21 Facts About Karl Rothenburg

Karl Rothenburg was a recipient of both the Pour le Merite and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Karl Rothenburg was born on 8 June 1894 in Furstenwalde, German Empire as the son of high school teacher Georg Rothenburg and his wife Alwina.

Karl Rothenburg distinguished himself and was promoted to the rank of Unteroffizier by the end of December 1914.

In early 1915, Karl Rothenburg took part in the winter battle of the Masurian Lakes and later in the combats in Courland and Lithuania.

Karl Rothenburg was appointed a Offizierstellvertreter during that time.

Karl Rothenburg's regiment was ordered back to the West in fall of 1915 and Rothenburg was promoted to the rank of Leutnant der Reserve on 8 November 1915.

Karl Rothenburg participated later in the Battle of the Somme and became the acting commander of the 2nd Company.

One year later, in April 1917, Karl Rothenburg became the permanent commander of this company and already had both classes of the Iron Cross for bravery.

Karl Rothenburg later led his company during the German spring offensive and was wounded by shrapnel in the right hand during the breakthrough between Gouzeaucourt and Vermand on 29 March 1918.

Karl Rothenburg then joined the Schutzpolizei in Gotha and rose to the rank of Hauptmann by September 1924.

Karl Rothenburg then assumed command of police detachment in Jena and following the promotion to Major in summer 1930, he was appointed commander of Schutzpolizei in Weimar.

The regiment was redesignated Panzer-Regiment 1 under Colonel Ludwig von Radlmaier and Karl Rothenburg was assigned to the regimental staff in Erfurt.

Karl Rothenburg assumed command of 2nd Battalion, Panzer-Regiment 6 in Neuruppin in August 1936 and took part in the Occupation of Czechoslovakia during Sudeten crisis.

Karl Rothenburg was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 April 1938 and became commander of Panzer-Regiment 6 in March 1939.

Karl Rothenburg was promoted to the temporary rank of Oberst in August 1939.

Karl Rothenburg received Clasps to the Iron Cross for his service and following the Polish campaign, he was transferred to Gera, Thuringia where he assumed command of Panzer Regiment 25 of the newly formed 7th Panzer Division under Generalmajor Georg Stumme.

Karl Rothenburg spent following months with the training on Czechoslovakian Panzer 38 tanks and developed a kind relationship with new divisional commander, then-Generalmajor Erwin Rommel.

Karl Rothenburg rescued Rommel by picking him up from the battlefield, when his command tank was knocked out.

Karl Rothenburg was offered to be evacuated by a Fiesler Storch reconnaissance plane or by a panzer escort, but he refused both because he didn't want to weaken his already depleted regiment.

Karl Rothenburg decided to drive with two cars back to the rear.

Karl Rothenburg was posthumously promoted to Generalmajor and his regiment received an honorary title "Panzerregiment Karl Rothenburg", which was commonly accepted by its members.