Karl Witzell (18 October 1884, Hiersfeld near

Wesel Wesel () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district. Geography Wesel is situated at the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine. Division of the city Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighove ...

– 31 May 1976,

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

) was a German naval officer who rose to General Admiral and head of the Marinewaffenhauptamt during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

Decorations

* Knight's Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog * Friedrich August Cross, Second and First Class * Prussian

Service award A Service award was awarded by a country to a soldier or civilian for long service. It is comparable to a service medal but can be awarded to civilians as well as soldiers. Germany Kingdom of Bavaria * Königliches Ludwigsorden for 50 years' ser ...

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

(1914) ** 2nd Class ** 1st Class *

Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (german: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914/1918), commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross or the German WWI Service Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, Presiden ...

Wehrmacht Long Service Award The Wehrmacht Long Service Award () was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service. History On 16 March, 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered the institution of a service awar ...

4th to 1st Class with Oak Leaves *

(1939) ** 2nd Class ** 1st Class *

War Merit Cross The War Merit Cross (german: Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was a state decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. By the end of the conflict it was issued in four degrees and had an equivalent civil award. A " de-Nazified" version of the War Meri ...

with Swords ** 2nd Class ** 1st Class * Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords on 6 October 1942 as Generaladmiral and Chef des Marinewaffenhauptamtes

Bibliography

* 1884 births 1976 deaths People from Wesel Military personnel from North Rhine-Westphalia Military personnel from the Rhine Province General admirals of the Kriegsmarine Imperial German Navy personnel of World War I Counter admirals of the Reichsmarine German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class Recipients of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog {{Germany-mil-bio-stub