Bruno Kahl
Encyclopedia
Bruno Kahl was an Oberstleutnant
in the Wehrmacht
during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
on the 23 November 1914, Bruno Kahl commenced his military career in July 1933 after the usual service with the Reichsarbeitsdienst
. Kahl became an Officer Candidate with a motorised unit in Münster
. In April 1935, he was commissioned as a Leutnant and posted to an anti-tank Unit in Hanover
as a Platoon Commander. In 1936, Leutnant Kahl joined Panzerjäger Abteilung 9, where he became Unit Adjutant. He was promoted to Oberleutnant
in the summer of 1938 and shortly afterwards assigned to Gebirgs-Panzer-Abwehr-Artillerie 48. He took part in the Occupation of Czechoslovakia
with this unit.
On the outbreak of war in September 1939, Oberleutnant Kahl was serving with the same unit on the southern sector of the front during the Polish Campaign. Kahl also saw action with his Unit at Narvik
before voluntarily transferring to the Panzer Arm in August 1940 and was assigned to Panzer Regiment 21.
On the 1 June 1941, Kahl was promoted to Hauptmann and took part in Operation Barbarossa
with the 20 Panzer Division as part of Panzergruppe Hoth in the Central Sector of the Russian Front. On the 8 July 1941 he was awarded the Iron Cross
Second Class and two days later, the Black Wound Badge for his first wound in action. Just over three months later, Hauptmann Kahl received the Iron Cross First Class and the German Cross
in Gold followed in September 1942, for his actions on the Eastern Front.
In January, 1943, Kahl was promoted to the rank of Major. On 8 February 1943, he was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his success in commanding the 3-Kompanie/Panzer Regiment 21 during actions around Toropez in the Central Sector of the Eastern Front. During the summer of that same year, Kahl was posted to the Army's Schwere Panzerjäger
Regiment 656 and served with this unit during the Kursk
Offensive. For his successful command of the Regiment during the ill-fated Offensive, Kahl was awarded the 270 Knight's Cross with Oak leaves on 8 August 1943. Major Kahl then spent some time as Commander of the Panzerschule at Erlangen
before being appointed to command Panzer Regiment Grossdeutschland on the 1 October 1944.
At the end of hostilities, Kahl, who had been promoted to Oberstleutnant on New Year's Day
1945 went into American captivity and was released in June 1945.
He died in 1999.
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
in the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Biography
Born in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
on the 23 November 1914, Bruno Kahl commenced his military career in July 1933 after the usual service with the Reichsarbeitsdienst
Reichsarbeitsdienst
The Reichsarbeitsdienst was an institution established by Nazi Germany as an agency to reduce unemployment, similar to the relief programs in other countries. During the Second World War it was an auxiliary formation which provided support for the Wehrmacht.The RAD was formed during July 1934 as...
. Kahl became an Officer Candidate with a motorised unit in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
. In April 1935, he was commissioned as a Leutnant and posted to an anti-tank Unit in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
as a Platoon Commander. In 1936, Leutnant Kahl joined Panzerjäger Abteilung 9, where he became Unit Adjutant. He was promoted to Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
in the summer of 1938 and shortly afterwards assigned to Gebirgs-Panzer-Abwehr-Artillerie 48. He took part in the Occupation of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
with this unit.
On the outbreak of war in September 1939, Oberleutnant Kahl was serving with the same unit on the southern sector of the front during the Polish Campaign. Kahl also saw action with his Unit at Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
before voluntarily transferring to the Panzer Arm in August 1940 and was assigned to Panzer Regiment 21.
On the 1 June 1941, Kahl was promoted to Hauptmann and took part in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
with the 20 Panzer Division as part of Panzergruppe Hoth in the Central Sector of the Russian Front. On the 8 July 1941 he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
Second Class and two days later, the Black Wound Badge for his first wound in action. Just over three months later, Hauptmann Kahl received the Iron Cross First Class and the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold followed in September 1942, for his actions on the Eastern Front.
In January, 1943, Kahl was promoted to the rank of Major. On 8 February 1943, he was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his success in commanding the 3-Kompanie/Panzer Regiment 21 during actions around Toropez in the Central Sector of the Eastern Front. During the summer of that same year, Kahl was posted to the Army's Schwere Panzerjäger
Panzerjäger
Panzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
Regiment 656 and served with this unit during the Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
Offensive. For his successful command of the Regiment during the ill-fated Offensive, Kahl was awarded the 270 Knight's Cross with Oak leaves on 8 August 1943. Major Kahl then spent some time as Commander of the Panzerschule at Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
before being appointed to command Panzer Regiment Grossdeutschland on the 1 October 1944.
At the end of hostilities, Kahl, who had been promoted to Oberstleutnant on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1945 went into American captivity and was released in June 1945.
He died in 1999.
Awards and decorations
- Sudetenland MedalSudetenland MedalThe The Sudetenland Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period.-Description:...
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (18 July 1941)
- 1st Class (4 November 1941)
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
(1939)- in Black
- in Silver
- in Gold
- Eastern Front MedalEastern Front MedalThe Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
- Panzer BadgePanzer BadgeThe Panzer Badge was a German medal awarded to armour troops during World War II. It was introduced during World War II in December 1939 .- History :The Tank Combat Badge, or Panzer Badge, first existed in the German Army during World War I, and was later...
- General Assault BadgeGeneral Assault BadgeThe General Assault Badge was awarded to personnel of the German Wehrmacht who were not in infantry or tank units during World War II.Instituted on 1 June 1940, the General Assault Badge was awarded to assault engineers as well as to those troops who supported infantry and armor units in combat...
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (20 September 1942) - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 8 February 1943 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
and commander of III. / Panzer-Regiment 21 - 270th Oak Leaves on 8 August 1943 as MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and commander of III. / Panzerjäger-Regiment 656"Großdeutschland"
- Knight's Cross on 8 February 1943 as Hauptmann