Karl Wilhelm Krause

Karl Wilhelm Krause
Born	(1911-03-05)5 March 1911 Michelau, West Prussia, Prussia, German Empire
Died	6 May 2001(2001-05-06) (aged 90) Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (1931–1933)  Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
Service/branch	Reichsmarine (1931–1934) LSSAH (1934–1939 & 1940)  Kriegsmarine (1939–1943) Waffen-SS (1943–1945)
Years of service	1931–1945
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Führerbegleitkommando; 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
Battles/wars	Invasion of Norway
Awards	Destroyer War Badge Narvik Shield Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class

Karl Wilhelm Krause (5 March 1911 – 6 May 2001) was a Waffen-SS officer (SS number: 236,858) who rose to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) during World War II. He was a personal orderly (valet) and bodyguard to Adolf Hitler from 1934 to mid-September 1939. Thereafter, he served in the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. Krause came up with the concept of an anti-aircraft tank that became known as the Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind. At the war's end he surrendered to American troops. Krause was interned until June 1946.