Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl
| Friedrich Wilhelm Karl | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |  , Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1934–1945 |
| Rank | Standartenführer |
| Unit | SS-VT 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class German Cross in Gold |
Friedrich Wilhelm Karl (15 September 1911 – 21 August 1970) was a German SS-Officer with the SS Officer rank of Standartenführer (Colonel) in the Waffen SS from 1943-1945 during World War II. He was given the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Early life[change | change source]
Friedrich Wilhelm Karl was born on 15 September 1911 in Frankfurt on Oder,Prussia ,Germany. He was one of the first people to join the SS (SS service number 101 983) and the NSDAP (party number 1591713). He was chosen to be an officer and sent to the SS officer school, the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz, in 1934 . He rose to the Officer rank of Haupsturmfuhrer (Captain) in 1935 and later got promoted to Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant-Colonel) in 1940 and then finally to Standartenfuhrer (Colonel) in 1943 .[1][2]
World War II[change | change source]
In 1940, Karl was given the Iron Cross medal 1st and 2nd level during the Battle of France. He was part of the 13th Company, SS Infantry Regiment called Germania. They had small-calibre artillery guns.[1][2]
The SS Regiment Germania was used as the start of the new SS Division, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. Karl was given command of the 11th SS Panzer Artillery Regiment. He received the German Cross in Gold in August 1944. He received the Knight's Cross in December 1944.[1][2]
After the war[change | change source]
From 1945 to 1955, Karl was a prisoner of the Russians possibly imprisoned in either the Soviet Union in a Siberian Gulag in Asia or imprisoned in East Germany in Europe . He died on 21 August 1970 aged 58 in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia,West Germany. It is unknown if he did commit any war crimes or mass executions during the War in Europe or not .[1][2]
References[change | change source]
Further reading[change | change source]
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
- Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052
- Mitcham Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45, Stackpole Books, 2007. ISBN 0811733718