Karl Rettlinger

Karl Rettlinger

Hans Becker (left) and Karl Rettlinger at Kursk summer 1943
Born 8 February 1913
Gunzenhausen, Germany
Died 14 June 1990(1990-06-14) (aged 77)
Gunzenhausen, Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1933–45
Rank Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
German Cross in Gold
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Winter war Medal 1941/42
Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle bar
Panzer Badge in Silver
Wound Badge in Gold

Karl Rettlinger (8 February 1913 — 14 June 1990) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the 20 December 1943, for personally destroying 30 Russian tanks on the Eastern Front, including 6 in one attack. He was also awarded the wound badge in Gold for being wounded 5 times in action.[1]

Commands

Awards

Notes

  1. According to Scherzer as SS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves and chief of the 3./SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1.[4]

References

Citations

  1. Panzers in Winter By Samuel W. Mitcham p.115
  2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 375.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 356.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 624.

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. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • 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. 
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