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. Helmuth Hufenbach was killed on 27 March 1945 in the Heiligenbeil Pocket. He was posthumously promoted to Generalmajor and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (21 September 1939) 1st Class (24 October 1939) Wound Badge in Black or in Silver Eastern Front Medal Infantry Assault Badge Kuban Shield German Cross in Gold on 27 November 1941 as Hauptmann in the III./Infanterie-Regiment 45 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 30 October 1943 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 667 807th Oak Leaves on 28 March 1945 as Oberst and commander of 562. Volks-Grenadier Division Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (10 October 1943).
