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Karl Gustav Adolf Decker (30 November 1897 – 21 April 1945) was a German panzer general, serving during World War II. Trapped in the Ruhr Pocket, Decker committed suicide on 21 April 1945. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords ((ドイツ語:Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern)). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. ==Military career== Karl Decker was born on 30 November 1897 as son to an officer in Borntin in Pomerania. In the beginning of World War I he initially served in the ''Infanterieregiment 54'' as an ''Unteroffizier''. He was promoted to an officer candidate for bravery before the enemy and also was awarded the Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class. Decker was again promoted in 1915 to ''Leutnant'' and shortly afterwards received the Iron Cross 1st Class. He then served as ''Zugführer'' (''Zugführer'' (platoon leader)) of a machine gun unit after he was transferred to the ''Feldkriegsschule'' of the 8. Armee in 1916. He then held the position of battalion adjutant. During 1918, he was assigned to the ''Infanterieschule'' in Döberitz as a weapons instructor.〔Berger 1999, p. 52.〕 After the capitulation of the German Empire, Decker was accepted into the Reichswehr and served with the ''Reserve-Jägerregiment 29'', the ''Jägerregiment 5'' and the ''Reiterregiment 6''. He was promoted to ''Oberleutnant'' and ''Hauptmann'' during these assignments. As a major, he was transferred to the ''Stab'' of the ''Kavellerieregiment 15'' together with Horst Niemack. Shortly afterwards, he was reassigned again, this time to the ''Panzerabwehrabteilung 38'' in Mühlhausen. He later became the commanding officer of this unit.〔 This unit was subordinated to the 2. Panzerdivision during the Invasion of Poland and fought under the command of Decker near Krakau and the Jablonka Pass. During the Battle of France, Decker commanded the ''I. Abteilung'' of the ''Panzerregiment 3'' in the ''2. Panzerdivision''. This unit fought at the Maas, near Sedan, St. Quentin and Abbeville. Decker was awarded both clasps to the Iron Cross (1939) for his personal bravery and was also promoted to ''Oberstleutnant''. In Balkans Campaign, his regiment fought its way through Yugoslavia, northern Greece, occupied Athens and crossed the Corinth Canal. Karl Decker was always leading his unit from the front. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 June 1941 for his personal bravery and for his success. Karl Decker was put in command of ''Panzerregiment 3'' before Operation Barbarossa began. His regiment fought hard in the battles at Wjasma, Brjansk and near Moscow. Decker was promoted to ''Oberst'' on 1 February 1942. A few months later, he was transferred to the ''Stab'' of the ''9. Armee''. In April 1943, he again was ordered to the front as commander of the ''5. Panzerdivision''. Decker distinguished himself multiple times, for instance at Shisdra, in the relief of the cauldron of Kowel and at Operation Zitadelle and was promoted to ''Generalmajor'' on 1 December 1943. Decker also distinguished himself many times during the retreat of ''Heeresgruppe Mitte''. He became the 466th soldier to receive the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 4 May 1944 and promoted to ''Generalleutnant''. For his leadership capabilities, Decker was made commanding general of the ''XXXIX. Panzerkorps''. Decker's corps fought successfully as part of the ''3. Panzerarmee'' in multiple defensive and retreating battles. Decker was promoted to ''General der Panzertruppen'' on 1 January 1945. After his unit was relocated to the Western Front, his corps fought the Americans at Uelzen and in the Elsaß. Here the ''5. Panzerarmee'' was subordinated to ''Heeresgruppe B''. ''General der Panzertruppen'' Karl Decker committed suicide on 21 April 1945 after the total defeat and encirclement of the ''Heeresgruppe'' in the Ruhr Pocket in April. Decker was posthumously awarded the 149th Swords to the Knight's Cross on 26 April 1945. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Karl Decker」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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