Brenner, Karl-Heinrich (Waffen SS)
- Date of birth:
- May 19th, 1895 (Mannheim/Baden, Germany)
- Date of death:
- February 15th, 1954 (Karlsruhe/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
- Service number:
- SS-Nr.: 307.786 // NSDAP Nr.: 3.460.685
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
Promotions:
01.07.1938: SS-Obersturmbannführer
20.04.1939: SS-Standartenführer / Oberst
09.11.1941: SS-Oberführer
30.01.1942: SS-Brigadeführer
15.03.1944: SS-Gruppenführer / Generalleutnant der Polizei.
Career:
03.08.1914-11.11.1918: Kriegsdienst, Feld-Artillerie-Regiment 10 "von Scharnhorst"
00.01.1919: Baden Volunteer Battalion 'Ost'
01.09.1919-01.04.1920: Infanterie-Regiment 17
00.00.1920: entered the Landespolizei in Baden
00.00.1926: Hitlerjugend
01.05.1933: entered the NSDAP
00.00.1935: National Police School in Berlin
00.08.1935: Artillerie-Regiment 4, Ulm
October 1936 - August 1939: Amtsleiter (Reit- und Fahrwesen), Stab des Chefs der Ordnungspolizei
11.09.1938: joined the SS as SS-Obersturmbannführer
00.08.1939-00.02.1940: Kommandeur Sportschule der Polizei, Berlin-Spandau;
October 1942 - February 1943: Arko SS-Panzerkorps;
March 1943 - September 1943: Befehlshaber OrPo, Wehrkreis XVIII (Salzburg);
December 1943 - June 1944: Befehlshaber OrPo, Ukraine;
September 1944 - April 1945: Kommandeur 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord".
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Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
Ritter II. Klasse zu dem Orden der Löwen von Zähringen
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- November 10th, 1917
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Rank:
- Militär-Ehrenzeichen I. Klasse
Friedrich-August Kreuz 2.Klasse
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
Kriegverdienstkreuz 1914-1918 für Kämpfer 2. Klasse
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- January 31st, 1917
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1918
Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
- Awarded on:
- February 1934
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1934
- Awarded on:
- 1936
- Awarded on:
- 1936
Kriegserinnerungsmedaille
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1937
Haborus Emlékérem kardokkal és sisakkal
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1937
Bulgarian Royal WW1 Veteran Medal
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Awarded on:
- 1937
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1937
- Awarded on:
- 1937
- Awarded on:
- 1937
- Awarded on:
- 1938
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1938
- Awarded on:
- December 1st, 1938
- Awarded on:
- August 1st, 1938
- Awarded on:
- January 30th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- April 1st, 1939
- Awarded on:
- 1939
- Awarded on:
- July 5th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- July 24th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- August 4th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- August 17th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- September 27th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- September 1st, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- May 16th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Gruppenführer / Generalleutnant der Polizei
- Unit:
- Befehlshaber, Ordnungs-Polizei Ukraine, Waffen-SS
- Awarded on:
- June 16th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Gruppenführer / Generalleutnant der Polizei
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord", Waffen-SS
- Awarded on:
- December 27th, 1944
“Within the context of the XVIII. (Geb.) Armee-Korps’ withdrawal movements from its previous positions in Karelia, the subordinated 6. SS-Geb.Div. Nord had the mission of defending against an early Bolshevik pursuit thrust towards Kuusamo from its own position at Kiestinki. By defending its position here it would also enable the evacuation of the supplies stored at Kuusamo.
On the 19.09.1944 the Bolsheviks succeeded in getting one of their Regiments to block the retreat path of the Division’s rearguard (consisting of two reinforced Jäger-Bataillonen and an Artillerie-Abteilung) while it was still tied down in heavy frontal battles near the Finnish-Russian border.
The Ia of the Division became a casualty at 09:10 on the 19.09.1944 while conducting a reconnaissance probe from the west against these encircling forces. At this time the bulk of the Division was currently in the process of withdrawing and setting up the Kuusamo static position about 70 km to the west. Although SS-Gruppenführer Brenner had only taken over command of the Division just 14 days before, his prudence and energy ensured that there was no disruption of the issuing of orders caused by the sudden falling out of the Ia. Sparing himself no quarter, he immediately rushed forward to his hard-pressed rearguard in order to personally lead the fight to break open the encirclement ring (see attachment - clipping from map 1:100000 Bl. Q 36 X West).
Fighting his way through the Bolshevik troops sent out ahead along the main road, Brenner and his small escort arrived at the Finnish border right along the perimeter of the encirclement ring. There he recognized that it was necessary for the Division to enable the encircled friendly elements to break out westwards and simultaneously prevent the Bolsheviks from advancing against the not yet ready Kuusamo static position. He therefore decided to create a new defensive front along both sides of the road and establish contact with the encircled friendly elements through an attack (16:00, 19.09.1944).
By assembling all stragglers, drivers and co-drivers he created a Kompanie sized unit that was immediately assigned to the new defensive position. Gruppenführer Brenner called up an additional Bataillon and sent it eastwards to fight its way through to the trapped rearguard. He led this unit personally with ruthlessness and spirit, and by doing this he laid the groundwork for the success of the breakout.
This success was first and foremost thanks to SS-Gruppenführer Brenner. Although his previously sustained injuries (namely the loss of an eye) continued to hinder him, his personal example and bravery were nonetheless outstanding.
His swift and independent initiative mastered the challenging situation. The enemy ring around the two Jäger-Bataillone and the Artillerie-Abteilung was broken. The conditions were also created for the orderly occupation of the Kuusamo static position. This guaranteed the continued smooth withdrawal by the Division. The evacuation of all the important supplies for the Korps from the Kuusamo depots was likewise secured.
On the grounds of his outstanding devotion to duty and successes, I recommend SS-Gruppenführer Brenner for the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Sources
- Photo 1:
- Photo 2:
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- SS-Nord History
- Vorschlag zum verleihng Deutshes Kreuz in Gold
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