Karl Bastian

Karl Bastian
Born	12 February 1915 Oberhausen, Germany
Died	11 August 1944 (aged 29) Normandy, France
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1936–44
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	SS-VT SS Division Totenkopf 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Wound Badge Infantry Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Karl Bastian (12 February 1915 — 11 August 1944) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize outstanding battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Karl Bastian was born on the 12 February 1915 in Oberhausen on the Rheinland. After finishing elementary school he volunteered to join the SS-VT in October 1936. He was assigned to the 5th Company, 2nd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment.^[1][2]

World War II

At the start of World War II he was still serving with the 2nd SS Totenkopf and took part in the Battle of France and the campaign in the Balkans, (Operation Marita).^[1]

By April 1944 he had been promoted to Hauptsturmführer and was the commander of the II.Battalion, 21 SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg.^[1][2] In June 1944, they were serving on the Western Front in Normandy in the Caen area. In an attempt to improve their own front line a company attack was ordered on a small hamlet in July. On the night on the 22 July Hauptsturmführer Bastian joined his men in the attack using hand grenades to clear houses and bunkers they engaged the defenders in hand to hand combat. The attack was successful and 67 prisoners were taken and maps and other documents captured, which they used to improve their own positions around Hill 112.^[1]

Karl Bastian was killed in action shortly after during fighting in the Cui region on the 11 August 1944.^[1][2]

For his leadership and bravery during the attack Karl Bastian was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross.^[1][2]

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 August 1944 as SS-Hauptsturmführer and leader of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21^[3][4]

References

Citations

1. "ritterkreuztraeger".
2. "frontkjempr".
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 204.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 123.

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.
• 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.

External links

• The Combat History of the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg