- Kamikaze
- “Divine Wind”. A kamikaze pilot would fly himself, his airplane and bomb(s) literally into an enemy target, preferably a US ships. This was a noble cause, considered a most honourable death for the emperor. Several thousands of kamikaze pilots died this way.
- Kampfgruppe
- Temporary military formation in the German army, composed of various units such as armoured division, infantry, artillery, anti-tank units and sometimes engineers, with a special assignment on the battlefield. These Kampfgruppen were usually named after the commander.
- Kampong
- Malayan word for village( in the vicinity of a city), neighbourhood, quarter, fenced off yard, living area.
- Kapo
- A Kapo was a prisoner in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany during World War 2 who was assigned to supervise other prisoners. A Kapo had to supervise the work of the prisoners and was responsible for their results on behalf of the SS.
- Katyn
- Wood near Smolensk in the Soviet Union. In 1943 the Germans found the bodies of approximately 4 ,400 executed Polish officers here, killed by the Russians.
- KdF car
- “Kraft durch Freude Wagen”, meaning Volkswagen Beetle designed by Ferdinand Porsche commissioned by Hitler. This car had to be affordable and available for every German.
- Kettenhunde
- “Chain dogs”. Nickname for German military police, the Feldgendarmerie. They wore a gorget, a distinctive chain with plaque stating “Feldgendarmerie”.
- Khalkhin Gol
- Area where the Soviet armies defeated the Japanese in a border war in 1938.
- KIA
- Killed in Action. Died due to hostile attack.
- KIAM
- Killed in Action, originally listed as Missing in Action, MIA. Killed in combat after being missing.
- KIAS
- Killed in Action, lost at sea.
- KIMAC
- Killed In Mid-Air Collision.
- King Kong
- Dutch (double) agent. Real name Christiaan Lindemans(1912-1946), suspect role in possible treason of the plans of Market Garden and his relationship with Prince Bernhard.
- Knijpkat (dyno torch)
- “dyno torch”. Electric torch that operates on a dynamo which is driven by continuous squeezing motions. At every squeeze the dyno torch produces a sound resembling a yowling cat.
- KNIL
- “Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger” meaning “Royal Netherlands East Indies Army” (1830-1950). Name of the Dutch army in the Netherlands East Indies.
- Kreisauer Kreis
- Was a group of about twenty-five German dissidents led by Helmuth James von Moltke, who met at his estate in the rural town of Kreisau, Silesia.The circle was composed of men and a few women from a variety of backgrounds, including those of noble descent, devout Protestants and Catholics.
- Kremlin
- Soviet administrative centre in Moscow.
- Kriegsmarine
- Germa navy. Part of the Wehrmacht next to Heer and Luftwaffe.
- KRIPO
- Kriminalpolizei. Criminal investigation agency. Ordinary civilian police of Nazi Germany.
- Kristallnacht
- The night of 9-10 November 1938. Over 250 German synagogues were destroyed. Tens of thousands of Jews were arrested.
- Krupp
- German family of steel and weapon’s manufacturers.
- Kursk, battle of
- Place in the former Soviet Union. From 5-15 July 1943 the biggest tank battle of World War 2 took place here. This battle proved to be a final turn in the battle on the Eastern front.
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