Date of birth:

June 8th, 1894 (Fürstenwalde/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

June 28th, 1941 (Ostroshitsky Gorodok/Minsk Oblast, Soviet Union)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

June 3rd, 1940

The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Rothenburg received the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberst Karl Rothenburg led his Panzer-Regiment and the spearhead of his Division during almost all of its breakthroughs and pursuit battles. He personally eliminated an enemy battery with his command vehicle. He created the appropriate conditions for the swift march towards Arras by breaking through the enemy fortifications and smashing two hostile divisions.”

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

May 23rd, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

2. Kompanie, 5. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß

Awarded on:

June 30th, 1918

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 27th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 8th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment 25, 7. Panzer-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

August 10th, 1941

71st Award.

• - DÖRR, M., Die Inhaber der Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres 1941-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
  - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit
  - Manteuffel, von H., Die 7. Panzer-Division – Bewaffnung, Einsätze, Männer, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2001
  - Federl, C., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, Germany, 2000
  - Die Tapfersten