Born December 1 1910 in Saargemünd Germany, although it would become part of France after World War I. He apprenticed at both an engineering firm and electrical firm before attending technical school to study engineering, qualifying as a mechanical engineer in 1933. Ullrich joined the Reichswehr briefly in 1933 before joining the SS-Verfügungstruppe in 1934. He became an NCO that year, and the following year was selected for officer training. In 1936 he was commissioned as an SS-Untersturmführer and proceeded to the Armys Pioneer School because of his engineering background. Prior to the outbreak of the war, Ullrich took part in the occupations of Austria and the Sudetenland as well as being promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer.
World War IIEdit
Leading his pioneer company in both the Polish and Western campaign, he earned the Iron Cross second and first class in quick succession. Staying with his unit for the Greek campaign, in May 1941 he was transferred to the SS Division Totenkopf, where he took command of 3rd pioneer battalion.
In early 1942, the division found itself trapped in the Demyansk Pocket. Ullrich commanded a battlegroup holding a bridge over the river Lovat winning the Knight's Cross for the holding of the position despite being encircled. Following the breakout from the pocket, he was appointed commander of Pioneers for the SS-Panzerkorps, a position he held during the 42/43 winter battles in and around Kharkov, after which he requested a return to Totenkopf being given command of SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 5 "Thule" in time for the lead up to Kursk operation. Promoted again toward the end of 1943 and appointed commander of SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 6 "Theodor Eicke", the unit fought the battles of 1943/1944 being pushed back constantly. In March 1944, the Soviets succeeded in breaking through the lines, Ullrich drew whatever troops were available and fought of the attack, halting the breakthrough, in the process earning the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross.
After three years in American captivity, Ullrich was released. He passed away on 8th May 1996 in Bad Reichenhall, Germany.
After the war, Ullrich wrote the book Like a Cliff in the Ocean: A History of the 3. SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf" in which he claimed that only a single member of the Totenkopf division ever committed a war crime.
Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN978-3-7648-2300-9.
Ripley, Tim (2004). The Waffen-SS at War: Hitler's Praetorians 1925-1945. International. ISBN978-0760320686.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN978-3-938845-17-2.
karl, ullrich, december, 1910, 1996, last, commander, division, wiking, waffen, during, world, after, authored, account, division, totenkopf, ullrich, standartenführerborn, 1910, december, 1910died8, 1996, 1996, aged, allegiance, nazi, germanyservice, branchwa. Karl Ullrich 1 December 1910 8 May 1996 was the last commander of the SS Division Wiking in the Waffen SS during World War II After the war he authored an account of the SS Division Totenkopf Karl UllrichUllrich as an SS StandartenfuhrerBorn 1910 12 01 1 December 1910Died8 May 1996 1996 05 08 aged 85 Allegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branchWaffen SSYears of service1934 45RankSS OberfuhrerService numberNSDAP 715 727SS 31 438UnitSS Division TotenkopfCommands heldSS Division WikingBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Post War 4 Works 5 Awards 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 BibliographyEarly life EditBorn December 1 1910 in Saargemund Germany although it would become part of France after World War I He apprenticed at both an engineering firm and electrical firm before attending technical school to study engineering qualifying as a mechanical engineer in 1933 Ullrich joined the Reichswehr briefly in 1933 before joining the SS Verfugungstruppe in 1934 He became an NCO that year and the following year was selected for officer training In 1936 he was commissioned as an SS Untersturmfuhrer and proceeded to the Armys Pioneer School because of his engineering background Prior to the outbreak of the war Ullrich took part in the occupations of Austria and the Sudetenland as well as being promoted to SS Hauptsturmfuhrer World War II EditLeading his pioneer company in both the Polish and Western campaign he earned the Iron Cross second and first class in quick succession Staying with his unit for the Greek campaign in May 1941 he was transferred to the SS Division Totenkopf where he took command of 3rd pioneer battalion In early 1942 the division found itself trapped in the Demyansk Pocket Ullrich commanded a battlegroup holding a bridge over the river Lovat winning the Knight s Cross for the holding of the position despite being encircled Following the breakout from the pocket he was appointed commander of Pioneers for the SS Panzerkorps a position he held during the 42 43 winter battles in and around Kharkov after which he requested a return to Totenkopf being given command of SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 5 Thule in time for the lead up to Kursk operation Promoted again toward the end of 1943 and appointed commander of SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke the unit fought the battles of 1943 1944 being pushed back constantly In March 1944 the Soviets succeeded in breaking through the lines Ullrich drew whatever troops were available and fought of the attack halting the breakthrough in the process earning the Oakleaves to his Knight s Cross He was given command of the SS Division Wiking in October 1944 fighting around Warsaw before being moved to Hungary in December attempting to relieve 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer and 22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Maria Theresia Following the failure of the relief of Budapest the division took part in the battle around Lake Balaton as part of 6th Panzer Army The 6th Panzer Army then withdrew west into Austria in a rearguard action A short time before the end of the war he was promoted to Oberfuhrer and he surrendered to the Americans in May 1945 1 Post War EditAfter three years in American captivity Ullrich was released He passed away on 8th May 1996 in Bad Reichenhall Germany After the war Ullrich wrote the book Like a Cliff in the Ocean A History of the 3 SS Panzer Division Totenkopf in which he claimed that only a single member of the Totenkopf division ever committed a war crime Works EditKarl Ullrich 2002 Like a Cliff in the Ocean J J Fedorowicz Publishing ISBN 0 921991 69 XAwards EditIron Cross 1939 2nd Class 18 May 1940 amp 1st Class 1 July 1940 2 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight s Cross on 19 February 1942 as SS Sturmbannfuhrer and commander of SS Pionier Bataillon 3 Totenkopf 3 480th Oak Leaves on 14 May 1944 as SS Obersturmbannfuhrer and commander of SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke 3 References EditCitations Edit The Waffen SS at War By Tim Ripley p 80 Thomas 1998 p 396 a b Scherzer 2007 p 754 Bibliography Edit Thomas Franz 1998 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 2 L Z The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 2 L Z in German Osnabruck Germany Biblio Verlag ISBN 978 3 7648 2300 9 Ripley Tim 2004 The Waffen SS at War Hitler s Praetorians 1925 1945 International ISBN 978 0760320686 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives The Knight s Cross Bearers 1939 1945 The Holders of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army Air Force Navy Waffen SS Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives in German Jena Germany Scherzers Militaer Verlag ISBN 978 3 938845 17 2 Military officesPreceded bySS Standartenfuhrer Johannes Muhlenkamp Commander of 5 SS Panzer Division Wiking9 October 1944 5 May 1945 Succeeded bydisbanded Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II nbsp This biographical article related to the military of Germany is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karl Ullrich amp oldid 1172771430, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
