Karl Kloskowski

Karl Kloskowski was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS who was awarded 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
Kloskowski joined the SS in 1936 and was posted to the Germania regiment. He was promoted to Hauptscharführer on January 10, 1943 and served as a platoon commander in the 4th Company, 2nd SS Panzer regiment.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross when he had observed the Russians preparing to destroy an important bridge and attacked them, preventing the destruction of the bridge. As the 7th Company Commander, he was severely wounded fighting off an attack by 15 T-34's in July 1943 for which he was awarded the Honour Clasp.

After July 1943 he became a company commander in the Kampfgruppe Das Reich. In 1945 he was reassigned to the SS Brigade Westfalen and was murdered after being captured by American troops near the Harz Mountains in April 1945. According to some sources the killing was in revenge of the death of U.S. 3rd Armored Division commander General Maurice Rose a few weeks earlier at the hands of 507th German heavy tank battalion.