A Signed Wartime Photo of Oak Leaves recipient Major General Paul Klatt
A photo, measuring 85x131mm, mint condition. It shows Major General Paul Klatt, wearing the Knight’s Cross. He signed the picture in blue ink. It was taken in 1944.
Footnote: Paul Klatt (1896–1973) was born in Kroppen (eastern Germany). With the outbreak of the First War, he joined the 2nd Upper Silesian Field Artillery Regiment 57 as an officer candidate. In March 1915, after passing his officer’s education, Klatt was deployed to the Western Front with the 4th Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment 51. On April 18, he received his first promotion to Ensign. Only one month later, he was severely wounded, and was promoted to Lieutenant while recovering. In October, Klatt was back on his feet, and back to the front in December. In April of 1917, he was taken prisoner by the British, effectively ending the war for him. By that time, he had been awarded both classes of the Iron Cross. After being released, Klatt was taken over into the Reichswehr where he was promoted to Senior Lieutenant on April 1, 1925. He made Captain in 1931, Major in 1936, and Lieutenant Colonel in 1939. With the beginning of the Second War, Klatt took part in the attack on Poland, then in the attack on Norway. In June 1941, his unit was redeployed to the Eastern Front where he became the Commander of the Mountain Troop Regiment 138 on October 1, the day he was promoted to Colonel. In December, Klatt was severely wounded by a landmine. On April 14, 1942 he received the German Cross in Gold. The Knight’s Cross followed on January 4, 1943. Klatt was promoted to Major General on February 20, 1944. On July 3, he took command of the 3rd Mountain Division, leading it so successfully that on December 26, 1944 he was awarded the Oak Leaves. Klatt’s final promotion came on January 15, 1945 when he became a Lieutenant General. After the war, he spent ten years as a POW in Russia. He died in 1973 in Olching (near Munich).