The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Tanzer is credited for shooting down approximately 128–143 enemy aircraft. On 18 March 1942, he was transferred from Ergänzungsgruppe (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) to 12./JG 51 which was based on the Eastern Front.
On 6 May, Soviet Ilyushin Il-2 attacked the airfield where Tanzer was stationed.
He managed to scramble and destroyed two Ilyushin Il-2. Despite being wounded, he continued attacking the raiding Soviet aircraft and shot down two more aircraft.
After further intense battle, Tanzer landed his heavily damaged Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Tanzer"s right hand was seriously injured and he suffered from heavy blood loss.
After being recovered from his injury, Tanzer returned to JG 51 and front line duty on 4 November.
In June 1944, Tanzer accompanied Karl-Gottfried Nordmann to the staff of Jagdfliegerführer 6. He was then transferred to the staff of Jagdfliegerführer in East Prussia on 1 September 1944. Tanzer was transferred to 13./JG 51 on 10 February 1945 and was appointed Staffelkapitän of the unit on 12 March.
At the end of World World War II, he had 128 victories.
Kurt Tanzer survived World World War II and began as a volunteer at a chemical plant. On 16 June 1957, he joined the post-war Bundesluftwaffe.
He died on 25 June 1960 when his T-33 Shooting Star crashed over the Balearic Islands in bad weather. Bibliography.