Date of birth:

September 15th, 1911 (Frankfurt am Oder, Germany)

Date of death:

August 21st, 1970 (Dortmund, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 101.983 // NSDAP-Nr.: 1.591.713

Nationality:

German

01.05.1932: joined the SS, SS-Anwärter, 3. Sturm, III. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 27
31.12.1932: promoted to SS-Mann, SS-Sonderkommando Zossen
17.03.1933: joined the NSDAP
11.05.1933: SS-Sonderkommando Berlin
02.08.1933: 'Adolf Hitler' Standarte then Leibstandarte 'Adolf Hitler'
01.12.1934: promoted to SS-Rottenführer
04.04.1934: 1. Friedens-Junker-Lehrgang, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
20.12.1934: promoted to SS-Obertruppführer
26.01.1935: I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 1, SS-VT, München then 6. Sturm, II. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 1
20.04.1935: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer
18.05.1935: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 12. Sturm, III. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 1, LAH
00.08.1935: MG-Lehrgang, Infanterie-Schule Döberitz
09.11.1936: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
01.05.1939: SS-Ostuf, Chef, 13. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 "Germania", SS-VT - campaign in France
24.01.1940: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer - RDA 25.08.1939
30.01.1940: Batterieführer, Artillerie-Lehrgang, Artillerie-Schule Jüterborg
20.06.1942: Inspektionschef, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
07.07.1942: Taktiklehrer, SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
09.12.1942: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 11. Batterie, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
01.03.1942: SS-Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment
20.04.1942: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer
04.01.1943: 5. Lehrgang, Abteilungsfahrschule für Schnelle Truppen, Paris
01.02.1943: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, IV. Abteilung, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hohenstaufen'
09.05.1943: SS-Stubaf, Führer, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 11, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
10.06.1943: demoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
31.08.1943: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer - RDA 01.04.1942
12.11.1943: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 11, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
01.03.1944: promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer
00.03.1944: SS-Ostubaf, Kommandeur, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 11, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
20.04.1945: promoted to SS-Standartenführer
00.05.1945: Soviet POW
00.10.1955: released

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Awarded on:

December 1935

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1937

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 13. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Germania", SS-VT

Awarded on:

May 21st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 13. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Germania", SS-VT

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 11. Batterie, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

April 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Chef, 11. Batterie, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kdr., SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 11, 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Nordland”

Awarded on:

August 21st, 1944

other sources give 19.08.1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 11, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland', III.(germanische) SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

December 26th, 1944

Karl’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 16.10.1944 the Russian 6th Guards Army and elements of the 51st Army, supported by strong tank, assault gun and ground-attack aircraft units, began an attack against the Division’s front with the objective of pushing through to Libau.

In this area the Division had only just relieved the 14. Panzer-Division on the night before with mere rudimentary instructions. Contrary to the evaluation of enemy intentions by the higher commands, the Division expected the enemy attack to begin on this day. Despite making preparations in anticipation of this, major crises soon developed as the leadership and soldiers of the Division were unfamiliar with the terrain and their new positions.

In the course of the battle the left wing of the Division was badly bloodied by strong enemy tank forces, and threatened to collapse under the weight. In response Obersturmbannführer Karl decided to intervene decisively in the battle as the divisional commander, who was in the middle of the battlefield, could not be contacted. Clearly recognizing the magnitude of the threat, he brought down fierce artillery fire on the enemy opposite the left wing with all the divisional artillery along with those artillery units from the 14. Panzer-Division that were still in position. By doing so he accepted the risk of denying artillery support for other units of the Division.

Applying himself with bravery and skill, he organized a coordinated artillery blocking fire in a very short time with all available barrels. His expertly directed artillery fire, made possible by his exemplary calm and technical expertise, inflicted terrible losses on the enemy. The result was that the Panzergrenadiers, with faith in their supporting arms, regained their freedom of maneuver and used their outstanding artillery support to launch a counterattack that restored the old defensive line.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Karl — himself originating from the Panzergrenadier arm — has repeatedly demonstrated the highest personal readiness for duty combined with exemplary decisiveness. The outcome of the fighting on the 16.10.1944 is in no small part due to the efforts of the artillery commander of the Division, SS-Obersturmbannführer Karl.

I thus ask that he be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.”

• Photo 1: Peter van Holsteijn
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.