Helmut Kroeg

Helmut Kroeg
Born	28 January 1914 Gumbinnen, East Prussia
Died	22 April 1990 (aged 76) Ratzeburg, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	Grenadier-Regiment 45
Battles/wars	World War II Siege of Leningrad Courland Pocket East Prussian Offensive Heiligenbeil Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Kroeg (28 January 1914 – 22 April 1990) 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 (26 January 1942)
  • 1st Class (3 September 1943)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (1 May 1944)^[1]
  • in Silver (Winter 1944)^[1]
  • in Gold (1 March 1945)^[1]
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (5 February 1945)
• German Cross in Gold (15 April 1945)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 March 1945 as Oberleutnant and leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 45 ^[2]

References

Citations

1. Berger 2004, p. 268.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 225.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold [Knight's Cross Bearers with the Close Combat Clasp in Gold] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7.
• 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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com