Carl-Heinz Birnbacher (26 May 1910 – 5 December 1991) was an admiral in the

West German Navy The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...

. During World War II, he served in the Kriegsmarine and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

Awards

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 es ...

(1939) 2nd Class (9 April 1940) & 1st Class (20 April 1940) *

Wound Badge The Wound Badge (german: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between ...

in Black (15 May 1940) *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...

in Gold on 10 November 1942 as ''

Kapitänleutnant ''Kapitänleutnant'', short: KptLt/in lists: KL, ( en, captain lieutenant) is an officer grade of the captains' military hierarchy group () of the German Bundeswehr. The rank is rated OF-2 in NATO, and equivalent to Hauptmann in the Heer an ...

'' in the 1. Schnellbootsflottille * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 June 1940 as ''Kapitänleutnant'' and chief of the 1. Schnellbootsflottille * ''Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz'' (September 1970)

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Birnbach, Heinz 1910 births 1991 deaths Austrian military personnel of World War II Bundesmarine admirals Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Counter admirals of the German Navy Kriegsmarine personnel of World War II People from Villach Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Reichsmarine personnel