Karl Wanka

Updated on Dec 05, 2023

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Allegiance Nazi Germany Rank Major of the Reserves Service/branch German Army		Years of service 1939–45 Name Karl Wanka

Commands held I./Grenadier-Regiment 53 Battles/wars World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of the Caucasus Lower Dnieper Offensive Dnieper-Carpathian Offensive First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive Operation Bagration Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive East Prussian Offensive Zemland Offensive Died May 3, 1980, Bad Kissingen, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Uman

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)

2nd Class (29 July 1941)

1st Class (15 January 1942)

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

800th Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945 as Major of the Reserves and commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 53

References

Karl Wanka Wikipedia

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