The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Josef Mathes was killed in action on 19 September 1944 during the Battle of Arnhem. He was posthumosuly awarded the Knight"s Cross on 4 October 1944.
Iron Cross (1939) Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (16 June 1941) 1st Class (14 September 1942) Eastern Front Medal General Assault Badge Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (25 October 1944) German Cross in Gold on 25 August 1943 as Oberwachtmeister in the 2./Sturm-Artillerie-Abteilung 191 (motorized) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 October 1944 as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 280.
