Erich Rudnick

Erich Rudnick
Born	(1916-07-01)1 July 1916 Sgonn (Hirschen), East Prussia
Died	25 November 1988(1988-11-25) (aged 72) Walsrode
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service / branch	Heer
Years of service	1935–45
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	Grenadier-Regiment 45
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad East Prussian Offensive Heiligenbeil Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erich Rudnick (1 July 1916 – 25 November 1988) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold, one of only 631 awarded.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 August 1941)
  • 1st Class (2 October 1943)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (16 June 1944)
  • in Silver (Unknown)
  • in Gold (March 1945)
• German Cross in Gold on 4 September 1944 as Leutnant in Grenadier-Regiment 45
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 February 1945 as Oberleutnant and Pionierzugführer in Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 45

References

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• 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)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{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)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com