Karl Ritter von Weber

Karl Weber, from 1917 Ritter von Weber (* 23 August 1892 in Geiselbach; † 20 July 1941 near Smolensk) was a German officer, General Major and Commander of the 17th Panzer-Division of the German Army in World War II.

Biography
Weber was the son of Edmund Weber, owner of a saw mill and lumber works, and his wife, Eleanor. After graduating from his gymnasium, he joined the Bavarian infantry regiment "Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary" on October 1, 1911 as a cadet and was promoted to ensign on May 21, 1912.

On 25 October 1913 Weber was promoted to lieutenant. During the First World War he saw action during the border battles on the Western Front. He remained there during the rest of the war, and was promoted to first lieutenant on January 17, 1917, and was twice wounded in 1918 during the battles at Artois. He was decorated for his exceptional military merits, receiving on October 9, 1917 the Knight's cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph thereafter entitled to the title Ritter von Weber (personal nobility). Von Weber's bravery was commended in the diploma accompanying his knighthood: "in the battle of Ypres, in the action at North Poelkapelle on 9 October 1917 when forces were disorganized, [Weber], understanding the urgency of the situation and under most difficult conditions, took command, leading his men in an overwhelming attack on the enemy. [Weber] displayed zeal and great personal valor in carrying out a successful attack."

After the war von Weber was drafted into the Reichswehr, where he was first used in an infantry regiment and commanded in 1921 the Prussian Motor Vehicles Department in Berlin. He was promoted to captain on 1 February 1923, and on March 21, von Weber 1927 he was transferred to the (Bavarian) 20th Infantry Regiment. On March 1, 1930 was posted to the Reich Defence Ministry in Berlin, moving in April 1, 1930 to the local army weapons Office. Subsequently, Weber received the promotion to major on February 1, 1932, and on August 1, 1934 to Lieutenant Colonel and on January 1, 1937, to the rank of Colonel.

After the start of the Second World War, von Weber fought as a Regimental Commander in the Western campaign against Poland. On 1 November 1940 Karl Ritter von Weber was promoted to major General, taking over the 17th Rifle Brigade on 1 December 1940, which he commanded until June 28, 1941. Thereafter he was briefly transferred to the Führerreserve and entrusted with the leadership of the 17th Panzer Division on 7 July 1941. During the battle of Smolensk, he suffered a severe wound and died later in the hospital.

On his father's side, he was cousin to the Bavarian noble family Ritter von Weber.

Decorations
Iron Cross (1914) II. class, later promoted to I. class

Wounded Badge (1918)

Knight's cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph (1917)

Bavarian Military Order of Merit (1914) IV. class with swords on November 5, 1914 [1] [2]

Austrian Military Merit Cross (1917) III. class with war decoration