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Tannert, Karl Stefan (Fallschirmjäger)

Date of birth:
December 22nd, 1910 (Psaar/Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:
June 18th, 1980 (Gifhorn/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Karl Tyczka changed his name to Karl Tannert on February 18th, 1942. He reached the rank of Oberstleutnant.

00.00.1932: with the Grenzpolizei
00.00.1933: entered the Reichsheer, Grenzschutz
00.02.1934: Stellvertreter Kp.Chef in Grenzschutz-Regiment Gleiwitz
00.04.1937: attended Gasschutz-Lehrgang
00.07.1938: transferred to Regt. SA-Standarte 'Feldherrnhalle'
00.08.1938: appointed in the Infanterie-Regiment 78
00.09.1938: Adjutant, II. Bataillon, Regiment SA-Standarte 'Feldherrnhalle'
21.06.1939: transferred to the Luftwaffe, volunteered for the paratroops
26.06.1939: promoted to Leutnant
15.08.1939: transferred to I./ Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 1
09.04.1940: involved in capture of Masnedø Bridge, Denmark
00.05.1940: jumped into Holland at Dordrecht
18.05.1940: his Ju 52 was shot down over Narvik
00.05.1940: Zugführer, 1./ Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 1
01.08.1940: promoted to Oberleutnant
01.09.1940: Chef, 1./ Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 1
25.05.1941: severely WIA near Iráklion, Crete
15.11.1941: WIA near Wyborg
00.12.1941: nominated for the Ritterkreuz, but it was not granted
18.02.1942: changed his family name from Tyczka to Tannert
01.03.1942: promoted to Hauptmann(Tr.O.)
11.03.1942: awarded the DKiG
01.03.1943: Kdr., I./ Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 6
19.06.1943: Stab, Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 4, appointed provisional Kdr., III./ Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 2
05.04.1944: awarded the Ritterkreuz, Kdr., III./ Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 2
29.08.1944: promoted to Major - RDA 01.05.1944
29.08.1944-20.09.1944: provisional Kdr., Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 2
Recommended for the Eichenlaub
20.09.1944: captured in Brest by the Americans - US POW
01.01.1945: promoted to Oberstleutnant - RDA 01.09.1944
28.06.1948: released

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Awarded on:
1939
Fallschirmschützenabzeichen der Luftwaffe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
Awarded on:
May 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1
Awarded on:
June 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 1941
WIA 25.05.1941 + 15.11.1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1, 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
February 25th, 1942

According to Patzwall / Scherzer won the DKiG under the surname Tyczka.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1943
Ärmelband Kreta
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2, 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1944
During the large scale Soviet attack east of Kirovograd, which commenced on the 05.01.1944 with 3 rifle divisions and hundreds of tanks, Tannert and his Fallschirmjäger Bataillon found themselves directly in the path of the advance. Tannert was able to hold onto his positions with a few men until the evening of that day until the ordered withdrawal to the town of Novo-Andreevka. This delaying action bought time for the Regiment to construct a new defensive line, which in turn held the Soviet armoured advance long enough for the city of Kirovograd to be properly evacuated.

In addition, on the 07.01.1944, a Soviet attack seized the village of Novo-Fedorovka (a village belonging to the left-wing division). Tannert assembled a counterattack force with men from his staff and Nachrichtenzug, and was able to take the town back. In doing so he eliminated a potential threat from the flank to his Regiment and by extension the whole Division.

For these actions Tannert would finally receive the Knight's Cross, an award for which he had already been previously submitted for.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo