Karl Heinz Bühler

Karl Heinz Bühler
Born	7 August 1912 Mannheim, Germany
Died	4 July 1984 (aged 71) Tübingen, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1939–45 Waffen SS
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class German Cross in Gold Wound Badge Infantry Assault Badge

Karl Heinz Bühler (7 August 1912 – 4 July 1984) was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Karl Heinz Bühler was born on 7 August 1912 in Mannheim. He was an early volunteer for the SS and given the SS service number 98.248, he was also a member of the NSDAP party number 3.266.024.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross in May 1945, when in command of the 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania.^{[Notes 1]}

He survived the war and died on 4 July 1984, in Tübingen.

Commands

• II.Battalion, 5th SS Artillery Regiment, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
• III.Battalion, 5th SS Artillery Regiment. 5th SS Panzer Division
• 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking

Notes

1. No evidence of the award to Karl-Heinz Bühler can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was presumably awarded by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich, which would make it an unlawful presentation. The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed this case in 1977 and decided: Knight's Cross no, 1 May 1945. The case Bühler was again processed in the fall of 1983. Whether or not additional or new evidence materialized remains unknown. The Order Commission decided this time: Knight's Cross yes, 8 May 1945. Von Seemen lists him on 7 May 1945, Krätschmer states 1 May 1945. Fellgiebel later re-dated the award on the 6 May 1945. It remains subject to speculation why this was done. Bühler was a member of the AKCR.^[1]

References

Citations

1. Scherzer 2007, p. 117.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Hamilton Charles (1997). Leaders and Personalities of the Third Reich. R James Bender Pub. ISBN 0-912138-27-0.
• Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.