Karl Becher (Oberwachtmeister)

Karl Becher
Birth date	15 September 1916(1916-09-15)
Place of birth	Bayreuth, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death date	10 May 2007 (aged 90)
Place of death	Laufen in Sulzburg, Landkreis Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Allegiance	National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1937–1945
Rank	Oberwachtmeister (Sergeant Major / Senior Staff Sergeant)
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Iron Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl Becher (15 September 1916 – 10 May 2007) was a German NCO of the Wehrmacht and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in World War II.

Life

After attending school, completing an apprenticeship and his mandatory RAD service, Karl Becher joined the Wehrmacht in 1937. He served either with the Artillerie-Regiment 7 or the Artillerie-Regiment 53 (II. Abteilung) in Ansbach. In 1938, he was promoted to Gefreiter (Private E-2/Lance Corporal).

WWII

At the beginning of WWII, he served at the West Wall. He then served during the Western Campaign. In November 1940, now a Unteroffizier (NCO/Corporal/Junior Sergeant), he was transferred to the new Artillerie-Regiment 125. Subordinated to the 125. Infanterie-Division, the regiment was deployed et the Eastern Front. He fought in Ukraine and the Caucasus. In 1941, he was promoted to Wachtmeister (Staff Sergeant). On 5 February 1944, he was severely wounded (shoulder and upper arm; lung penetration). After four weeks of military hospital in Odessa, he was transported to the reserve military hospital in Gleiwitz-Hindenburg on 4 March 1944 and to the reserve military hospital in Bayreuth on 28 March 1944.

Knight's Cross

The following newspaper excerpt describes why Becher received the Knight’s Cross:

“Whilst serving on the southern sector of the Eastern front, he [Becher] and his weak Batterie smashed the first two attack waves of a strong enemy force that had penetrated the frontline. After his Batterie ran out of ammunition during the attack by the third wave, he then successfully reordered his men for infantry combat on his own initiative. By doing all this he had a major share in the ultimate elimination of this hostile breach.”

Promotions

• 1937 Soldat
• 1938 Gefreiter
• 1940 Unteroffizier
• 1941 Wachtmeister
• 1942 Oberwachtmeister

Awards and decorations

• West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen)
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
• General Assault Badge
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black (possibly also in Silver)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 25 October 1943 as Oberwachtmeister and Battery Officer in the 8. Battery/Artillerie-Regiment 125/125. Infanterie-Division