Date of birth:

September 15th, 1919 (Greifswald/Pommerania, Germany)

Date of death:

December 15th, 2007 (Braunschweig/Lower Saxony, Germany)

Nationality:

German

02.11.1937: entered the 13./ Infanterie-Regiment 11
1939: Richtkreisunteroffizier - 13./ Infanterie-Regiment 11 : campaign in Poland
01.04.1940: promoted to Leutnant der Reserve - Zugführer : campaign in France
06.1941: campaign in Russia
01.04.1942: promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve
07.1942: Olt d.R. and Chef - 13. / Infanterie-Regiment 11 : Rshew and Nevel campaigns
01.02.1943: activated and promoted to Hauptmann
05.1943: Chef 10./ Infanterie Regiment 11
10.08.1943: Führer III./ Grenadier Regiment 11
01.11.1943: Regiments-Adjudant - Gren.Reg.11
02.1944: Führer II./ Gren.Reg.11 : Vitebsk campaign
11.1944: Führer II./ Gren.Reg.11 : Narev and Heilsberg Triangle campaigns
30.01.1945: promoted to Major
04.1945: Kdr Panzergrenadier Regiment 28 in Bohemia
10.05.1945: soviet POW
1945: escaped from soviet POW camp

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 18th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

13. / Grenadier-Regiment 11 (motorisiert)

Awarded on:

December 8th, 1942

Award 249/7.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 5th, 1943

2562nd Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Regiments-Adjutant Grenadier-Regiment 11 / 14.Infanterie-Division / VI.Armee-Korps / 3.Panzer-Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

June 24th, 1944

During the battles for Vitebsk in the winter of 1943-44, on the 10.02.1944, the II./Grenadier-Regiment 11 under the leadership of its new acting commander, Hauptmann Rust, was able to prevent a roll-up of the German bridgehead at Nowiki by holding the vital Lutschessa sector against all Soviet attacks. The following night a Soviet regiment overran the neighbouring Bataillon and rolled up the left flank of Rust’s Bataillon from the rear. In response Hauptmann Rust took control of the neighbouring Bataillon, an Alarm-Pionier-Kompanie, the regimental Pionier-Zug and the regiment Radfahr-Zug. With these forces Hauptmann Rust prevented this Soviet thrust from breaking through to the Orsha—Vitebsk railway line.

For his achievements during this battle Rust would receive the Knight’s Cross.

3234th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur II. / Grenadier-Regiment 11 / 14.Infanterie-Division / XXVI.Armee-Korps / 4.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

March 11th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  - - History Shop
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Bender R.J., Breyette T., Tank Killers, RJ Bender Publications, 2000, ISBN 0-912138-83-1
  - 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