Karl Christ

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.

Karl Christ
Born	15 June 1897 Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse
Died	15 March 1990 Mannheim, Germany
Buried	Mannheim, Germany
Allegiance	Germany
Service/branch	Flying service
Years of service	1915–1918, 1940–1944
Rank	Oberst
Unit	Bombengeschwader 2; Kampfgeschwader 5; Kampfgeschwader 6; Jagdstaffel 28
Awards	Iron Cross
Other work	Served in Luftwaffe during 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

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class
• Hessische Tapferkeits-Medaille^[2]
• German Cross in Gold on 5 June 1942 as Oberstleutnant in Sturzkampfgeschwader 3^[3]

References

Citations

1. The Aerodrome website's page on Karl Christ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/christ.php Retrieved 10 January 2013.
2. 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 by none	Commander of Sturzkampffliegerschule 2 31 July 1940 – 7 February 1941	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Hermann Edert
Preceded by Oberstleutnant Georg Edert	Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 1 April 1941 – 1 September 1941	Succeeded by Oberst Walter Sigel
Preceded by unknown	Commander of Sturzkampffliegerschule 2 17 April 1942 – Mai 1943	Succeeded by Sturzkampfgeschwader 102
Preceded by Sturzkampffliegerschule 2	Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 102 Mai 1943 – June 1943	Succeeded by Major Bernhard Hamester
Preceded by none	Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 151 17 May 1943 – 18 October 1943	Succeeded by Schlachtgeschwader 151
Preceded by Sturzkampfgeschwader 151	Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 151 18 October 1943 – 6 December 1944	Succeeded by Oberst Helmut Bruck