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Karl, Franz

Date of birth:
January 1st, 1888 (Glonn, German Empire)
Date of death:
March 18th, 1964 (Munich, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:
Commander 263. Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
August 5th, 1940
The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Karl received the Knight’s Cross…

“Generalleutnant Karl led his Division with outstanding skill during the breakthrough battle across the Somme. His personal involvement in the fighting was a key factor that led to the success of the assault crossing over the heavily defended Noyons canal, which in turn led to the decisively important seizure of the city itself. He was among the first to participate in the assault crossing over the Seine, where he fought with a carbine in hand until the enemy had been thrown back.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

  • - Scherzer, Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (2007)
    - Die Tapfersten

Photo