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Karck, Georg 'Oschi' (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
June 11th, 1911 (Segeberg/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:
July 3rd, 1944 (by Rugles, Evreux/Upper Normandy, France)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Champigny-St.-André
Plot: 9. Row: 27. Grave: 1876.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 17.690 // NSDAP-Nr.: 756.882
Nationality:
German

Biography

SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Georg „Oschi" Heinrich Karl Karck

Promotions:
02.07.1934: SS-Oberscharführer
30.03.1937: SS-Hauptscharführer
21.06.1941: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
09.11.1942: SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
01.09.1943: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
00.07.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer (posthumonously) - RDA 01.07.1944 and activated

Career:
01.10.1931: joined the SS
00.11.1933: 2. Sturm, LSSAH
00.04.1941: SS-Hascha, 3. Kompanie, Ersatz-Bataillon, SS-Standarte "Germania",SS-Division 'Reich'
08.03.1943: SS-Ostuf d.R., Chef, 9. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'
05.07.1943: WIA at Hill 228.6 northwest of Jachontoff, Belgorod
00.02.1944-00.02.1944: SS-Hstuf d.R., temp. Führer, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'
00.04.1944-03.07.1944: SS-Hstuf d.R., Führer, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'
03.07.1944: killed in a road traffic accident in Normandy, France

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Nr. 11.712
SS-Zivilabzeichen
Awarded on:
February 1934
Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
Awarded on:
December 1st, 1935
Julleuchter der SS
Awarded on:
July 6th, 1939
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
April 20th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
August 25th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
August 25th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
March 12th, 1943
in bronze
other sources give 20.04.1943

Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
April 20th, 1943
WIA 00.04.1943 + 05.07.1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Führer, 9. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2, 1. SS-Panzer-Division 'LSSAH'
Awarded on:
August 3rd, 1943
Karck’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Obersturmführer Karck has been a member of the LSSAH since 1933.

He participated in the Russian campaign during 1941/42 as a Zugführer, and was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class.

As a Kompanie commander he and his M.G.-Kompanie consistently fought at the hotspots of combat during the Regiment’s difficult defensive battles in the winter of 1943, and was awarded the Iron Cross First Class in March 1943.

SS-Obersturmführer Karck made a major contribution to the success of the Regiment during the hard breakthrough battles west of Belgorod.

On the 04.07.1943 the Regiment had the task of sending a Bataillon into battle in order to seize the enemy outposts on Hill 228.6 (northwest of Jachontoff) in a surprise attack. This would secure the jump-off position for the attack set for the 05.07.1943 that would initiate the assault against the 15-20 km deep enemy field positions on a broad front.

On the night of the 04-05.07.1943 SS-Obersturmführer Karck stormed Hill 228.6 at the head of his men, wresting control of the enemy bunker and trench system (which was fully protected by mines and barbed wire) on the hill from the bitterly defending foe. Undeterred by the determined defense and his own losses, he inspired his men forward with his personal example and threw the enemy off the hill meter by meter. Personally fighting at the front of the Kompanie, he cleared 3 enemy bunkers with hand grenades.

The entire enemy garrison of the bunker/trench system atop of Hill 228.6, in the strength of a reinforced company, was either killed or captured.

An immediate Russian counterthrust was smashed in a man to man fight, an achievement made possible by the swift recognition of the critical situation. Only the personal initiative, outstanding boldness and determined obstinacy of SS-Obersturmführer Karck is to be credited for the fact that the Hill 228.6 remained in our hands after a two and a half hour bloody engagement. With this the precondition for the Regiment’s assault was achieved.

During this fight SS-Obersturmführer Karck was wounded in the head, but remained with his Kompanie.

On the 05.07.1943 the Regiment began its assault on a broad front towards Bykowka in the face of a deep enemy field position heavily protected by mines, barbed wire and anti-tank ditches. Here SS-Obersturmführer Karck and his Kompanie once again formed the spearhead of the Regiment.

He was the first to reach the anti-tank ditch south of Hill 220.5 with a small assault party. He cleared a lane through a minefield for the following Sturmgeschütze and Panzers, and then clawed his way forward with his men to the foot of Hill 220.5. From here he broke into the enemy positions on the hill with almost superhuman strength.

A shining example, a leader in a decisive moment, a goal-oriented lone fighter, SS-Obersturmführer Karck took on all of these mantles as he wrested a portion of the enemy’s trench/bunker system from their possession. Along with Pak and MG positions, he cleared out the enemy defenses and in doing so completed the breach necessary for the further breakthrough of our forces towards Bykowka.

Fully exploiting the situation, he pursued the fleeing enemy, stirring up the final ounces of strength from his exhausted troops with his inspiring example. In this continued advance he prevented the enemy from regrouping in Bykowka, bypassed their defenses there and stormed Hill 243.8 (located north of Bykowka, and the Regiment’s objective for the day). Through ruthlessly pushing ahead, while sparing himself nothing, he was a model of courage and bravery for his men. By these actions SS-Obersturmführer Karck had a significant share in ensuring his Regiment reached its objectives for the day.

Outstanding bravery and courage, dogged determination, as well as calm and highly effective leadership are the skills of SS-Obersturmführer Karck. For his outstanding courage I ask that he be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1943
Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 1. Klasse in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1943
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Awarded on:
June 1st, 1944
other sources give 26.05.1944
Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
Unit:
Chef, 9. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2, 1. SS-Panzer-Division 'LSSAH'
Awarded on:
August 7th, 1944

Awarded posthumous.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Sources

  • Photo 1: Igor Poul
  • Photo 2:
  • Photo: Karck, Georg „Oschi" Heinrich Karl. | WW2 Gravestone
  • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
    - Scheibert H., Die Träger des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold (Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS) und Deutschen Kreuzes in Silber (Heer, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS)
    - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.

Photos