Karl-Heinz Becker (Fallschirmjäger)

Karl-Heinz Becker (2 January 1914 – 3 October 2000) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also 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
Becker was born on 2 January 1914 in Schwedt at the time in the Province of Brandenburg, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. He joined the police force on 10 October 1934 with the Landespolizeigruppe "General Göring" (State Police Group "General Goering") and enrolled at the 2nd Fähnrich (cadet) training course in Potsdam-Eiche on 1 July 1935.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 October 1939)
 * 1st Class (31 May 1940)
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black (7 February 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold on 29 June 1944 as Major in Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5
 * Close Combat Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Silver (6 February 1945)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 9 July 1941 as Oberleutnant and chief of 11./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
 * 780th Oak Leaves on 12 March 1945 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (29 July 1944)