__NOTOC__ Karl Freiherr von Thüngen (26 June 1893 – 24 October 1944) was a German general in the ''

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

'' during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

who was executed in 1944 after the failed

20 July Plot The 20 July plot, sometimes referred to as Operation Valkyrie, was a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, the chancellor and leader of Nazi Germany, and overthrow the Nazi regime on 20 July 1944. The plotters were part of the German r ...

Biography

During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Thungen served in the

Bavarian Army The Bavarian Army () was the army of the Electorate of Bavaria, Electorate (1682–1806) and then Kingdom of Bavaria, Kingdom (1806–1918) of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereig ...

. He was later awarded both classes of the

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

. During World War II, Thüngen served on the Eastern Front, in 1942 and 1943 with the 18th Panzer Division, which committed numerous war crimes during his command. The division shot any enemy soldier who was not clearly identified as a soldier, as well as any civilian who was suspected of supporting partisans. Escaping Soviet citizens were systematically handed over to the secret military police, who executed them as spies. Prisoners of war were starved and forced to walk long distances. They also carried out looting on such a great scale that civilians starved. Troops killed livestock for sport and carried out armed robberies, for which they were not punished.Omer Bartov: ''Hitlers Wehrmacht. Soldaten, Fanatismus und die Brutalisierung des Krieges.'' Reinbek bei Hamburg, S. 142.Omer Bartov: ''Hitlers Wehrmacht. Soldaten, Fanatismus und die Brutalisierung des Krieges.'' Reinbek bei Hamburg, S. 118 f. On 6 April 1943 he was awarded the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

. On 20 July 1944, he was appointed by the conspirators as the commander of the defense group III (Berlin), succeeding the arrested General

Joachim von Kortzfleisch Joachim Otto August Achatius von Kortzfleisch (3 January 1890 – 20 April 1945) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. As the commander of the Military District III (Berlin), he played a role in the failure of the attempted ...

. He did not follow the conspirators' orders and later took part in the interrogation of Major

Hans-Ulrich von Oertzen __NOTOC__ Hans Ulrich von Oertzen (6 March 1915 – 21 July 1944) was a German officer who served in Army Group Centre of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. He took part in the military-based 20 July Plot conspiracy against Adolf Hitle ...

, a supporter of the plot under his command. Thüngen was nevertheless subsequently arrested by the Gestapo. He was tried under German military law and dismissed from the army by the

court of honor A court of honor (or court of honour) is an official event constituted to determine various questions of social protocol, breaches of etiquette, and other allegations of breaches of honor, or entitlement to various honors. In English the term ...

and was then tried by the People's Court, sentenced to death by

Roland Freisler Karl Roland Freisler (30 October 1893 – 3 February 1945) was a German jurist, judge and politician who served as the State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice from 1935 to 1942 and as President of the People's Court from 1942 to 194 ...

on 5 October 1944 and shot by firing squad in

Brandenburg-Görden Prison Brandenburg-Görden Prison is located on Anton-Saefkow-Allee in the Görden quarter of Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. Erected between 1927 and 1935, it was built to be the most secure and modern prison in Europe. Both criminal and political pr ...

on 24 October 1944.

Family

Karl Freiherr von Thüngen was the son of Karl Ernst Freiherr von Thüngen (1839–1927) and Eva Elisabeth Maier (born 1874). He was married twice. His first marriage took place on 11 February 1919 to Margit Edle von Schultes (dead 1932). On 5 April 1934 he married Marie Freiin von Michel-Raulino (1893–1978).

Karl Freiherr Michel von Tüßling Karl Richard Freiherr Michel von Tüßling (27 July 1907 – 30 October 1991) was a German Schutzstaffel (SS) officer who served in the Nazi government of dictator Adolf Hitler, in the staff of the Reichsführer SS and in the staff of the SS Mai ...

was her cousin.

Awards and decorations

(1914)''Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres'', Mittler & Sohn Verlag, Berlin, p. 140. ** 2nd Class ** 1st Class *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (), 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 repeated acts of bravery or military leade ...

in Gold (18 October 1941)Veit Scherzer: ''Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945'', Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, Ranis/Jena 2007, , p. 179. *

on 6 April 1943 as

Generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...

and commander of 18. Panzer-Division

References

1893 births 1944 deaths German barons German Army personnel of World War I German military personnel who were court-martialed Lieutenant generals of the German Army (Wehrmacht) Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 2nd class Military personnel from Mainz Executed members of the 20 July plot Executed military leaders People from Rhineland-Palatinate executed by Nazi Germany People executed by Nazi Germany by firing squad People from Rhenish Hesse {{Germany-mil-bio-stub Nazi war criminals