Karl Christ
Born15 June 1897
Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse
Died15 March 1990
Mannheim, Germany
Buried
Mannheim, Germany
AllegianceGermany
Service/branchFlying service
Years of service1915–1918, 1940–1944
RankOberst
UnitBombengeschwader 2;
Kampfgeschwader 5;
Kampfgeschwader 6;
Jagdstaffel 28
AwardsIron Cross
Other workServed in Luftwaffe during World War II.

Colonel Karl Christ (15 June 1897 – fl. 1944) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1] He returned to his nation's defense during early World War II.

Biography

Karl Christ was born on 15 June 1897 in Darmstadt, the Grand Duchy of Hesse, in the German Empire. In January 1915, he joined the Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (the German flying service). He trained with Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 6 at Grosenheim.[2]

He began service with Kampfgeschwader 6. By 1916, he was serving in Kampfgeschwader 5, a tactical bomber wing subordinate to the German Supreme Command. During this period, Christ won both classes of the Iron Cross.[2]

Christ was commissioned a Leutnant on 23 March 1917 while serving with another bombing wing under the German Supreme Command—Bombengeschwader 2. In November 1917, he left Bogohl 2; the following month he joined Jagdstaffel 28, a single-seat fighter squadron, for service through war's end. Between 14 May and 14 October 1918, he had five of his six victory claims confirmed, though details are lacking on the last pair.[2]

World War II service

From 1 April 1941 through February 1942, Karl Christ was an Oberst with a Stuka geschwader in North Africa.[2]

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ^ The Aerodrome website's page on Karl Christ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/christ.php Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Franks et al 1993, p. 92.
  3. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 73.
Bibliography
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
Military offices Preceded bynone Commander of Sturzkampffliegerschule 2 31 July 1940 – 7 February 1941 Succeeded byOberstleutnant Hermann Edert Preceded byOberstleutnant Georg Edert Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 1 April 1941 – 1 September 1941 Succeeded byOberst Walter Sigel Preceded byunknown Commander of Sturzkampffliegerschule 2 17 April 1942 – Mai 1943 Succeeded bySturzkampfgeschwader 102 Preceded bySturzkampffliegerschule 2 Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 102 Mai 1943 – June 1943 Succeeded byMajor Bernhard Hamester Preceded bynone Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 151 17 May 1943 – 18 October 1943 Succeeded bySchlachtgeschwader 151 Preceded bySturzkampfgeschwader 151 Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 151 18 October 1943 – 6 December 1944 Succeeded byOberst Helmut Bruck
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