Karl Heinz "Charly"

Karl Heinz “Charles “ Willius, born 05-11-1919 in Wiesbaden, was a Hermann Goering’s (see Hermann Goering) (did you know)Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Oberleutnant in the 26^th JG, Air Fighter Squadron, nickname "Schlageter"  ,  , Karl Willius was killed on 08-04-1944 over the Zuider-Zee, Holland, after being hit by fire from American P-47 fighters, he was only 24 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 09-06-1944 and promoted to Oberleutnant. His remains were discovered first in 1967, in a polder in the Zuider Sea. Willius was involved in the heavy Battle of Britain, (see Bomber Harris)   Operation Barbarossa and the defend of the German Fatherland. During his career he was credited with 50 aerial victories in 371 missions. Karl Willius is buried on the large German war cemetery, 32.000 graves, of Ysselsteyn, where also the first killed German General during Operation Market Garden, Friedrich Kussin (see Kussin) and his driver, are buried. Also buried there the WWII personalities, General Oskar von der Hagen (see Hagen), Flyer aces August Geiger (see Geiger), Paul Gildner (see Gildner), Lippe Weissenfeld (see Lippe Weissenfeld), Sayn Wittgenstein (see Sayn Wittgenstein), Kurt Schmidt (see Schmidt), Helmut Woltersdorf (see Woltersdorf). There is a larger German cemetery, direct over the border with Belgium, the largest in Europe with 39.000 graves. Here are buried a brother of the Luftwaffe General Adolf Galland (see Galland), Wilhelm "Wutz" Galland, (see Wilhelm) and the Generals, Wilhelm Dietrich (see Dietrich), Konrad von Czettritz und Neuhaus (see Czettritz) and SS Obergruppenführer Friedrich Alpers (see Alpers).