Detlev Kittstein played 68 international hockey (field) matches for West Germany from 1965-73. With the West German team he won the 1970 European title and received a bronze medal at the 1973 World Championships. He competed at two Olympic Games, winning gold in 1972 and finishing fourth in 1968, losing the bronze medal match against India, 2-1. In 1968 East and West Germany played their only international match in a preliminary round, with West Germany winning 3-2. At the club level Kittstein played with SC Frankfurt 1880, winning West German titles in 1968-70. By profession, he was a sports teacher and field hockey coach in Frankfurt-Höchst.