Date of birth:

March 14th, 1917 (Pfatten/Tirol, Austria)

Date of death:

August 30th, 2008 (Bolzano/South-Tirol, Italy)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 423.876 (V) // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

10.04.1940: joined the SS-VT, SS-Standarte 'Deutschland' SS-VT
00.06.1940: promoted to SS-Rottenführer
00.04.1941: promoted to SS-Unterscharführer - Operation Marita, Greece
00.06.1941: SS-Uscha, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-Division 'Reich' - Operation Barbarossa, Russia
00.10.1941: severely WIA in the advance towards Moscow
00.11.1941-30.01.1942: SS-Junker, 7. Kriegs-Junker-Lehrgang, SS-Junkerschule, Bad Tölz
00.02.1942: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
20.04.1942: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
25.04.1942: SS-Ustuf d.R., Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking' - Ukraine
00.07.1942: Battle of Rostov
15.10.1941: SS-Ustuf d.R., Führer, 1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
01.04.1943: SS-Ustuf d.R., Führer, 8. Kompanie, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
09.11.1943: promoted to Obersturmführer der Reserve
00.01.1944-00.03.1944: 1. Kriegsurlaub, on leave
00.03.1944: SS-Ostuf d.R., Führer, SS-Kampfgruppe, 5. Panzer-Division "Wiking" - Battle of Kovel, Pripet Marshes
30.03.1944-04.04.1944: break-out of the Kovel Pocket
00.08.1944: campaign in Poland, Vistula River, Czeremcha, Warsaw, Okuniew, Tluszcz, Grabow, Sulejow, Slenzany
13.11.1944: SS-Ostuf d.R., Abteilungsführer, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
00.12.1944: campaign in Hungary, Budapest, Balaton Lake
30.01.1945: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
00.03.1945: SS-Hstuf d.R., Kdr, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking' - campaign in the Ruhr Pocket, Teutoburger Wald, Minden
06.04.1945: Hannover, Weser-Elbe-Kanal, Berenbostel-Staatsforst-Marienwerder
09.04.1945: Frielingen, Ricklingen, Vinnhorst – Nordhafen, Lehrte
12.04.1945: Sandingen, Wienhausen
22.04.1945: SS-Hstuf d.R., Kampfgruppenführer, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, surrendered to the US troops between Hohne and Braunschweig
23.04.1945: US POW, Lager Glasenbach, Salzburg
00.00.1947: released

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

July 25th, 1942

Battle of Rostov

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1942

in the advance north of the Kuban River

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Deutschland', SS-VT

Awarded on:

September 2nd, 1942

Awarded for:

Operation Marita

WIA 00.04.1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 11th, 1942

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Optanten für Deutschland

Awarded on:

September 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Awarded on:

April 3rd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 8. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”, 2. Armee, Heersgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

April 9th, 1944

Karl Nicolussi-Leck was the commander of the 8th Panther company in the 5th SS Panzer division during its efforts to relieve the trapped garrison at Kovel in March 1944. On the 27th of that month, with the German relief efforts still in progress, Nicolussi-Leck received an order to halt all offensive actions. By this point he was in radio conduct with the garrison, and felt that its relief was of the utmost importance. He thus told his radio operator to send a reply stating that he (Nicolussi-Leck) could not be found, and with that continued the push to the town. Three days later, following difficult fighting, he was able to reach the trapped garrison with seven tanks on the early morning of the 30th. By doing so he was able to substantially reinforce the garrison’s defences, and he remained with them until Kovel was finally relieved for good. His recommendation also says that he destroyed 17 tanks in the process, although it is possible this number is for the whole company. Either way, Nicolussi-Leck’s actions were judged to be worthy of the Knight’s Cross, and he received this award shortly afterwards.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Chef, 8. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

March 10th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

WIA 00.04.1941 + 00.10.1941 + 00.00.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Military History, 2016.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977