The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fritz Backhauss was captured by American troops in May 1945 and was released in June 1945. In 1956 he joined the postwar Bundeswehr serving until his death on 7 March 1971 in a military hospital in Koblenz.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (20 May 1940) 1st Class (7 June 1940) Wound Badge (1939) in Black (6 June 1940) in Silver (19 April 1943) Infantry Assault Badge (25 August 1940) Eastern Front Medal (1 August 1942) Close Combat Clasp in Bronze (1 September 1943) German Cross in Gold on 8 December 1943 as Hauptmann in the III./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 February 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of III./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13.
