Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl

Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl was a Standartenführer (Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life
Friedrich-Wilhelm Karl was born on 15 September 1911 in Frankfurt on Oder, Germany. He was one of the early volunteers for the SS (SS service number 101 983) and the NSDAP (party number 1591713). He was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz in the class of 1934.

World War II
During World War II he was awarded the Iron Cross I & II class during the Battle of France in 1940 as part of the 13th Company, SS Infantry Regiment Germania, which was armed with small caliber Artillery guns.

The SS Regiment Germania was used as the basis for the new SS Division, 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland and Karl was given command of the 11th SS Panzer Artillery Regiment, being awarded the German Cross in Gold in August 1944, followed by the Knight's Cross in December 1944.

Post war
Karl survived the war and ten years as a captive of the Russians from 1945 to 1955. He died on the 21 August 1970 in Dortmund.