Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 4. / Infanterie-Regiment 453 / 253.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 1st, 1942

Received for an action near Bol. Lockowo on January 19th, 1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef 4. / Infanterie-Regiment 453 / 253.Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

May 3rd, 1942

The following wartime excerpt describes why Crusius was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Bol. Lochowo was located along the westernmost part of the Division’s frontline when the Division came under attack by two-and-a-half Russian divisions on the 09.01.1942. If the Russian attack against Bol. Lochowo succeeded then the Division would have been unable to hold its positions during the hard back and forth defensive fighting that took place in the time period 09.-13.01.1942. The outstanding deed of bravery by Oberleutnant Crusius that he conducted on his own initiative resulted in him having a major share in the successful outcome of the combat. The press reports on this as follows…

‘During the middle of January 1942 Oberleutnant Crusius defended a strongpoint-like village with his Kompanie against the mass assaults of two Soviet infantry regiments. When the enemy saw that their attempts were in vain they decided to assemble all their forces for a massive attack, and to this end they assailed the German positions from multiple directions simultaneously. Wave upon wave of densely arrayed Soviets stormed out of the woods, sustaining massive casualties from the strong defensive fire of the German infantry as they did so. However thanks to their superior numbers they managed to get closer and closer to the German strongpoint, and eventually they took control of a few barns at the village entrance. At the same time another enemy group penetrated through the opposite edge of the village and thereby created a dangerous situation. Oberleutnant Crusius sent in his last reserve squad to recapture the enemy-occupied barns while he himself dealt with the other threat. On his own initiative, and with great cold-bloodedness, he went to a nearby Pak gun whose crew had become casualties. He got it ready to fire again and then shot up the other enemy group at very close range with it. Followed by a few friendly infantry, he proceeded to secure the last enemy-occupied houses along the village road after bitter melee combat and in doing so threw back the Soviets that had entered the village. These enemy forces then fled back to their assembly areas in a confused panic.’”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)