The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Manfred Beutner was captured in 1945 by Soviet troops in the Courland Pocket and was released in 1955. He later joined the Bundeswehr, retiring in 1972 as an Oberst.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (8 October 1939) 1st Class (25 May 1940) Wound Badge in Black in Silver (4 December 1944) Infantry Assault Badge (20 October 1940) Eastern Front Medal (28 July 1942) Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (25 August 1944) German Cross in Gold on 4 February 1944 as Major in Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 329 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Major and division adjutant of the 329. Infanterie-Division and commander of schnelle Abteilung 329 German Parachutist Badge (27 October 1959)in Gold (8 March 1966) French Parachutist Badge (11 September 1964) Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2 August 1972).
