The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Karl Buckel was captured by French troops at the end of the war, but escaped soon after. He later joined the Bundeswehr, retiring in 1976 as an Oberstleutnant.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (16 December 1941) 1st Class (15 October 1942) Close Combat Clasp in Bronze 2 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (27 December 1943) German Cross in Gold on 2 July 1944 as Oberleutnant in the Reserves in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 277 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 July 1944 as Oberleutnant in the Reserves and chief of the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 277.
