Otto Bittorf

Otto Bittorf
Born	13 July 1917 Völkershausen
Died	11 January 1999(1999-01-11) (aged 81) Eberhardzell
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1938–45 1956–70
Rank	Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Major (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Operation Frühlingserwachen
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Otto Bittorf (13 July 1917 – 11 January 1999) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a Major in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Otto Bittorf joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and retired in 1970 as a Major.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 August 1940)
  • 1st Class (8 July 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (?)
  • in Silver (1 July 1943)
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
  • in Silver
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November 1944 as Oberleutnant and leader of 5./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4

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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)