Karl Koetz
| Karl Koetz | |
|---|---|
| Born |
8 February 1908 Rixdorf near Berlin, German Empire (present-day Neukölln, Berlin) |
| Died |
11 June 1977 (aged 69) Meran, South Tyrol, Italy |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933).svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer |
| Years of service | 1925–45 |
| Rank | Generalmajor |
| Commands held |
349. Volksgrenadier-Division 21. Infanterie-Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Karl Koetz (8 February 1908 – 11 June 1977) was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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 Koetz was captured by British at the end of the war and was held until 1947.
Oberstleutnant Karl Koetz officially received the Oak Leaves from Adolf Hitler in the ceremony held in the Wolf's Lair in Rastenburg, on 30 January 1944, along with Oberstleutnant Albert Graf von der Goltz (316th Oak Leaves recipient), Major Josef-Georg Mulzer (367th), Rittmeister Andreas Thorey (349th) and Leutnant d.R. Heinrich Boigk (370th).[1]
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Infantry Assault Badge
- Eastern Front Medal (1 September 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 2 October 1941 as Hauptmann and commander of II. / Infanterie-Regiment 46[3]
- 374th Oak Leaves on 1 January 1944 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 185 [4]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (25 October 1944)
Wehrmachtbericht reference
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October 1944 (addendum) | In den Kämpfen im ostpreußischen Grenzgebiet haben sich zwei Kampfgruppen unter Führung der Eichenlaubträger Oberst Koetz und Oberst Lauchert besonders ausgezeichnet.[5] | In the battles on the East Prussian border, two battle groups under the leadership of the Oak Leaves bearers Colonel Koetz and Colonel Lauchert have particularly distinguished themselves. |
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer; C. F., Colton; Rogers, Duncan (2003). Elite of the Third Reich: the recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, 1939–45. Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-874622-46-8.
- 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
External links
- World War 2 Awards.com
- Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
- Karl Koetz @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 17, 2010)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None |
Commander of 349. Volksgrenadier-Division 11 September 1944 – 1 April 1945 |
Succeeded by None |
| Preceded by Generalmajor Heinrich Götz |
Commander of 21. Infantrie-Division 1 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 |
Succeeded by — |
