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. Gerhard Werner was killed on 8 September 1944 in the Romanian Banat. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant and on 23 March 1945 was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross.
Iron Cross (1939) Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (2 September 1940) 1st Class (1 February 1942) Wound Badge (1939) in Black in Silver in Gold (10 November 1941) Infantry Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal Cholm Shield German Cross in Gold on 13 July 1943 as Hauptmann in the I./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 23 February 1942 as Oberleutnant and Chef 5./Jagd-Kommando 8 793rd Oak Leaves on 23 March 1945 as Major and commander of I./Jäger-Regiment 734.
