Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

12. / Grenadier-Regiment 123 / 50.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

July 10th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Regimentsadjutant Grenadier-Regiment 123 / 50.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

September 30th, 1944

The following newspaper article describes why Brocks received the Knight’s Cross…

“The Soul of the Resistance - The Knight’s Cross Deed of Hauptmann Karl Brocks:

During the hard combat for the Perekop isthmus, the Bolsheviks succeeded in pushing past our frontline. Despite the bravest of resistance on our side, strongpoint after strongpoint fell to the enemy. The entire German defensive front was in the process of being unravelled when Hauptmann Brocks, the adjutant of a Grenadier-Regiment, realized the imminent danger of a breakthrough.

Thus, all while under heavy artillery and rocket fire, he gathered up all the soldiers he could find and launched an immediate counterthrust into the teeth of the enemy’s defense. This attack stalled several times in the face of murderous fire, however Hauptmann Brocks rallied his Grenadiers on each occasion. Because of this it was possible to halt the Soviet attack and subsequently seal off the breach that had been created in the lines. Hauptmann Brocks would also once again serve as the soul of resistance when the Bolsheviks tried for another breakthrough on the following day, this time with all available forces and grim determination. However Hauptmann Brocks had an equally fanatical will to fight. He gathered up squad after squad that had been dispersed by the enemy, thereafter committing these men back into the fight with skill and flexibility. In the bitter man-to-man fighting which followed he not only managed to stop the enemy, but even pushed them back from their previous gains. With this the Bolshevik breakthrough attempt was defeated.

The Führer has now awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to this brave officer, who currently resides in the village of Bad Doberan at Brockmannstraße 8.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 19th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1940