Karl Glätzer – Grenadier-Regiment 426

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Karl Glätzer

Karl Glätzer (1 February 1915, Solingen/Rhineland – 13 September 2013, Cologne) was a German officer in the Heer who rose to the rank of Hauptmann during the Second World War. A highly decorated infantry officer of the 126. Infanterie-Division, he was recognized for his repeated bravery and leadership on the Eastern Front, earning the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in April 1944.

Awards and Decorations

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 9 April 1944 as Hauptmann, Führer I./Grenadier-Regiment 426, 126. Infanterie-Division

Knight’s Cross Action

Glätzer received the Ritterkreuz for his outstanding leadership of I./Grenadier-Regiment 426 during heavy defensive battles on the Eastern Front. Despite repeated wounds—including five separate combat injuries by early 1944—he returned to the front and led his men with determination. His personal courage and ability to stabilize critical sectors of the front under extreme Soviet pressure were decisive in maintaining the cohesion of his division’s defensive line.

Career Highlights

• Entered service before the war and initially served with Infanterie-Regiment 426, part of the 126. Infanterie-Division.

• Distinguished himself as a front-line company and later battalion commander.

• Repeatedly wounded in combat, eventually receiving the Gold Wound Badge for his fifth injury.

• As Hauptmann and battalion leader, earned the Knight’s Cross for his command during the brutal winter and spring fighting of 1944.

• Survived the war and lived until 2013, reaching the age of 98.

Item Details

• Type: Original postwar signed photograph

• Size: Postcard format

• Condition: Very good, clear autograph

Collector’s Note

Karl Glätzer is a representative of the hard-fighting Ritterkreuzträger of the infantry, whose service reflects the resilience and sacrifice of front-line leaders of the Eastern Front. His combination of awards—especially the Knight’s Cross and the rare Gold Wound Badge—underscores both his combat effectiveness and the heavy personal toll of his service.