Kurt Meyer

Kurt Meyer, nicknamed "Panzermeyer" (23 December 1910 – 23 December 1961) served as an officer in the Waffen-SS during the Second World War. He saw action in many major battles, including the Invasion of France, Operation Barbarossa, and the Battle of Normandy. Meyer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Upon promotion on 16 June 1944 at the age of 33 years, Meyer became one of the youngest divisional commanders in the Waffen-SS during the Second World War.

After the war he was convicted of war crimes relating to the killing of Allied prisoners in Normandy and was sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment; Meyer was released in 1954. Upon his release, Meyer became active in HIAG, an organisation of former Waffen-SS officers that lobbied for the legal, economic and historical rehabilitation of the Waffen-SS. Meyer died in 1961.

Early life

Kurt Adolph Wilhelm Meyer was born in Jerxheim, Duchy of Brunswick (now Lower Saxony) on 23 December 1910. He came from a lower-class family, his father being employed as a factory worker. In 1914, his father joined the Imperial German Army and served as an NCO in the First World War, obtaining the rank of Sergeant Major before being discharged for wounds received in battle.

Kurt Meyer (disambiguation)

Kurt Meyer (1910–1961) was an officer in the Waffen-SS

Kurt Meyer may also refer to:

See also

Kurt Meyer (footballer)

Kurt Meyer (February 4, 1921 – August 23, 2008), nicknamed Meyer 15 or respectfully Fußballopa (Soccer Grandpa), was a German amateur soccer player for Blau-Weiß Post Recklinghausen. He achieved nationwide fame when he scored the German ARD Goal of the Month and later the ARD Goal of the Year in 2001 at age 80. He is by far the oldest player to have won any of these awards.

The goal itself, scored in the match of Blau-Weiß-Post Recklinghausen against FC Jung-Siegfried Hillerheide was a strong 15-yard blast over the goalie, filmed with amateur footage. When it was screened on TV, Meyer became an instant national hero.

As a side note, he also used his fame to sign a sponsorship with a drug store. He once trained German soccer international Martin Max when he was a child.

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Kurt Meyer (Lucerne)

Kurt Meyer (born 1944) is a Swiss politician and former member of the cantonal government of Lucerne heading the Finance department (1995–2005).

He is a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP).

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Kurt Meyer (sport shooter)

Kurt Meyer (born 16 September 1933) is a German former sports shooter. He competed in the 50 metre pistol event at the 1968 Summer Olympics for West Germany.

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