Gerd Ruge (soldier)

Updated on Dec 21, 2023

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Years of service 1936–45 1956–71 Role Soldier Rank Oberst		Name Gerd Ruge Service/branch German Army
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany Commands held Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128 Battles/wars World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Bialystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of the Caucasus Lower Dnieper Offensive Dnieper-Carpathian Offensive First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive Battle of Debrecen Operation Fruhlingserwachen Vienna Offensive Died January 18, 1997, Wetzlar, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Invasion of Poland, Battle of France

Gerd Ruge (17 August 1913 – 18 January 1997) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient 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. Gerd Ruge was captured by British troops in April 1945 and was released later that year. In 1956 he joined the Bundeswehr and retired in 1971 as an Oberst.

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross (1939)

2nd Class (19 July 1941)

1st Class (8 August 1941)

Wound Badge (1939)

in Black

Infantry Assault Badge

Eastern Front Medal

Close Combat Clasp

in Bronze

in Silver

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Knight's Cross on 7 September 1943 as Oberleutnant and commander of I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128

648th Oak Leaves on 16 November 1944 as Major and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128

Mention in the Wehrmachtbericht (22 October 1944)

References

Gerd Ruge (soldier) Wikipedia

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