Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst

Unit:

Artillerie-Regiment 215

Awarded on:

April 25th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Generalmajor (Brigadier)

Unit:

Kommandeur 212. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 15th, 1944

The following press excerpt (dated 12.04.1944) describes why Koske was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“On the 06.02.1944 the Bolsheviks launched an attack against the Luga Position with liberal quantities of both men and materiel. They succeeded in splintering the Division’s units and interdicting the supply route for those friendly elements located around Krassnyj Gory and the area to the west of there (an assemblage which included forces from the neighbouring Division). This maneuver rendered impossible any retreat for the artillery, heavy weapons and supplies that were stationed there.

This created a precarious situation, one made no easier by the ongoing major attacks against Krassnyj Gory and Natalino. With this in mind, Generalmajor Dr. Koske proceeded to scrape together a last reserve by ruthlessly stripping the defensive frontlines north of Krassnyj Gory and around Natalino. With this force he succeeded in restoring both land communications and the supply route via a counterattack from both the east and west.

The General gave his attacking orders from the foremost security posts at the Kamenka bridge. His superior calm in the midst of heavy machine-gun and mortar fire provided a model for his hard-pressed Grenadiers and inspired them to take up the fight one again. He used the last forces of his Division to force the establishment of contact with the cut-off elements and occupy the road. The General then rushed through the heavy Soviet mortar fire to the sector commanders in order to give his subordinates their orders for both the buildup of a defense and a future planned withdrawal to the Kamenka Position.

Generalmajor Dr. Koske achieved the unthinkable with this boldly executed attack. His Grenadiers conducted themselves outstandingly, and brought bloody losses upon the Bolsheviks. A Soviet rifle division was virtually annihilated. The path for the heavy weapons, cut-off elements, motorized and horse-drawn vehicles of two Grenadier regiments, an Artillerie regiment and a Füsilier Bataillon was made free! Artillery pieces and supplies alike withdrew as planned, all wounded were brought along. This success simultaneously produced the right conditions for the next position change. All of this was thanks to the superior leadership skills of the General.”