Karl Christ was born on 15 June 1897 in
Darmstadt, the
Grand Duchy of Hesse, in the
German Empire. In January 1915, he joined the
Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (the German flying service). He trained with
Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 6 at Grosenheim. He began service with
Kampfgeschwader 6. By 1916, he was serving in
Kampfgeschwader 5, a tactical bomber wing subordinate to the German Supreme Command. During this period, Christ won both classes of the
Iron Cross. Christ was
commissioned a
Leutnant on 23 March 1917 while serving with another bombing wing under the German Supreme Command—
Bombengeschwader 2. In November 1917, he left Bogohl 2; the following month he joined
Jagdstaffel 28, a single-seat fighter squadron, for service through war's end. Between 14 May and 14 October 1918, he had five of his six victory claims confirmed, though details are lacking on the last pair. ==World War II service==