Karl Allmenröder
Leutnant, Jasta 11

He was award the Pour le Mérite for recognition of distinguished military service and leadership. It was awarded on his 24th aerial victory on the 9th of June 1917.

Born May 3, 1896 in Wald near Sollingen
Jasta 11
30 Victories
Awards: Pour le Mérite, Iron Cross First Class and Second Class,Knight's Cross of the house of Hohenzollern with Swords, posthumously awarded Oldenburg Friedrich August Cross 1st and 2nd and the Bayern Militar Kronen Order 4th Class

Karl Allmenröder was the son of a Lutheran Pastor and at the age of 18 was a pre-med student at the University of Marburg. When the war broke out he volunteered for duty and his first assignment was with the Field Artillery Regiment 62 at Oldenburg. After training he was transfered to the Eastern Front to be assigned to the Reserve Field Artillery Regiment 20. During this early perios he spent time in Russia, Poland, and Galicia.

After receiving the Iron Cross First Class and a promotion to Oberleutnant on 30 March 1915, he and his brother, Willi decided to take up the challenges involved in being a part of the Flying Corps. A year later after applying he was sent, March 16 1915, to flying school at Halberstadt. By the end of the year, he had completed his training and received his pilot's badge. He and his brother were both assigned to Jasta 11, which eventually came under command of Manfred von Richthofen.

Karl was a quiet, honest, and good natured young man that took his duties seriously and earnestly wanted to prove himself worthy of his comrade's friendship. His naickname was Karlchen and he was well liked by his fellow officers and pilots. In February 1917 he scored his first victory. Within three months he acheived his 20th victory and moved to the position of eighth of leading aces. One June 9 he scored his 24th victory and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the house of Hohenzollern with Swords. On June 14th he received the Pour le Mérite.

He was shot down near Ypres while attempting a second kill for the same day, 7 June 1917. It was his 30th victory. His plane crashed into no-man's land and a German patrol made it's way into the field and recovered his body. He was 21 years old.

Due to World War II politics, Karl Allmenröder is not remembered by his home town in Germany. Streets that were named after him were changed due to the propaganda use of his name by the Nazis. Karl Allmenröder was a quiet peaceful young man, who wanted to become a doctor and deserves much more than to be forgotten due to the politics of others in a very different war.