Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl
Encyclopedia
Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl was a Standartenführer
(Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II
.
, Germany
. He was one of the early volunteers for the SS (SS service number 101 983) and the NSDAP (party number 1591713). He was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz
in the class of 1934.
I & II class during the Battle of France
in 1940 as part of the 13th Company, SS Infantry Regiment Germania, which was armed with small caliber Artillery guns.
The SS Regiment Germania was used as the basis for the new SS Division, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland and Karl was given command of the 11th SS Panzer Artillery Regiment, being awarded the German Cross
in Gold in August 1944, followed by the Knight's Cross in December 1944.
.
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
(Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
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...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl was born on 15 September 1911 in Frankfurt on OderFrankfurt (Oder)
Frankfurt is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Oder River, on the German-Polish border directly opposite the town of Słubice which was a part of Frankfurt until 1945. At the end of the 1980s it reached a population peak with more than 87,000 inhabitants...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was one of the early volunteers for the SS (SS service number 101 983) and the NSDAP (party number 1591713). He was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and administrative center of the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.- History :Since the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz...
in the class of 1934.
World War II
During World War II he was awarded the Iron CrossIron 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....
I & II class during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in 1940 as part of the 13th Company, SS Infantry Regiment Germania, which was armed with small caliber Artillery guns.
The SS Regiment Germania was used as the basis for the new SS Division, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland and Karl was given command of the 11th SS Panzer Artillery Regiment, being awarded 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 in August 1944, followed by the Knight's Cross in December 1944.
Post war
Karl survived the war and ten years as a captive of the Russians from 1945 to 1955. He died on the 21 August 1970 in DortmundDortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
.