"Awarded for his leadership of the 3. Panzer-Division during the opening
stages of Operation Barbarossa during its successes along the road from
the Bug at Brest-Litovsk to the Beresina at Bobruisk. Despite the
difficult terrain and fierce Soviet resistance, the Division was able to
push forward at breakneck speed with relatively minor losses. On the
5th day of Barbarossa the Division had advanced 300 km past its jump-off
point at the Bug, farther than any other Division in all of the
Panzergruppen 1-4." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on 9 July 1941.
"Awarded for his outstanding accomplishments during the winter of 1941/42
around Rzhev as the commander of the XXXXI. Armee-Korps and later the
9. Armee. Here he would begin to cement his reputation as an energetic
yet skillful master of defense." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves citation, awarded on 17 February 1942.
"Awarded for his further achievements as the commander of the 9. Armee
around Rzhev during the summer and winter battles of 1942/43, as well as
his superb execution of Operation Buffalo." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords citation, awarded on 2 April 1943.
"Awarded for managing to stabilize the Eastern front following the
collapse of Heeresgruppe Mitte. His leadership in this time played a key
part in ensuring that the Soviet advance could be brought to a halt at
the Vistula river." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds citation, awarded on 17 August 1944.
A truly capable and deadly elite,
Brian
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