Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia (Tassilo Wilhelm Humbert Leopold Friedrich Karl; 6 April 1893 – 6 April 1917) was a German
prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
and competitive
horse rider
Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...
who competed in the
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...
.
Biography
Prince Friedrich Karl was born in
Schloss Klein-Glienicke,
Potsdam
Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
,
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
. He was the son of
Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia
Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia (german: Joachim Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Leopold; 14 November 1865 – 13 September 1931) was a son of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau, married in 1854.
Family
...
(1865–1931) and
(1866–1952) and a grandson of
Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
.
He was a member of the 1912 German Olympic equestrian team, which won a bronze medal in the
team jumping event. His horse during the Olympic competition was "Gibson Boy".
He fought in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
as an aviator between 1914 and 1917. He commanded ''Fliegerabteilung (Artillerie) 258'', an
artillery spotting
An artillery observer, artillery spotter or forward observer (FO) is responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire onto a target. It may be a ''forward air controller'' (FAC) for close air support (CAS) and spotter for naval gunfire sup ...
unit, but flew patrols in a single-seat fighter with ''
Jasta Boelcke'' whenever possible. During one such patrol on March 21, 1917, he was forced to land because of a bullet in his engine and with a slight wound to his foot. He landed his
Albatros aircraft in
no-man's land
No man's land is waste or unowned land or an uninhabited or desolate area that may be under dispute between parties who leave it unoccupied out of fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dump ...
, but while running towards his own lines he was shot in the back and severely wounded by Australian troops.
He was taken into captivity, where he died from his injuries on 6 April 1917 (his 24th birthday) at
Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray
Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France.
History
Evidence of ancient habitation has been found on and around the site of modern-day Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray including ...
.
Regimental Commissions
* 1. Garderegiment zu Fuß (1st Regiment of Foot Guards), Leutnant ''à la suite'' from 1903; Leutnant by 1908.
[Schench, G. ''Handbuch über den Königlich Preuβischen Hof und Staat fur das Jahr 1908''. Berlin, Prussia, 1907.]
* Fliegerabteilung (Artillerie) 258 (artillery aerial observer squadron), squadron commander, 1917.
Chivalric Orders
* Knight,
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle (german: Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler) was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I, King ...
, 1903
* Knight Grand Cross (with Crown),
Order of the Red Eagle
The Order of the Red Eagle (german: Roter Adlerorden) was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful se ...
, 1903
* Knight, First Class,
Prussian Crown Order
The Royal Order of the Crown (german: Königlicher Kronen-Orden) was a Prussian Order (decoration), order of chivalry. Instituted in 1861 as an honour equal in rank to the Order of the Red Eagle, membership could only be conferred upon commissio ...
, 1903
* Knight Grand Commander,
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
The House Order of Hohenzollern (german: Hausorden von Hohenzollern or ') was a dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Hohenzollern awarded to military commissioned officers and civilians of comparable status. Associated with the various v ...
, ca 1903
Military Decorations (1914-1917)
*
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...
, Second Class
*
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...
, First Class
* Flugzeugführerabzeichen (Pilot's qualification badge), ca. 1917
Ancestry
See also
*
List of Olympians killed in World War I
A total of 144 Olympians are known to have been killed during World War I.
See also
* List of international rugby union players killed in World War I
Notes
A.This includes Hermann von Bönninghausen and Paul Berger, who both died following th ...
References
External links
See for photograph of Prince Karl and airplane
{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedrich Karl of Prussia (1893-1917), Prince
1893 births
1917 deaths
Prussian princes
German male equestrians
German show jumping riders
Equestrians at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Olympic equestrians of Germany
Olympic bronze medalists for Germany
German military personnel killed in World War I
House of Hohenzollern
Military personnel from Potsdam
Olympic medalists in equestrian
Royal Olympic medalists
Prussian Army personnel
Luftstreitkräfte personnel
Shot-down aviators
Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics
German prisoners of war in World War I
Deaths by firearm in France