KREFTER, Friedrich. Emden 15.10.1898 — Bad Honnef near Bonn 25.1.1995. German Architect and Archaeologist, Specialist of Persepolis. Matriculated 1917 from Münster, then served in army. In 1919-22 studied architecture in Hannover and Braunschweig. Worked as architect in Berlin (under Herzfeld’s brother-in-law), soon (1923) Herzfeld’s Assistant. In 1928 to Iran with Herzfeld, participated in his excavations of Pasargadae. In 1931-35 excavated Persepolis with Herzfeld (then continued by E. F. Schmidt). This was their last collaboration. From 1935-37 Professor of History of Architecture at the new University of Tehran, then returned to Germany. Taught at Staatsbauschule in Berlin-Neukölln, in 1940-46 served in army, finally as war prisoner. Then opened his own architecture firm and designed a number of private homes and hotels. Retired early, in 1961, and returned to his Iranian studies. Married 1941 Maria.
Publications: “Zur Steinmetztechnik von Persepolis”, Festschrift für Wilhelm Eilers. Wb. 1967, pp. 429-441; “Achämenidische Palast- und Grabtüren”, Arch. Mitt. aus Iran N.F. 1, 1968, 99-113; a few further articles.
– Persepolis-Rekonstruktionen: der Wiederaufbau des Frauenpalastes; Rekonstruktionen der Paläste; Modell von Persepolis. Teheraner Forschungen 3. Berlin 1971.
– “Mit Ernst Herzfeld in Pasargadae und Persepolis 1928 und 1931–1934”, Arch. Mitt. aus Iran 12, 1979, 13-25.
Sources: S.R. Hauser, Encyclop. Iranica online 2025 with photo; *W. Kleiss, Arch. Mitt. aus Iran 28, 1995-96, 11-27; German Wikipedia (defective).