Karl Wanka
| Karl Wanka | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 June 1914 Auschowitz, Bohemia |
| Died |
3 May 1980 (aged 65) Bad Kissingen |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1939–45 |
| Rank | Major of the Reserves |
| Commands held | I./Grenadier-Regiment 53 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Karl Wanka (1 June 1914 – 3 May 1980) was a highly decorated Major of the Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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. Karl Wanka was captured by American forces in May 1945, he was handed over to Czech forces and was forced to work in a uranium mine until 1956.
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Infantry Assault Badge
- Eastern Front Medal
- Close Combat Clasp
- in Bronze
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 23 February 1944 as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 446[2]
- 800th Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945 as Major of the Reserves and commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 53[3]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Stockert, Peter (2008). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 8 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 8] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
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