Karl von Graffen

Karl von Graffen
Born	6 June 1893 Plön
Died	1 November 1964(1964-11-01) (aged 71) Grödersby
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Heer
Years of service	1911–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands	58. Infanterie-Division LXXVI. Panzerkorps
Battles / wars	World War I World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Siege of Leningrad Italian Campaign Gothic Line Offensive Operation Grapeshot
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl von Graffen (6 June 1893 – 1 November 1964) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Karl von Graffen was taken prisoner in May 1945 by British troops and was released in March 1948.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Order of the Griffon (Mecklenburg)
• Military Merit Cross, 1st class (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)
• Military Merit Cross 3rd class with War Decoration (Austria-Hungary)
• Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Eastern Front Medal
• German Cross in Gold (24 December 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 August 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of 58. Infanterie-Division
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th with 1st class

References

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 (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Archived 2010-11-16 at the Wayback Machine