Major Karl was the German military officer in German East Africa during First World War.
Biography[]
In December 1916, Major Karl was the lead officer during a battle against a force of Belgian forces. When Major Boucher of the Belgian troops started a charge across the battlefield, his German opposite waited until the Belgian and Force Publique soldiers were within range, then ordered his men to attack - Batusi with mortars and rifles, and a machine gun, operated by a lieutenant Schwinden.[1]
The machine gun quickly halted the Belgian attack, but when the gun jammed, the Belgian forces charged again, led by Lt. Henri Defense, who overtook the German picket, and started killing the German forces. Karl used his pistol to kill several of the Belgian askaris, and saw a chance to shoot Defense. While he was aiming, Defense's sergeant Barthélèmy shot Karl to dead with his rifle.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
Karl, as a nameless German major, was portrayed by Jorgen Mueller in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episode "German East Africa, December 1916", later edited into Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life.[1] He was first identified by name in Les Martin's young adult adaptation Trek of Doom, though while that book gives his last name as von Regen,[2] Nigel Robinson's young adult adaptation The River of Death gives it as Kleist.[3]
Appearances[]
- Trek of Doom
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "German East Africa, December 1916" → Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life
- The River of Death