Eugen König

Eugen König
Born	19 September 1896 Trier
Died	8 April 1985 (aged 88) Bitburg
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1920)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1915–20 1937–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	91. Luftlande-Infanterie-Division 272. Volksgrenadier-Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Battles of Rzhev Operation Mars Battle of Kursk Invasion of Normandy Battle of Hürtgen Forest Battle of the Bulge Battle of Kesternich Ruhr Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Eugen König (19 September 1896 – 8 April 1985) was a Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients 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. Eugen König was captured by British forces twice during his lifetime, the first time was in September 1918 and the second was in April 1945.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (30 November 1916)^[1]
  • 1st Class (9 July 1920)^[1]
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Wound Badge (1914)
  • in Black
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (19 June 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (9 September 1940)^[1]
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 1 August 1942 as Major and commander of II./Infanterie-Regiment 352^[2]
  • 318th Oak Leaves on 4 November 1943 as Oberst and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 451^[3]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 386.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 218.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 64.

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 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• specialcamp 11