Carl Becker (general)

For other people named Carl Becker, see Carl Becker.

Carl Han Wilhelm Ludwig Becker
Nickname(s)	"Corle"
Born	(1895-01-16)16 January 1895 Varel
Died	Heidelberg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1920) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–20 1934–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	Infanterie-Regiment 18 2. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 253. Infanterie-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kursk Battle of Smolensk (1943) Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive Battle of the Dukla Pass Upper Silesian Offensive Prague Offensive
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Police officer

Carl Hans Wilhelm Ludwig Becker (16 January 1895 – 24 March 1966) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Carl Becker was captured by Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia in 1945 and was held until 1955.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (23 July 1915)
  • 1st Class (17 June 1917)
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold (31 August 1918)
• Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords (8 July 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (19 January 1935)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (12 October 1939)
  • 1st Class (10 June 1940)
• West Wall Medal (30 March 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal (1 August 1942)
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (29 September 1941)
• German Cross in Gold on 18 October 1941 as Oberst in Infanterie-Regiment 18
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 29 October 1942 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 18
  • 829th Oak Leaves on 14 April 1945 as Generalleutnant and commander of 253. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (24 October 1943 and 10 October 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
24 October 1943	An den Abwehrerfolgen im mittleren Frontabschnitt haben das XXXIX. Panzerkorps unter Führung des Generals der Artillerie Martinek und die rheinisch-westfälische 253. Infanteriedivision des Generalleutnant Becker besonderen Anteil.	In the defensive successes in the middle section of the front had the XXXIX. Panzer Corps under the command of General of Artillery Martinek and the Rhenish-Westphalian 253rd Infantry Division of Major General Becker particular share.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945

Military offices
Preceded by Oberst Hellmuth Petzold	Commander of 2. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 1 January 1943 - 17 January 1943	Succeeded by Oberst Hellmuth Petzold
Preceded by General der Infanterie Otto Schellert	Commander of 253. Infanterie-Division 18 January 1943 - 17 June 1944	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Hans Junck
Preceded by Generalleutnant Hans Junck	Commander of 253. Infanterie-Division 28 June 1944 - 5 May 1945	Succeeded by Generalmajor Joachim Schwatlogesterding