The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Ernst-August Fricke was wounded in August 1943 during the Battle of Kursk and died from his wounds on 9 November 1943 in Königsberg, East Prussia. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross on 30 November 1943.
Iron Cross (1939) Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (6 November 1939) 1st Class (24 July 1941) Wound Badge (1939) in Black in Silver in Gold Infantry Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal (25 July 1942) Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (27 June 1943) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 17 January 1942 as Oberleutnant and chief of the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 76 (mot) 341st Oak Leaves on 30 November 1943 as Major and commander of the World War II/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 76 (motorized).
