Karl-Otto Leukefeld

Karl-Otto Leukefeld
Born	1 May 1913 Wiesbaden
Died	24 May 2008 (aged 95) Celle
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45 1956–71
Rank	Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Infanterie-Regiment 123
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Greece Operation Barbarossa Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) Battle of the Caucasus Crimean Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Otto Leukefeld (1 May 1913 – 24 May 2008) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Karl-Otto Leukefeld was captured by Soviet forces in May 1944 during the Crimean Offensive, and was held until 1949. He joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and retired in 1971 as an Oberst.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Tank Destruction Badge for Individual Combatants
• German Cross in Gold (23 June 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 October 1941 as Oberleutnant and chief of the 1./Infanterie-Regiment 123^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 237.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• World War 2 Awards.com