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Otto, Ernst (WH-Infanterie-Regiment 454)

Date of birth:
October 14th, 1914 (Hagen/Westphalia, Germany)
Date of death:
June 11th, 1993 (Münster/North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kompaniechef Infanterie-Regiment 454
Awarded on:
December 21st, 1941

Date according to the verleihungsurkunde, Patzwall gives the awarding date of 19th December 1941.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
II. / Grenadier-Regiment 454 / 254.Infanterie-Division
Awarded on:
August 14th, 1942
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Führer II. / Grenadier-Regiment 454
Awarded on:
February 10th, 1943
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 18.02.1943) describes why Otto was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Hauptmann Otto led a group of hastily assembled reserves against strong enemy forces that had succeeded in creating a dangerous local penetration in the sector along the Volkhov river. Fighting at the head of his men, he in turn was able to close the gap that had been created. This brave officer became badly wounded in the course of future operations.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen

Sources

  • Photo 1: Eugene Vasyagin
  • Photo: Eugene Vasyagin, www.dkig.net
  • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
    - Verleihungsurkunde DKiG
    - www.dkig.net
    - Die Grenz-Zeitung (Edition 48)

Photo