The Teutonic Knight was actually Franz Gerhardt, a radically religious German. When Hitler began his rise to power, Franz had trouble reconciling his religious beliefs and his loyalty to the Fatherland with Hitler's insanity. His mind snapped, and he became Komtur the Teutonic Knight, the German Holy Warrior. Komtur was the commander of the legendary Teutonic Knights in the late Middle Ages. In Franz' twisted mind, he thought he could rally the German people behind a religious figure and still fight for Germany.
To this end, in 1941, the Teutonic Knight began a series of unusual burglaries. He had learned about a new super-weapon invented by the US government. It was a flying arsenal that was still in the blueprint stages, since the engine needed to start had yet to be invented. The Teutonic Knight managed to steal the plans, but it drew him into conflict with Captain America and Bucky (this took place before the formation of the Invaders). Komtur escaped Cap and made off with the plans. Cap didn't give it much thought, since the weapon lacked an engine. But the Teutonic Knight next turned up on board a train that was carrying Professor Barrow, a scientist who created the engine necessary. Even though the Professor was guarded by the Human Torch and Toro, the Teutonic Knight managed to abduct him. Still, the flying arsenal was useless since the engine only ran on the rare element Radium-X. There was only one sample in existance, and it was on a tanker guarded by the Sub-Mariner. Well, guess who popped up? Komtur swiped the Radium-X and eluded Namor.
For years the Teutonic Knight wasn't heard from, until he showed up with the completed weapon. The Teutonic Knight was leveling Britain with his 'Fliegentod,' or 'Flying Death' [actually, 'Flying Death' would be 'Der Fliegende Tod;' 'Fliegentod' means "Fly's Death." Roy caught some flack over this in the letters page. Oh well, he tried!--eric] when the Invaders arrived on the scene.
Komtur seemed to have the upper-hand, until his unstable Radium-X isotope gave out. Professor Barrow was trapped aboard the Fliegentod as it plummeted, so the Invaders were forced to invade the craft and not only defeat the Teutonic Knight but save the Professor. While aboard, the Invaders learned that the Teutonic Knight's rampage was merely an elaborate smokescreen for the real mission: Baron Strucker and his lackeys were going to assassinate Winston Churchill. Fortunately the Invaders were able to defeat both the Teutonic Knight and Baron Strucker. While the evil Baron made his presence felt on the Marvel Universe for the next several decades, the lunatic Teutonic Knight was taken into custody and never heard from again.
First Appearance: INVADERS #29 (1978)
Other Appearance: INVADERS #30
Return to the Villains page