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 Kruse was killed on 15 October 1944 near Serock, Poland. Iron Cross (1939) Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (28 October 1939) 1st Class (26 July 1940) Wound Badge (1939) in Black Panzer Badge in Silver Eastern Front Medal (1 September 1942) German Cross in Gold on 19 January 1942 as Feldwebel in the 7./Schützen-Regiment 3 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 6 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 245th Oak Leaves on 17 May 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3.
