Karl Palmgreen
Encyclopedia
Karl Palmgreen was a Fregattenkapitän of the Reserves
with the Kriegsmarine
during World War II and a recipient 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.
in 1909. From 1939 to 1941 he was commander of the Sperrbrecher
(Mine Sweeper; Pathfinder) IX and I and thereafter until 1943 chief of the 4th Sperrbrecherflottille, followed by service positions as head of the 36th Minensuchflottille, German Chief of Staff to the Italian admiral in the Italian Navy Command, 1st class admiral staff officer at the 2nd Sicherungsdivision and head of the 38th Minensuchflottille. At the end of World War II, he was chief of the branch Gotenhafen or Libau
. He was awarded the Knights Cross on 3 August 1941 for his achievements as chief of Sperrbrecherflottille, he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän of the Reserves
on 1 August 1944 and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 11 July 1944.
His son Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves
Gerhard Palmgren was killed in action on 15 August 1944 as commander of in the English Channel
by the British corvette
after U-741 had sunk the 246 ton infantry landing craft LCI 404
.
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
with the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during World War II and a recipient 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.
Career
Karl Palmgreen joined the Kaiserliche MarineKaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
in 1909. From 1939 to 1941 he was commander of the Sperrbrecher
Sperrbrecher
A Sperrbrecher , was a German auxiliary ship of the Second World War that was intended to serve as a type of minesweeper, by sailing ahead of other vessels through minefields, intending to detonate any mines in their path...
(Mine Sweeper; Pathfinder) IX and I and thereafter until 1943 chief of the 4th Sperrbrecherflottille, followed by service positions as head of the 36th Minensuchflottille, German Chief of Staff to the Italian admiral in the Italian Navy Command, 1st class admiral staff officer at the 2nd Sicherungsdivision and head of the 38th Minensuchflottille. At the end of World War II, he was chief of the branch Gotenhafen or Libau
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
. He was awarded the Knights Cross on 3 August 1941 for his achievements as chief of Sperrbrecherflottille, he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän of the Reserves
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
on 1 August 1944 and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 11 July 1944.
His son Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
Gerhard Palmgren was killed in action on 15 August 1944 as commander of in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
by the British corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
after U-741 had sunk the 246 ton infantry landing craft LCI 404
Landing Craft Infantry
The Landing craft, Infantry or LCI were several classes of sea-going amphibious assault ships of the Second World War utilized to land large numbers of infantry directly onto beaches. They were developed in response to a British request for a vessel capable of carrying and landing substantially...
.
Awards
- 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....
(1914)- 2nd Class (1914)
- 1st Class (June 1915)
- Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boots- Jagd- und SicherungsverbändeMinesweeper War BadgeThe Minesweeper War Badge or Minesweepers, Sub-Chasers and Escort-Vessel War Badge is a German military decoration awarded to Kriegsmarine members for service on Minesweepers boats Criteria for the award included recommendation...
(1940) - Clasp to the 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 (8 June 1940)
- 1st Class (8 January 1941)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe 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...
- Knight's Cross on 3 August 1941 as Korvettenkapitän of Reserves and commander of Sperrbrecher IX und I
- 523rd Oak Leaves on 11 July 1944 as Korvettenkapitän of Reserves z.V. and chief of the 38. Minensuchflotille