Karl-Heinz Gustavsson

[Ian Sayer]

Hi Guys,
I'm not sure is this is the right forum but could anyone let me have a bio of Karl-Heinz Gustavsson please. I would also like to know if his entitlement to the RK is genuine.
Many thanks
Ian

[Mikedc]

Hello Ian,

I don't have much but probably others can give you something more.
Well, here's what I've about him. I didn't do any reseach on him until now but maybe there's more about
him on the internet.

Karl-Heinz Gustavsson.
Born: 10-2-1915.
Member of the SS.
SS-Hauptsturmführer d.R.
Served with various SS-formations.
In March 1945 he was commander from 3. Kompanie with SS-Flak-Abteilung 2 from 2. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Das Reich’. Received the Knights Cross on 3-3-1945.


Greetings,
Mikedc

[Ian Sayer]

Hi Mikedc,
Thanks for that. I've now down a bit more research and its all rather strange. He's listed in Krätschmer's "Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS" and he has three pages in Weidinger's "Divion Das Reich" (Volume 5) but he's not listed in Schneider's "Their Honour was Loyalty" or Fellgiebel's "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". So did he or didn't he?
Best
Ian

[Michael Miller]

Dear Ian~

Here is what I was able to assemble from his very incomplete SS-Personalakte (reproduced on CD-Rom in John Moore’s Führerliste der Waffen-SS). I cannot vouch for the accuracy of everything here, but hope it serves as a good start toward further research.

Best wishes,
~ Mike Miller


Gustavsson, Karl-Heinz
SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS


* 10.02.1915 in Wandsbek bei Hamburg.
† 20.07.1990.

NSDAP-Nr.: 2 754 268 (Joined 01.04.1933)
SS-Nr.: 451 980 (V)(Joined 15.08.1938)

Promotions:
ca. 1936 Gefreiter (Reichsheer)
00.00.193_ SS-Unterscharführer
21.12.1942 SS-Untersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
20.04.1944 SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
00.00.1945 (?) SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS

Career:
ca. 1921 – ca. 1929 Attended 8 classes of Volksschule.
ca. 1929 – 00.00.193_ Trained as a salesman.
01.04.1933 Joined the NSDAP.
01.04.1933 – 01.04.1935 SA service.
00.00.193_ - 00.00.193_ Assigned as a clerical employee to the Reichsbahndirektion in Hamburg.
01.04.1935 – 15.11.1935 Landespolizei service in Hamburg.
16.11.1935 – 09.10.1937 Reichsheer service with Infanterie-Regiment 16.
15.08.1938 Joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe.
[00.09.1939] Assigned as SS-Unterscharführer to 13.Kompanie / SS-Regiment “Germania”.
[00.12.1941] Assigned as SS-Unterscharführer to 13.Kompanie / SS-Infanterie-Regiment 4.
04.06.1942 – 05.09.1942 Attended 7.Kriegs-Reserveführeranwärterlehrgang at SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz.
21.12.1942 – 00.00.1943 Assigned to SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz.
00.00.1943 – 06.07.1943 Assigned [initially as Zugführer?; Adjutant as of 05.1943] to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 11.
06.07.1943 – 00.05.1944 Zugführer in the Heeres-Flak-Batterie (1.Batterie?) in SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade “Langemarck” (redesignated 6.SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade “Langemarck” on 22.10.1943).
15.10.1943 – 10.12.1943 Attached, for training as a Flak Batterieführer, to SS-Flak-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Regiment.
00.05.1944 – 00.00.1945 (?) Führer of the Heeres-Flak-Batterie (1.Batterie?) / Flak-Abteilung / 6.SS-Freiwilligen-
Sturmbrigade “Langemarck” (upgraded to 27.SS-Freiwilligen-GrenadierDivision “Langemarck” (flämische Nr. 1) on 19.10.1944).
00.02.1945 – 00.05.1945 (?) Chef of 3.Batterie / SS-Flak-Abteilung 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”.

Decorations & Awards:
22.03.1944 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
00.00.194_ 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
15.12.1941 Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange II. Stufe (Silber)
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.194_ (1) Panzervernichtungsabzeichen
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber
22.06.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”

[Note: Some sources indicate he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
on 03.03.1945 for his command of 3.Batterie / SS-Flak-Abteilung 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-
Division “Das Reich” but this is unsupported by official documentation]

Notes:
* Religion: Evangelisch (SS file does not indicate Kirchenaustritt/declaration of “gottgläubig”).
* Married on 08.08.1938 to Ingeborg Obst (born 08.08.1915 in Hamburg). One daughter indicated in SS file (born 21.10.1938 [i.e. not long after the marriage )]).

[Mark C. Yerger]

Not awarded according to OdR.

Mark C. Yerger

[Ian Sayer]

Michael,
Thanks very much for all the info. This RK discrepancy reminded me of a document I have had for over 25 years which came from Hitler's bunker. I think its interesting enought to share with fellow forum members so I'll post it on ABR. If you think it should go somewhere else please move it.
By the way I responded to your message. Did you get it?
Mark,
Thanks for the input. Interesting that Weidinger included it.
Best
Ian

[John P. Moore]

Mike - Thanks for the acknowledgement. Below is a page from a 21.12.199 letter from the OdR where they provided changes and corrections to the pubblisher of a new edition of the Krätschmer book. They say that Gustavsson was NOT a Ritterkreuzträger.

John

[Ian Sayer]

John,
Thanks for that. Do you happen to know if the new edition has now been published.
Best
Ian

[Marcus]

Here is a photo of him I received several years ago.

/Marcus

[Marcus]

Another one.

/Marcus

[Lasse]

Is there any information about his parents or other relatives? His last name is swedish, and a lot of swedes moved to Hamburg as I understood it. Several of the Swede/german volounteers in the SS, such as Carl Svensson or Wolfgang Eldh-Albiez where originaly from Hamburg, so it would be very intressting to know when his relatives moved there.

[-Michael]

From my records:

9. Flak-Bttr./6. SS-Frw.Sturmbrig. Langemarck
Bttr.Fhr. SS-Hstuf. d. R. Wilhelm Dethier
Zugfhr. SS-Ustuf. d. R. Karl Gustavsson
-(6. SS-Frw.Sturmbrig. Langemarck 6.7.1943 -)
---(SS-Flak-Ausb.u.Ers.Rgt. 15.10.1943 - 10.12.1943)
---(SS-Tr.Üb.Pl. Milowitz)
---(im Einsatz)
---(Beförderung zum SS-Ostuf. d. R. 20.4.1944)

[Requin Marteau]

Bonjour,

https://archive.org/stream/GustavssonKa ... 0/mode/1up
Crdl
Thierry