Generaloberst (luftwaffe) Alfred Keller

SOME OF THE PRISONERS HELD AT
SPECIAL CAMP 11

NAME: Generaloberst Alfred Keller (Luftwaffe)

PW NO: A560261
RANK: Generaloberst
CAPTURED: Luebeck
DATE: 2 May 1945

PERSONAL
D.O.B: 19 September 1882
PLACE OF BIRTH: Bochum/Westfalen
DIED: 11 February 1974
PLACE OF DEATH: Berlin
NATIONALITY:
RELIGION: Evangelical
OCCUPATION: Regular Soldier
HEIGHT: 5' 7.5"
WEIGHT: 161lbs
HAIR COLOUR: Brown
EYE COLOUR: Grey
NEXT OF KIN: Christa Keller, Schleswig-Holstein (British Zone)

Promotions:

Fähnrich: 22 November 1902
Leutnant: 18 August 1903 (Patent 19 August 1902)
Oberleutnant: 18 August 1911
Hauptmann: 8 November 1914
Charakter als Major: 16 January 1920
Oberst: 1 January 1934
Generalmajor: 1 April 1936
Generalleutnant: 1 February 1938
General der Flieger: 1 April 1939
Generaloberst: 19 July 1940

Assignments:

5 April 1902-19 February 1912: Fahnenjunker and company officer in Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 17, Thorn.
1912-1914: I. Transferred to the Engineer Inspectorate and admitted to Fortifications in Wilhelmshaven.
1912-1913: At the same time, underwent aerial observer training.
1913-1 August 1914: Pilot training and pilot at Flying Station Darmstadt.
2 August 1914-1915: Commander of Feldflieger-Abteilung [Field Aviation Detachment] 27.
1915-1916: Commander of Armeeflugpark [Army Air Park] 5.
1916: Commander of Armeeflugpark 1.
1916-31 March 1917: Commander of Feldflieger-Abteilung 40.
1 April 1917-1 December 1918: Commander of Bombengeschwader [Bomber Wing] of the Army High Command 1 [known as "der eiserne Keller" (the Iron Keller), he flew numerous missions, including one on Dunkirk (100,000 kg+ of bombs dropped) in September 1917 which forced a British retreat to Calais; received the Order Pour le Mérite for this action. Led a major raid on Paris, night of 30/31 January 1918; caused considerable panic and damage, and returned with no losses to his squadron. Carried out further raids on the city, so that French had to transfer artillery from the front to the capital.].
1 December 1918-16 January 1920: On leave.

Photo taken: 1918

1 December 1918-30 April 1923: Leader of the Land Flight Service of the German Air Shipping Company, Berlin.

1 May 1923-30 April 1925: Leading employee of the Junkers Air Shipping Company, later business director of the Danzig Air Mail.

1 May 1925-31 December 1933: Leader of the Verkehrsfliegerschule [Air Traffic School] Staaken, later Braunschweig.

1 January 1934-31 January 1934: Oberst in Pionier-Bataillon 2; detached to the Reich Aviation Ministry and continued as leader of the Verkehrsfliegerschule Braunschweig.

1 February 1934: Transferred from the Army to the Luftwaffe.

1 February 1934-30 April 1934: Transferred to the Reich Air Ministry and continued as leader of the Verkehrsfliegerschule Braunschweig.

1 May 1934-30 June 1934: Left his post as leader of the Verkehrsfliegerschule Braunschweig and appointed Commander of 1. Flieger-Division [Air Division].

1 July 1934-31 March 1935: Commander of Kampfgeschwader [Bomber Wing] 154 and, at the same time, Military Airfield Commandant Faßberg.

1 April 1935-30 September 1937: Higher Air Commander in Luftkreis [Air District] IV.

1 October 1937-31 October 1937: Officer for special duties with the Reich Aviation Ministry and the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe.

1 November 1937-31 December 1937: Delegated with temporary duty as the Commanding General in Luftkreis I.

1 January 1938-31 July 1938: Commanding General and Commander in Luftkreis II.

1 August 1938-31 January 1939: Commanding General and Commander of the Luftwaffe Command East Prussia.

1 February 1939-2 October 1939: While retaining the rank of Commanding General, appointed Commander of 4. Flieger-Division.

3 October 1939-19 August 1940: Commanding General of IV. Fliegerkorps [from 10 May 1940, corps engaged in the Western campaign primarily against Netherlands and Belgium].

20 August 1940-25 June 1943: Chief of Luftflotte [Air Fleet] 1 and Commander East [from 22 June 1941, air fleet engaged on Russian Front supporting Army Group North].

26 June 1943-8 May 1945: Führer Reserve OKL.

26 June 1943-8 May 1945: Korpsführer of the National Socialist Flying Corps [The NSFK was a para-military, state-registered corporation that maintained schools for pilots, radiomen, glider pilots, paratroopers, etc.; gave instruction to the Flieger-Hitler Youth; and produced a reserve pool of skilled personnel for the Luftwaffe.].

2 May 1945-1947: British prisoner of war.

Decorations & Awards:

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross: 24 June 1940, General der Flieger, Commanding General of IV. Fliegerkorps.
Prussian Order Pour le Mérite: 4 December 1917, Hauptmann, Commander of Bombengeschwader 1.
Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight's Cross with Swords: Summer 1917.
Prussian Iron Cross, 1^st Class (1914) with 1939 Bar
Prussian Iron Cross, 1^st Class (1914) with 1939 Bar
Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4^th Class with Crown and Swords
Hesse General Honor Decoration, "for Bravery"
Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
German Army Pilot's Badge-World War I award
Luftwaffe Combined Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds

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