Kurt Student | |
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![]() Student in 1941 | |
Born | 12 May 1890 Birkholz, German Empire (now Borów, Poland) |
Died | 1 July 1978 (aged 88) Lemgo, West Germany |
Allegiance |
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Service/ | ![]() ![]() ‹See Tfd› ![]() |
Years of service | 1910–1945 |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands | 7th Air Division XI Fliegerkorps 1st Parachute Army |
Battles/wars | World War I
World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Criminal status | Released in 1948 |
Criminal charge | War crimes |
Penalty | 5 years imprisonment |
Details | |
Victims | Cretan civilians Allied prisoners of war |
Date | May 1941 |
Country | Greece |
Location(s) | Crete |
Kurt Arthur Benno Student (12 May 1890 – 1 July 1978) was a German general in the Luftwaffe during World War II. An early pioneer of airborne forces, Student was in overall command of developing a paratrooper force to be known as the Fallschirmjäger, and as the most senior member of the Fallschirmjäger, commanded it throughout the war. Student led the first major airborne attack in history, the Battle for The Hague, in May 1940. He also commanded the Fallschirmjäger in its last major airborne operation, the invasion of Crete in May 1941. The operation was a success despite German losses, and led the Allies to hasten the training and development of their own airborne units.
In 1947, Student was tried and convicted of war crimes for the mistreatment and murder of prisoners of war by his men in Crete. Student was also responsible for a wave of reprisal massacres committed against Cretan civilians in 1941 but avoided harsh punishment.
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