Eugen König

Eugen König
Born	(1896-09-19)19 September 1896 Trier
Died	8 April 1985(1985-04-08) (aged 88) Bitburg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1920) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1915–20 1937–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands	91. Luftlande-Infanterie-Division 272. Volksgrenadier-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Battles of Rzhev Operation Mars Battle of Kursk Invasion of Normandy Battle of Hürtgen Forest Battle of the Bulge Battle of Kesternich Ruhr Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Eugen König (19 September 1896 – 8 April 1985) was a Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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. Eugen König was captured by British forces twice during his lifetime, the first time was in September 1918 and the second was in April 1945.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (30 November 1916)
  • 1st Class (9 July 1920)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (9 September 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 1 August 1942 as Major and commander of II./Infanterie-Regiment 352
  • 318th Oak Leaves on 4 November 1943 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 451

References

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• specialcamp 11