Karl Keck

Karl Keck (20 January 1914 — 11 July 1944) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of 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.

Karl Keck was born on the 20 January 1914, in Zürich, Switzerland. He volunteered to join the SS-VT in May 1933, and was posted to the SS Standarte Deutschland. In April 1935 he was reassigned to the SS Standarte Germania and selected to become an officer being sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig until January 1936. As a Leutnant of Schutzpolizei he transferred to a police company from May 1937 until April 1938. He then joined the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and took part in the Battle of France where he was awarded the Iron Cross II class. He next took part in the Balkans campaign (Operation Marita) and the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) and was awarded the Iron Cross I class in December 1941, while in command of the Pionier Company.

He was transferred to the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg on the 5 February 1943 as the commander of the 16th (Pionier) Company, 21 SS Panzergrenadier Regiment.

Karl Keck was killed in action near Avenay on the Western Front on the 11 July 1944, and awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross for his actions in June 1944.