__NOTOC__ Karl Eglseer (5 July 1890 – 23 June 1944) was a general in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

who commanded the XVIII Corps. He was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

. Eglseer was killed in an air crash in Austria on 23 June 1944.

Life and career

Karl Eglseer was born in Bad Ischl in

Upper Austria Upper Austria ( ; ; ) is one of the nine States of Austria, states of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg (state), Salzbur ...

on 5 July 1890. He entered the

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army, also known as the Imperial and Royal Army,; was the principal ground force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. It consisted of three organisations: the Common Army (, recruited from all parts of Austria-Hungary), ...

in August 1908 as an

ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

, serving in World War I. Remaining in the Austrian Bundesheer after 1918, he transferred to the

after the

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, ), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a "German Question, Greater Germany") arose after t ...

with Germany in 1938. In October 1940 he was promoted to command the 4th Mountain Division, serving in

Army Group South Army Group South () was the name of one of three German Army Groups during World War II. It was first used in the 1939 September Campaign, along with Army Group North to invade Poland. In the invasion of Poland, Army Group South was led by Ge ...

on the Eastern Front. In October 1941 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his leadership of the division. Eglseer then led the 714th Infantry Division in Yugoslavia from February 1943 to December 1943, when he became commander of the XVIII Army Corps on the Northern sector of the Eastern Front. On 23 June 1944 the aircraft carrying Eglseer, as well as Generals Dietl, von Wickede and Franz Rossi, crashed in the

Styria Styria ( ; ; ; ) is an Austrian Federal states of Austria, state in the southeast of the country. With an area of approximately , Styria is Austria's second largest state, after Lower Austria. It is bordered to the south by Slovenia, and cloc ...

region of Austria. There were no survivors. At the time of his death Eglseer held the rank of General of Mountain Troops.

Awards

;Austro-Hungarian Empire *

Karl Troop Cross The Karl Troop Cross () was instituted on 13 December 1916 by Emperor Karl I of Austria-Hungary. The cross was awarded for service up to the end of the First World War to soldiers and sailors of all arms of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces, regar ...

* Military Merit Cross, 3rd class with war decoration and swords ;Nazi Germany *

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

(1939) 2nd and 1st Class *

on 23 October 1941 as ''

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

'' and commander of 4. Gebirgs-Division

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Eglseer, Karl 1890 births 1944 deaths People from Bad Ischl Generals of Mountain Troops Austro-Hungarian Army officers Austro-Hungarian prisoners of war in World War I Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Gebirgsjäger of World War II German Army personnel killed in World War II Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Austria Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944 World War I prisoners of war held by Russia Austrian military personnel killed in World War II