Karl Brommann

Karl Brommann
Born (1920-07-20)20 July 1920
Neumünster, Germany
Died (2011-06-30)30 June 2011 (aged 90)
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1937–1945
Rank Untersturmführer
Unit 6th SS Gebirgs Division Nord
11th SS Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
Wound Badge
Panzer Badge in Silver
Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
Sudetenland Medal
Anschluss Medal

Karl Brommann (20 July 1920 – 30 June 2011)[1] was a Untersturmführer (Storm Leader/Second Lieutenant) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for the destruction of 66 tanks along with 44 anti tank guns and 15 vehicles in the battle for Danzig.[2] The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Brommann was born on 20 July 1920 in Neumünster in Holstein. In 1937 he volunteered to join the SS at the age of seventeen and was posted to the 2nd Brandenburg Standarte, SS Totenkopf (SS service number 316479).[3] In 1938 he took part in the Anschluss of Austria [4] and the occupation of the Sudetenland.[4]

World War II

Brommann was posted to the 6th SS Gebirgs Division Nord (Mountain Division) and fought in Finland and was twice wounded the first time in both hands and feet the second time was a serious lung wound. Brommann stayed in Hospital for almost one year recovering from his injuries.[3]

After recovering from his wounds he was posted to the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division Nordland in May 1943 and fought on the Eastern Front. He was also promoted to Oberscharführer at this time.[3]

In October 1943, he was transferred to the newly forming 103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion and trained on the Tiger tank.[3]

In October 1944 the Battalion received their first King Tigers and on 27 January 1945, was transferred to the Eastern Front. Following their arrival at the front, the Battalion saw heavy combat in the Stettin area. They also participated in the escape of refugees from East Prussia. During the night of February 17/18, the Battalion was loaded onto trains and moved to Danzig. During the fighting in Danzig and Sopot, Untersturmführer Karl Brommann now the commander of the 2nd Company, destroyed 66 tanks along with 44 anti tank guns and 15 vehicles. Following this action he was awarded the Knight's Cross.[5] Brommann received further honors when he was mentioned in the daily Wehrmachtbericht on 10 April 1945 for this action.[6]

In March 1945, he was wounded for the third time suffering burns to his head and hands and a splinter in his eye. Evacuated by hospital train to Flensburg. He was captured by the British on 21 May 1945.

Post war

Brommann remained in captivity until November 1947, when he was released he trained to be a dental laboratory technician at the University Clinic of Germany.[5]

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Karl Brommann's obituary (Portuguese)
  2. ↑ Henschler & Fey 2003, pp. 242-245.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "panzerkeil".
  4. 1 2 3 4 Huß & Viohl 2003, p. 53.
  5. 1 2 "achtung.panzer".
  6. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, p. 529.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Huß & Viohl 2003, p. 52.
  8. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 246.

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. 
  • Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5. 
  • Huß, Jürgen; Viohl, Armin (2003). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes der preußischen Provinz Schleswig-Holstein und der Freien und Hansestadt Lübeck 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Bearers of the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein and the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck 1939–1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-79-9. 
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7. 
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
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