Karl Wilhelm Krause | |
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| Born | 5 March 1911 Michelau, West Prussia, Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 6 May 2001 (aged 90) Germany |
| Allegiance |  Weimar Republic (1931–1933) Nazi Germany (1933–1945) |
| Service | .svg){kind=small} 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.