He was the son of Simson Carlebach (1875–1942), a banker, and his wife Resi née Graupe.
In 1934 he became a teacher at Höhere Israelitische Schule [de] in Leipzig a school for Jewish students founded by his uncle Ephraim Carlebach (1879–1936) in 1912.
In 1936 Felix he married Babette Kohn (d. 1991) who was then teaching at Höhere Israelitische Schule.
1900), were deported with their four youngest children to Jungfernhof concentration camp, near Riga on December 6, 1942.
Felix Carlebach and his wife Babette escaped to Great Britain with the support of British Chief Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz in 1939.
World War II began and all rabbis had to join the army and overnight there were jobs.
Carlebach described Knüppel's intention: See him in Manchester, find out if he is willing to reach out his hands, if he is willing to pass a bridge I would like to build.
It was a very difficult matter (...) I did it and got excellent relationships to the authorities of Lübeck by the mayor and our former school.
Carlebach told Robert Knüppel and other members of the delegation that Lübeck was in his thoughts and memories often, although he was no longer able to go to his father's city because of his old age.