswehr and continued to serve with engineers units, where he reached the rank of Colonel (Oberst) to the date of April 1, 1936. With the outbreak of the World War II, Dittmar served as a commander of the engineer school inBerlin-Karlshorst.
He became a divisional commander in February 1941 and led the169th Infantry Division, which was later stationed inFinland. In the summer of 1941, he participated inOperation Polarfuchs but was evacuated from Finland a few months later due to illness. He was rewarded for his leadership with theGerman Cross in Gold and also receivedOrder of the Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with Swords by the Finnish government.
He was posted to the Army High Command Leader Reserve in October 1941, and became General for Special Employment in April 1942. In that post, which he held over the remainder of his war service, he was the Official Military Commentator of the German Armed Forces. A rumour that he committed suicide in April 1945 was dispelled on the 23rd when he surrendered to soldiers of the30th U.S. Infantry Division atMagdeburg. He later told his captors that theNational Redoubt did not exist. Dittmar was held in U.S and later in British captivity until May 1948.
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| Preceded by | General Officer Commanding169th Infantry Division February, 1941 – September, 1941 | Succeeded by |
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