German Forces

Much decorated general.

Karl-Heinrich Brenner, SS-Gruppenfuhrer and Generalleutnant of Polizei and Waffen-SS troops. Photograph is probably from Summer, 1944, when he was awarded the German Cross in Gold; he was awarded the Knight's Cross in December of that year). Brenner was one of Germany's foremost "fighting policemen". Following a distinguished WW1, during which he was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver, the Iron Cross First Class and the (rare) Prussian Military Merit Cross, First Class (the highest bravery award available to non-commissioned German soldiers in WW!). He attained high police rank in the interwar period, and joined the SS in 1938. WW2 proved equally eventful for Brenner, who enjoyed a succession of combat (including front-line and anti-partisan commands), finishing the war in command of the SS 6th Mountain Division, "Nord", in which capacity he became a prisoner of war (of the Americans) in early April, 1945. Notwithstanding the fact that he was proximate to some pretty nasty anti-partisan-type operations during WW2, he does not seem to have been implicated personally in any war crimes. Among the decorations shown in this 'photo are the German Cross in Gold, the 1918 Iron Cross 1st Class and 2nd Class (ribbon) with 1939 Clasps, the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords, and the 1939 Wound Badge in Gold - which he received for the loss of his left eye while in command of the SS-Polizei Artillery Regiment (4th SS Division, "Polizei", Army Group North). The lozenge-shaped pin above the Wound Badge is the Honour Badge of the Hitler Youth in Gold, an honour which had a number of distinguished adult recipients. Best regards, JR.