Rüdiger Hertel

Rüdiger Hertel
Born	(1919-08-26)26 August 1919 Bromberg
Died	27 August 1995(1995-08-27) (aged 76) Bergneustadt
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Heer
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Hauptmann
Commands	I. Panzergrenadier-Regiment 12
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Kursk Operation Bagration Battle of Radzymin (1944) Courland Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rüdiger Hertel (26 August 1919 – 27 August 1995) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. 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 awards.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (17 December 1940)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold (20 October 1944)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Panzer Badge
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (10 May 1943)
  • in Silver (10 August 1943)
  • in Gold (7 November 1943)
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (7 July 1944)
• German Cross in Gold (2 January 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 October 1944 as Hauptmann and commander of I. / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 12

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)