Karl-Heinz Worthmann
| Karl Heinz Worthmann | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
18 January 1911 Hagen, Germany |
| Died |
6 July 1943 (aged 32) Killed in Action, Russia |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1935–1943 |
| Rank | Untersturmführer |
| Unit | 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross March 31st, 1943[1] Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge |
Karl Heinz Worthmann (18 January 1911 – 6 July 1943) was a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Karl Heinz Worthman was born in Hagen, Germany on the 18 January 1911. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the SS-VT. He took part in the Battle of France as an Infantry platoon commander and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class.
During the invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) in 1941 he was severely wounded and after recovering from his wounds trained as a Panzer crewman.
He was promoted to Hauptscharführer (Master Sergeant) and made a platoon commander in the 6th Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, Das Reich, (2nd SS Division Das Reich). In the Battle of Kharkov Worthman, was in command of 4 tanks supporting the infantry in an attack near Wossyschtschewo on height 209.3 during which they destroyed 27 anti tank guns and 2 infantry guns without loss. For his actions during this battle, he was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1943.
Worthman was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and given command of the 6th company, when he was killed in action during Operation Citadel on the 6 July 1943, in the Belgorod sector.
References
Citations
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.
- Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
- Mattson, Gregory Louis (2002). SS—Das Reich: The History of the Second SS division, 1939–45. Spellmount. ISBN 1-86227-144-5.
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.