Background
Karl Decker was born on 30 November 1897 as son to an officer in Borntin in Pomerania.
Karl Decker was born on 30 November 1897 as son to an officer in Borntin in Pomerania.
He joined the military service on 3 August 1914 and first saw action in East Prussia.
He served as an infantryman in WWI, was involved in development of panzer forces, and at the start of WWII commanded an antitank battalion. Lt Col Decker was awarded the RK on 13 June 1941 for action in central Russia as commander of a panzer battalion (1/3/3). As a colonel he took command of the 5th Pz. Div in the south of Russia on 7 September 1943, was promoted to generalmajor on 1 December 1943, and on 16 October 1944 moved up to head the 39th Pz Corps in the Ukraine. After retreating westward through Kurland and East Prussia, he was promoted to general of panzer troops and his corps attached temporarily to the 5th Pz Army for the final phase of the Ardennes campaign. Driven back into Germany and making a last stand on the Elbe at Grossrundsrode with the 12th Army against the US 9th Army, the general committed suicide 21 April 1945 near Gross-Brunssode/ Braunschweig (Brunswick). He was posthumously awarded the Swords (149/159) on 26 April.
An elegantly handsome man.
