Eastern Front Medal 1941-42: SS Rottenfuhrer W Karle, 1 SS Infantry Brigade

Eastern Front Medal 1941-42 (Ostmedaille). The obverse of the circular medal is concave and features in raised detail an eagle standing on a squared swastika which in turn is over an oakleaf branch. The reverse of the medal is convex with 'WINTERSCHLACHT / IM OSTEN / 1941/42' in raised detail. Underneath the year markings is a crossed bayonet and oakleaf branch design also in raised detail. At the top of the medal, connected to the suspender is the image of a horizontal stick grenade and German helmet. The medal has its original ribbon.

Born on 14 March 1923, Wilhelm Karle volunteered for service in the Waffen SS at Nurnberg on 4 June 1940. After completing his training, he was posted to a signals company before being transferred to Debica in East Poland for infantry training. After completing his infantry course, he was posted to the 10th Company, 10th Infantry Regiment of the 1st SS Infantry Brigade. This unit was based at Kracow, Poland where it was being brought up to strength with men and materials.

On 23 July 1941, the unit moved into German occupied territories in Russia where they began operations in the rear areas of German Army Group South. They fought against Red Army units that had been cut off by the rapid German advance and Partisan units. During this period, the Brigade took 7000 prisoners of war. In early August 1941, the brigade was involved in heavy fighting against partisan forces in the Pinsk Marshes. The 10th Infantry Regiment killed or captured over 800 partisans, but sustained heavy casualties.

By the middle of August, the 1st SS Infantry Brigade were operating in the rear areas of the German 17th Army Corps and crossed the Dnieper River near Kiev soon after. During the fighting in Kiev, Karle sustained his first wound.

The 1st SS Infantry Brigade was actively involved in the Holocaust during the autumn of 1941, when they assisted Einzatzgruppen C, (special operation units, often used as death squads) in killing the Jewish population in Russia.

The winter of 1941-1942 saw Karle and the rest of the brigade in the front line where they fought a number of defensive actions. In January 1942, the brigade returned to their rear-area security role this time in the area of Kursk. They remained in this area until August 1942 when they were sent to Minsk on anti-partisan operations.

The remainder of 1942 saw the brigade take part in several more anti-partisan operations before taking part in the battle of Velikiye Luki, an unsuccessful attempt to relieve the encircled German 83rd Infantry Division. The 83rd was destroyed and the 1st SS Infantry Brigade was withdrawn after suffering heavy casualties.

Karle was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on 30 January 1943 for his bravery in combat during the action at Velikiye Luki. He was promoted to Rottenfuhrer (SS corporal) on 1 February 1943 and was wounded for a second time during prolonged anti-partisan operations in the first half of 1943. He was awarded the Infantry Assault Badge Bronze Class on 26 March and later in the year was awarded the Eastern Front medal for his service on the Russian Front during the harsh winter of 1941-1942.

On 3 December Karle was awarded the Iron Cross First Class. At the end of 1943, the brigade was sent to East Prussia where it was used to form the 18th SS Panzergrenadier Division ‘Horst Wessel’. Early in January 1944, Karle was sent to the Unterscharfuhrerschule (SS Sergeant School) in Arnhem to undertake a promotion course. He was promoted to Unterscharfuhrer on 1 June 1944 and was then posted to an SS unit manning a position on the coast the Netherlands.

German High Command knew of the impending Allied airborne landings in the Netherlands and Karle’s unit was sent to Oosterbeek to wait for the attack which began on 17 September 1944. Ten days of heavy fighting followed and Karle saw heavy fighting against British Airborne troops during this time. He was wounded for a third time at a bridgehead on the Rhine River and awarded the Wounds Badge, Silver Class.

Following the surrender of the British troops who had been unable to escape from the ‘cauldron’ of Arnhem, Karle’s unit was sent to Pommern (Pomerania) and from there, Karle was sent to Bromberg. The day he arrived in Bromberg, Karle received his fourth and most serious wound, effectively ending his war.

Karle was sent by hospital ship to Travemunde, Germany, where on 2 May 1945, the British Second Army occupied the area without any resistance. He was taken prisoner but was released in August 1945.