Karl Allmendinger

Karl Allmendinger
Born	3 February 1891 Abtsgmünd, German Empire
Died	2 October 1965 (aged 74) Ellwangen, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army
Years of service	1910–45
Rank	General der Infanterie
Commands held	5th Infantry/Jäger Division V Army Corps 17th Army
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Karl Allmendinger (3 February 1891 – 2 October 1965) was a German General der Infanterie (lieutenant general) who commanded the 5th Infantry (later Jäger) Division, V Army Corps then 17th Army of the German Army on the Eastern Front during World War II. During his command of the 5th Infantry/Jäger Division, he was awarded first the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, then its higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Allmendinger was appointed to command the 5th Infantry Division as a Generalmajor on 25 October 1940.^[1] His division was committed to the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, and he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 July.^[2] He was promoted to Generalleutnant on 1 August 1942,^[1] and was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 13 December 1942.^[2] He was relieved of command of the division on 4 January 1943.^[1]

In the Army's reserve since 1944, he was arrested by U.S. forces in 1945 but released in 1946.

Allmendinger was the son of Karl Allmendinger (Author) (1863 – 1946), a teacher, poet and writer.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Military Merit Order (Württemberg)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 September 1939)^[3]
  • 1st Class (21 May 1940)^[3]
• Order of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class with Swords (29 March 1943)
• Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (12 July 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 17 July 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 5. Infanterie-Division^[2]
  • 153rd Oak Leaves on 13 December 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 5. Jäger-Division^[2]

References

Citations

1. Mitcham 2007, p. 240–241.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 190.
3. Thomas 1997, p. 4.

Bibliography

• Bradley, Dermot (1993). Die Generale des Heeres 1921–1945. Die militärischen Werdegänge der Generale, sowie der Ärzte, Veterinäre, Intendanten, Richter und Ministerialbeamten im Generalsrang. Band 1: Abberger–Bitthorn [The Generals of the Army from 1921 to 1945. The Military Careers of the Generals, and the Doctors, Veterinarians, Directors, Judges and Ministry Officials in the rank of General. Volume 1: Abberger-Bitthorn] (in German). Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 40–41. ISBN 3-7648-2423-9.
• Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). German Order of Battle: 291st-999th Infantry divisions, named infantry divisions, and special divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. pp. 166–. ISBN 978-0-8117-3437-0.
• 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.