Erich von Brückner

Erich von Brückner
Born	2 September 1896 Metz, Alsace-Lorraine
Died	April 1949 Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service / branch	Heer
Years of service	1914–45
Rank	Oberst
Battles / wars	World War II Poland Campaign Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erich von Brückner (1896–1949) was a German officer of the Brandenburgers during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 March 1945.

Biography

Erich von Brückner was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine in 1896. He enlisted in the German army in 1914 and trained to become an officer at the Doeberitz Academy. From January 1915, he commanded a company on the Western Front. After the war, he was retained in the Reichswehr, reaching the rank of captain by January 1939.

During World War II Brückner held a variety of company and regimental commands. In September 1944, he was appointed commander of the 1st Jäger-Regiments "Brandenburg". On 11 March 1945, after having fought at Kalisch, Brückner received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, as commander of the regiment. His regiment, retreated back to the west in the fighting of Kutno, Konin, Schrimm and Lissa. On 17 March 1945, Brückner was taken prisoner by the Allied forces. Bruckner died on April 1949.

Decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (25 June 1915) & 1st Class (23 June 1918)
• Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary), 3rd class (4 April 1917)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (22 February 1935)
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class (2 October 1936)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (14 January 1940) & 1st Class (1 July 1941)
• German Cross in Gold (25 March 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 March 1945 as Oberst and commander of Jäger-Regiment 1 "Brandenburg"

References

Bibliography

• 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)