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Brommann, Karl (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
July 20th, 1920 (Neumünster/Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:
June 30th, 2011 (Dithmarschen/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 316.479 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Karl Brommann was born July 20th, 1920 in Neumünster. After his educatrion he joined the SS in 1937. Following his transfer to the 6. SS G Gebirgs-Division, Brommann served on the eastern front in Finnland and sustained injuries on both legs and his hands on September 15th, 1941. November 6th, 1941, he was injured again after having been shot through his right lung and liver. After a stay in a lazaretto he joined the SS Panzer-Regiment 11 on May 5th, 1943, he transfered to the SS-Panzer-Abteilung 103 – renamed schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503 in September 1944 - in October of 1943. Despite having been wounded several times, Brommann destroyed 66 tanks, 44 anti-tankguns and 15 trucks between February 2nd and March 18th, 1945. During engagements up to March 26th, 1945, he managed again to destroy at least six Josef Stalin tanks. On March 2nd, 1945, Brommann was injured again, sustaining burns on his head and hands and on March 25th, 1945, he was injured once more after having been hit by a shell. On March 26th, the Kriegsmarine took him by way of Hela to Schwinemünde where he was admitted to a lazaretto and subsequently was made a POW by the British on May 21st, 1945. He was released in November 1947.

Promotions:
July 1st, 1938: SS-Sturmmann;
January 1st, 1939: SS-Rottenführer;
June 10th, 1940: SS-Unterscharführer;
July 1st, 1943: SS-Oberscharführer;
March 1st, 1944: SS-Standarten-Oberjunker;
November 9th, 1944: SS-Untersturmführer.

Career:
June 15th, 1937: Totenkopf-Standarte 2 "Brandenburg", Oranienburg;
June 12th, 1938: 3. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte "Thüringen";
September 1st, 1939: SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", München-Freimann;
December 1st, 1939: I. / 1. SS-Totenkopf-Rekruten-Regiment, Klagenfurt;
April 1st, 1940: Zugführer, 7. / SS-Infanterie-Regiment 6 (motorisiert), 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord";
October 3rd, 1942: SS-Ersatz-Bataillon "Nord";
May 5th, 1943: II. / SS-Panzer-Regiment 11, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland";
October 1943: schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 103;
January 1945 - March 27th, 1945: Führer 1. / schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503;
March 27th, 1945 - May 21st, 1945: Lazerett;
May 21st, 1945 - 1947: British POW.

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Rank:
SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)
Unit:
SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", SS-Division "Totenkopf", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
October 26th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Rank:
SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)
Unit:
SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", SS-Division "Totenkopf", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1941
Vapaudenristin 2.luokan ansiomitali (VR am 2)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 7. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 6 (motorisiert), 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
December 1st, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 7. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 6 (motorisiert), 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
December 31st, 1941

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 7. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 6 (motorisiert), 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
January 15th, 1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
February 1st, 1945
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
February 24th, 1945

Silver version.
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
April 3rd, 1945
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
April 10th, 1945
„Im Kampfgebiet von Gotenhafen hat sich der SS-Untersturmführer Karl Brommann, Kompanieführer in der schweren SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503, hervorragend bewährt. Er hat mit seiner Panzerbesatzung in der Zeit vom 2. Februar 1945 bis zum 18. März 1945 trotz dreimaliger Verwundung 66 Panzer, 44 (Pak) Geschütze und 15 LKW vernichtet."
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, 1. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
April 29th, 1945
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
The following Wehrmachtbericht supplement (dated 10.04.1945) describes why Brommann would eventually be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“SS-Untersturmführer Karl Brommann, Kompanie leader in the SS-Panzer-Abteilung 103, outstandingly distinguished himself in the Gotenhafen battle area. During the time period 02.02.-18.03.1945 he destroyed 66 tanks, 44 guns and 15 trucks with his Panzer crew despite being wounded for the third time.”

Dutch language additional information available.

Sources