Karl Heinz Prinz
Encyclopedia
Karl-Heinz Prinz was a Sturmbannführer
(Major) in the Waffen-SS
during World War II
, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
: which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II
.
(Second Lieutenant) in April 1937, soon followed with promotion to Obersturmführer
(First Lieutenant) in November 1938.
of the 7 Standarte, SS Totenkopf, he was then transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment and given command of a Panzerjäger
(tank hunter) platoon. During the Battle of France
in the fighting near Armentières
on the 29 May 1940, Prinz, especially distinguished himself when he and his platoon forced a breakthrough of the English positions and established a link-up with the formations located in Bailleul
. For this he was awarded the Iron Cross
II Class.
After the defeat of France, Prinz was next involved in Operation Marita, the invasion of the Balkans
in 1941. In the campaign in Greece
Prinz, by now in command of the Panzerjäger Company played an essential roll in the breakthrough at the Battle of the Klidi Pass (11 and 12 April). During the fighting against the Greek-Albanian Army in the Kastoria
area (14 to 15 April), in the fighting pursuit through Thessaly
which followed, and the subsequent advance on Ioannina
, his company was always in the fore front of the advance. For the fighting in Greece Prinz was decorated with the Bulgarian Order of Bravery fourth class.
Prinz next took part in Operation Barbarossa
, the invasion of the Soviet Union
. By now promoted to Hauptsturmführer
(Captain), he was awarded the Eastern Front Medal
for service during the first Russian winter of the war.
He was transferred to the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend when it was formed in 1943, and given command of the II. Battalion, 12th SS Panzer Regiment and promoted to Sturmbannführer
(Major) in June 1943.
Karl-Heinz Prinz was killed in action during the battle of Normandy
on 14 August 1944, assaulting Point 159 just north of Falaise
, and was awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1944.
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) in the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
: which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Karl-Heinz Prinz was born on the 23 February 1914. He was one of the early volunteers to join the SS being selected to become an office in 1936, and given the rank of Standartenjunker (Staff Sergeant). Upon graduation he was promoted to UntersturmführerUntersturmführer
Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
(Second Lieutenant) in April 1937, soon followed with promotion to Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
(First Lieutenant) in November 1938.
World War II
By the start of World War II Prinz was the AdjutantAdjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the 7 Standarte, SS Totenkopf, he was then transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment and given command of a Panzerjäger
Panzerjäger
Panzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
(tank hunter) platoon. During the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in the fighting near Armentières
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
on the 29 May 1940, Prinz, especially distinguished himself when he and his platoon forced a breakthrough of the English positions and established a link-up with the formations located in Bailleul
Bailleul, Nord
Bailleul is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is located in French Flanders near Lille.-Heraldry:-Media:...
. For this he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
II Class.
After the defeat of France, Prinz was next involved in Operation Marita, the invasion of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
in 1941. In the campaign in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Prinz, by now in command of the Panzerjäger Company played an essential roll in the breakthrough at the Battle of the Klidi Pass (11 and 12 April). During the fighting against the Greek-Albanian Army in the Kastoria
Kastoria
Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria peripheral unit. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains...
area (14 to 15 April), in the fighting pursuit through Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
which followed, and the subsequent advance on Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, his company was always in the fore front of the advance. For the fighting in Greece Prinz was decorated with the Bulgarian Order of Bravery fourth class.
Prinz next took part in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. By now promoted to Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain), he was awarded the Eastern Front Medal
Eastern Front Medal
The Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
for service during the first Russian winter of the war.
He was transferred to the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend when it was formed in 1943, and given command of the II. Battalion, 12th SS Panzer Regiment and promoted to Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) in June 1943.
Karl-Heinz Prinz was killed in action during the battle of Normandy
Battle of Normandy
The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II. It was the largest amphibious operation in history...
on 14 August 1944, assaulting Point 159 just north of Falaise
Falaise, Calvados
Falaise is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-History:The town was the birthplace of William I the Conqueror, first of the Norman Kings of England. The Château de Falaise , which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of...
, and was awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1944.