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. Following his capture as prisoner of war, he was shot by American forces on 2 May 1945 at Parma under unclear circumstances. Iron Cross (1914) Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (8 September 1917) Wound Medal with 2 stripes Order of the Iron Crown 3rd Class with Swords Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration Karl Troop Cross Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (4 July 1941) Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class (5 August 1941) Infantry Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal German Cross in Gold on 11 March 1943 as Oberst in Grenadier-Regiment 266 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 30 January 1942 as Oberstleutnant and commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 240 545th Oak Leaves on 11 August 1944 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 146.
