Karl Pflaum

Karl Pflaum
Birth date	17 November 1890(1890-11-17)
Place of birth	Passau, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death date	19 December 1957 (aged 67)
Place of death	Alzgern near Neuötting, Landkreis Altötting, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Prussian Army Imperial German Army Reichswehr Heer
Years of service	1910–1945
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Infanterie-Regiment 19 258. Infanterie-Division 157. Reserve-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Iron Cross German Cross in Gold
Relations	∞ 4 July 1917 Martha Pflaum (b. 19 July 1895)

Karl Pflaum (17 November 1890 – 19 December 1957) was a German officer of the Bavarian Army, the Imperial German Army, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Lieutenant General and divisional commander during in WWII.

Life

Karl Pflaum was born the son of Protestant merchant Bernhard Pflaum in Roya-Alzgern and his wife Martha, née Krüger (d. 29 January 1937). After achieving his Abitur and four months of travel, he joined the Royal Bavarian 8. Infanterie-Regiment „Großherzog Friedrich II. von Baden“ on 23 July 1910 in Metz, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine. On 30 July 1910, he was sworn-in. On 2 August 1914, he was deployed to the Western Front as platoon leader in the 1st Company. He was wounded on 24 August 1914. On 2 November 1914, he was transferred from military hospital to the replacement battalion of his regiment and on 3 December 1914 to his regiment at the war front. On 6 March 1915, he was severely wounded and stayed in military hospital until 11 August 1915. On 1 September 1915, he was appointed leader of the 1st Company/II. Replacement Battalion/8. Infanterie-Regiment „Großherzog Friedrich II. von Baden“. On 8 October 1915, he was transferred to the Brigade Replacement Battalion 6 as deputy battalion adjutant. On 1 December 1915, he was appointed battalion adjutant. On 30 October 1916, he returned to his 8. Infanterie-Regiment and served with the staff, on 20 November 1916, he was appointed commander of the 5th Company.

On 3 February 1917, he was appointed orderly officer of the 4th Replacement Infantry Regiment. On 10 April 1917, he was appointed regimental adjutant in this regiment. On 20 December 1918, he was appointed head of the processing office of the 4th Replacement Infantry Regiment in Bischofsheim during demobilization. On 23 January 1919, he was appointed adjutant of the 8. Infanterie-Regiment „Großherzog Friedrich II. von Baden“ and led the follow-up command (Nachkommando) from 23 March to 20 May 1919 for the regimental commander who had been given leave. On 13 October 1919, he was newly sworn-in. On 15 October 1919, he was transferred to the 7th Company/Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 45 (3rd Bavarian) and was appointed leader of the company in November 1919. From July to September 1920, he was court officer of the regiment. On 15 September 1920, he was transferred to the Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 46 (4th Bavarian). On 1 January 1921, he was transferred to the 21. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment. On 1 July 1923, he was appointed commander of the 11th Company in Bayreuth.

On 8 October with effect from 1 November 1928, he was transferred to the 16th Cavalry Regiment in Erfurt. On 17 July with effect from 1 October 1929, he was commanded to the 9. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment in Potsdam. On 12 September with effect from 1 October 1930, he was transferred to the 19. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment and served in the staff of the training battalion in Landshut. On 2 August 1934, he was once again newly sworn-in. On 1 October 1934, he was appointed commander of the I. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment Augsburg. On 15 October 1935, he was appointed commander of the II. Battalion/Infanterie-Regiment 61 in Munich. On 21 June 1937, he was placed at disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. On 12 October 1937, he was appointed head of the Psychological Testing Center VII in Munich. This department was renamed Office for Aptitude Testing VII on 23 August 1939.

WWII

• 1 September (another source states 26 August) 1939 Appointed commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 19
  • From Slovakia, the regiment took part in the Polish Campaign. The Polish border was crossed at Cadca and the regiment acted as a division reserve. The regiment was brought to the front on 2 September 1939 and stormed the Barania Heights. By the evening, the railway line at Wegierska-Gorka was reached. By 5 September 1939, the regiment was able to advance to Myslenice and on 14 September 1939, the San at Ostrow was reached. Via Krokowiec, Jaworow, Szkio and Jonow, Lemberg was reached and taken on 21 September 1939. This was where the campaign ended for the regiment. On 12 October 1939, the regiment was relocated by rail to the Mönchen-Gladbach area. At the end of January 1940, it was relocated to the Tüddern-Geilenkirchen area.
  • Western Campaign: On 10 May 1940, the regiment broke through the bunker line on the Jaliana Canal and crossed the Meuse with its vanguard at around 8 a.m. In the afternoon, the Meuse-Scheldt Canal was reached and by the evening the bunker line behind it had been broken through. On 11 May 1940, the Albert Canal was reached, and by 14 May 1940, the Dyle was reached. On 15 May 1940, the regiment attacked the Dyle position and by the evening was able to capture the town of Limal and thus form a bridgehead. On 16 May 1940, the bridgehead was expanded and by 17 May 1940, the Sennette was reached, and by 20 May 1940, the Scheldt was reached. The regiment suffered heavy losses while trying to reach the Scheldt. Nevertheless, the Scheldt was crossed at Pecq and heavy fighting ensued against the British along the Lys. The deule was taken by storm via Lomines. By 29 May 1940, the Daladier was finally broken through, and on 30 May, the attack on Lille began. After the capitulation of Lille on 31 May 1940, the regiment was transferred to Burgundy. During the further course of the Battle of France, the regiment was part of the army reserve with the 7th Infantry Division and marched via St. Remy-Bar sur Aube and Baignec to the Precy area, where it rested from 23 June 1940. On 1 July 1940, the regiment moved to the Lille-Roubaix area, where it prepared for the planned landing in England (Operation Sea Lion).
• 7 October with effect from 25 September 1941 Fuhrerreserve (OKH)
• 28 October with effect from 9 October 1941 Delegated with the leadership of the 258. Infanterie-Division in Smolensk
• 15 December with effect from 5 December 1941 Appointed commander of the 258. Infanterie-Division
• 16 February with effect from 19 January 1942 Führerreserve (OKH)
• 30 September with effect from 20 September 1942 Appointed commander of the Division Nr. 157
  • 1 October 1942 renamed to 157. Reserve-Division in Besancon
    • With his division, he took part in several operations against the terror of the communist Maquis and the French resistance, especially during the Operation "Vercors", when the combat groups of the 157th Reserve Division (Mountain Infantry or Gebirgsjäger) were supported by two companies of Fallschirmjäger under Friedrich “Fritz” Schäfer. In the summer of 1944, the division moved to Italy. On 31 August 1944, Pflaum relinquished his command at his own request due to his poor health and the resulting severely limited leadership ability when the division was renamed the 157th Mountain Division.
• 31 August 1944 Führerreserve (OKH)
• 13 December 1944 Appointed commandant of the Fortress Section of Styria
  • This order was withdrawn because the health requirements were missing.
• 18 January with effect from 20 January 1945 Delegated to the Military District XIII for use as a special purpose general
  • This order was withdrawn on 30 January 1945 because Pflaum was in the Reserve Military Hospital in Altötting as of 25 January 1945 with angina pectoris (Koronarsklerose). General Albin Nake was commanded as such.

On 5 March 1945, Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel, in the name of the Führer, and the Army Personnel Office ordered Pflaum's discharge from active army service on 31 May 1945, due to a heart condition, but the end of the war preceded the planned retirement.

Post-WWII

After the end of the war, Pflaum was arrested in Bavaria by the Americans in 1947 and taken prisoner by the French. A baseless show trial against him before a tribunal (Tribunal Militaire Permanent) in Montluc prison in Lyon in the summer of 1949 for alleged war crimes against members of the murderous gangs of the French resistance was prematurely dismissed. Pflaum returned to Germany in 1951.

Promotions

• 23 July 1910 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
• 12 March 1911 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet) with Patent No. 89
• 28 October 1912 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with Patent No. 117
  • 26 September 1919 received new Patent (Leutnantspatent; RWM decree) from 28 October 1910
• 16 March 1916 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
• 28 September 1921 Hauptmann (Captain) with effect from 1 July 1921
  • 1 February 1922 received new Rank Seniority (RDA) 18 October 1918
    • 1 November 1928 renamed Rittmeister when transferred to the 16th Cavalry Regiment in Erfurt
    • 1 October 1930 renamed Hauptmann when transferred to the 19. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment in Munich
• 30 May 1932 Major with effect from 1 June 1932
• 20 April 1935 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with effect from 1 April 1935
• 1 October 1937 Oberst (Colonel)
• 15 September 1941 Generalmajor (Major General) with effect from 1 October 1941
• 10 September 1943 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with effect from 1 October 1943

Awards and decorations

• Prinz-Regent-Luitpold-Medaille in Bronze on the ribbon of the Jubilee Medal
• Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion (Orden vom Zähringer Löwen), Knight's Cross II. Class with Swords (BZL3b⚔/BZ3b⚔) on 6 October 1914
• Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords (BMV4⚔/BM4⚔) on 16 October 1914
• Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 24 December 1914
  • 1st Class on 8 January 1918
• Wound Badge (1918) in Black on 20 June 1918
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords on 15 December 1934
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award (Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th to 1st Class for 25 years on 2 October 1936
• Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 26 September 1939
  • 1st Class on 20 November 1939
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (Ehrenblattspange des Heeres) on 22 July 1941
  • de facto name entry in the Army's Honour Roll, external identification as a clasp was only introduced in 1944.
• Slovak Medal of Bravery, 1st Class in Gold
• German Cross in Gold on 26 January 1942
• Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal on 8 October 1943
• War Merit Cross (1939), 2nd Class with Swords on 1 September 1943

Sources

• German Federal Archives (Bundesarchiv BArch PERS 6/794)