Karl von Le Suire

Karl Hans Maximilian von Le Suire (8 November 1898 – 18 June 1954) was a highly decorated General der Gebirgstruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XXXXIX. Gebirgs-Armeekorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Role in Massacre of Kalavryta
In November 1943, the German 117th Jäger Division began a mission named Unternehmen Kalavryta (Operation Kalavryta), intending to encircle Greek guerrilla fighters in the mountainous area surrounding Kalavryta. During the operations, some German soldiers were killed and 77 of them, who were taken prisoners, were executed by the Greek guerrillas. On 10 December 1943 von Le Suire signed the order for the German division to "level the locations Mazeika and Kalavryta" (die Orte Mazeika und Kalawrita dem Erdboden gleich zu machen).

In total, more than 1200 civilians were killed during the reprisal operations. About 1,000 houses were looted and burned and more than 2,000 sheep and other large domestic animals were seized by the Germans. The event is known as the Massacre of Kalavryta.

Captivity and death
Karl von Le Suire was captured by Soviet troops in May 1945 and died in Soviet captivity on 18 June 1954 in a prisoner of war camp at Stalingrad.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class (28 March 1918)
 * 1st Class (19 December 1921)
 * Wound Badge (1914)
 * in Black (28 October 1918)
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (29 December 1934)
 * Anschluss Medal
 * Sudetenland Medal (11 January 1940)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (13 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (13 September 1939)
 * Eastern Front Medal (1 May 1942)
 * Kuban Shield (1 October 1944)
 * Order of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class with Swords (26 October 1941)
 * German Cross in Gold (25 April 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 November 1944 as General der Gebirgstruppe and commander of XXXXIX. Gebirgskorps
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (17 October 1944)