Karl Gesele
Encyclopedia
Karl Gesele 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
.
. After leaving school he volunteered to join the SS in August 1931 (SS service number 10 596) and served with the 13 SS Standarte Regiment until 1933, when he joined the Political Readiness Detachment Württemberg.
In October 1934, he was given command of a platoon in the 9th Company, SS Standarte Deutschland and also commanded platoons in the 10th and 17th Companies. In December 1936 he was made the Adjutant
of the IV.Battalion, SS Standarte Deutschland and his first Company command in May 1938, when he took over the 10th Company.
I & II class and later fought in the Battle of France
. He was posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Bad Tölz
in August 1940 as an Instructor in tactics. He returned to the front on the staff of the SS Cavalry Brigade
and was awarded the German Cross
in Gold in May 1942 just before he was forced to leave the Brigade because of illness.
After he recovered he was given command of the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS
in October 1942, which was later reformed as the Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS
and stationed in France
. Gesele remained in France until the Allied invasion of Italy
when the Brigade was moved to Corsica
in September 1943. Gesele and his Brigade served as part of the garrison until 15 September 1943. At that point it was sent to Italy and reorganized into the 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer SS. He was awarded his Knight's Cross in July 1944 for his command of the Brigade when in Corsica.
He remained the commander of the 16th SS until January 1945, when he was posted to the SS Cavalry school Weede near Göttingen
and given his last combat command in March 1945 when he took over command of the 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lutzow to replace the incompetent Waldemar Fegelein
until the end of the war.
Germany.
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
Karl Gesele was born on the 15 August 1912 in RiedlingenRiedlingen
Riedlingen is a town in the district of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, in the south-west of Germany. It is one of the destinations of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. There are ca. 10,000 inhabitants.- Geography :...
. After leaving school he volunteered to join the SS in August 1931 (SS service number 10 596) and served with the 13 SS Standarte Regiment until 1933, when he joined the Political Readiness Detachment Württemberg.
In October 1934, he was given command of a platoon in the 9th Company, SS Standarte Deutschland and also commanded platoons in the 10th and 17th Companies. In December 1936 he was made the Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the IV.Battalion, SS Standarte Deutschland and his first Company command in May 1938, when he took over the 10th Company.
World War II
During World War II after the Polish Campaign where 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 and later fought in 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...
. He was posted to the SS-Junkerschule in 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 August 1940 as an Instructor in tactics. He returned to the front on the staff of the SS Cavalry Brigade
SS Cavalry Brigade
The SS Cavalry Brigade was a unit of the Waffen SS formed in 1940, from cavalry regiments created for occupation duties in German-occupied Poland. Later, while serving in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, the brigade was involved in the genocide of the Jewish population and anti-partisan...
and was 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 May 1942 just before he was forced to leave the Brigade because of illness.
After he recovered he was given command of the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS
Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS
Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS was formed in May 1941 from Himmler's personal escort. The Begleit-Bataillon fought on the eastern front during Operation Barbarossa...
in October 1942, which was later reformed as the Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS
Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS
The Sturmbrigade Reichsführer-SS was a German military unit of World War II. It was formed in February 1943 when Adolf Hitler ordered the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS , which had proved itself in battle, be upgraded to the status of an assault brigade or Sturmbrigade thus Sturmbrigade...
and stationed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Gesele remained in France until the Allied invasion of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
when the Brigade was moved to Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
in September 1943. Gesele and his Brigade served as part of the garrison until 15 September 1943. At that point it was sent to Italy and reorganized into the 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer SS. He was awarded his Knight's Cross in July 1944 for his command of the Brigade when in Corsica.
He remained the commander of the 16th SS until January 1945, when he was posted to the SS Cavalry school Weede near Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and given his last combat command in March 1945 when he took over command of the 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lutzow to replace the incompetent Waldemar Fegelein
Waldemar Fegelein
Waldemar Fegelein was a Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
until the end of the war.
Post war
Karl Gesele survived the war and died on the 8 April 1968, in FriedrichshafenFriedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
Germany.