Karl Palmgreen

Karl Palmgreen (2 September 1891 – 16 September 1970) was a Fregattenkapitän of the Reserves with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Karl Palmgreen joined the Kaiserliche Marine in 1909. From 1939 to 1941 he was commander of the Sperrbrecher (Mine Sweeper; Pathfinder) IX and I and thereafter until 1943 chief of the 4th Sperrbrecherflottille, followed by service positions as head of the 36th Minensuchflottille, German Chief of Staff to the Italian admiral in the Italian Navy Command, 1st class admiral staff officer at the 2nd Sicherungsdivision and head of the 38th Minensuchflottille. At the end of World War II, he was chief of the branch Gotenhafen or Libau. He was awarded the Knights Cross on 3 August 1941 for his achievements as chief of Sperrbrecherflottille, he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän of the Reserves on 1 August 1944 and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 11 July 1944.

His son Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves Gerhard Palmgren was killed in action on 15 August 1944 as commander of GS U-741 in the English Channel by the British corvette HMS Orchis (K76) after U-741 had sunk the 246 ton infantry landing craft LCI 404.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class (1914)
 * 1st Class (June 1915)
 * Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boots- Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände (1940)
 * Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (8 June 1940)
 * 1st Class (8 January 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 3 August 1941 as Korvettenkapitän of Reserves and commander of Sperrbrecher IX und I
 * 523rd Oak Leaves on 11 July 1944 as Korvettenkapitän of Reserves z.V. and chief of the 38. Minensuchflotille

External

 * Lexikon der Wehrmacht
 * Wehrmachts Lexikon